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Josh McPake gets a hat-trick as St Johnstone make a flying start

Josh McPake gets a hat-trick as St Johnstone make a flying start

Saints' 16-year stay in the top flight came to an end last season but Simo Valakari's side stated their ambition to bounce straight back with a superb performance at McDiarmid Park.
Patrick Reading fired Thistle into an early lead but their joy proved short-lived as Jamie Gullan levelled and McPake struck twice before the interval.
McPake put the result beyond doubt when he completed his treble early in the second half and Stevie Mallan wrapped up the scoring with a fine free-kick eight minutes from time.
The intriguing clash between Billy Davies' Morton and Neil Lennon's Dunfermline at Cappielow Park ended in a goalless draw.
Former Derby and Nottingham Forest boss Davies, the recently appointed technical head coach of the Greenock club, was in the dugout for the first time in Scottish football since 2001 as manager Dougie Imrie missed the match for personal reasons.
He was unable to get one over former Celtic manager Lennon, whose Pars side had the better of a feisty affair that saw both bosses booked.
Euan Henderson scored twice as Airdrieonians powered back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Ross County at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.
Two headers from corners in each half from Akil Wright had put the visitors on course for what seemed a routine victory.
Henderson began the fightback just after the hour and then equalised from a free-kick 16 minutes from time.
Raith Rovers and Queen's Park also had to settle for a point apiece after their encounter at Stark's Park ended 1-1.
It was a game of two penalties with Michael Ruth netting from the spot for the visitors after 10 minutes and Dylan Easton doing likewise for the hosts nine minutes from time.
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Josh Taylor not willing to 'play the lottery' with his health as Scottish boxing hero lifts lid on shock retirement
Josh Taylor not willing to 'play the lottery' with his health as Scottish boxing hero lifts lid on shock retirement

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Josh Taylor not willing to 'play the lottery' with his health as Scottish boxing hero lifts lid on shock retirement

The former undisputed champion of the world hung up his gloves for good last week Josh Taylor admits he could have carried on his boxing career - but it could have came at the expense of his health. ‌ The Prestonpans fighter - who reigned as super-lightweight world champion of the world between 2021 and 2022 and the only UK boxer to ever hold all four major belts in a division - announced his retirement from the sport last week after being advised to pack it in on medical grounds. ‌ Taylor says he made the decision to call it quits after learning he had suffered damage to his left eye retina in the wake of his loss to Ekou Essuman at the end of May. ‌ The 34-year-old - who was also a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, reveals that he could have carried on fighting if his own-well being did not come first. Speaking to iFL TV, the ex 135-pound champion said: "It was the right decision for my health. I would have loved to continue. "It's all healed up now as I had laser surgery on my eye. They thought they saw a wee tear in my retinal tissue and in the end they found six tears. ‌ "So I thought 'right, that's it, I've got to look after my health now'. I probably could have continued but it was a big risk to take. "I was literally one punch away from going blind in that eye. ‌ "Could I have continued? probably. But given the risks from what I got told and given what I have achieved in the sport, it's the best decision I have to make for my health. Taylor finished his career with three consecutive defeats to Essuman, rival Jack Catterall and American star Teofimo Lopez. And the Scot concedes he is still coming to terms with putting up the gloves for good. "I've had a couple of weeks to digest it now but it's all still a bit raw and emotional", he added. "It's a big of f****** heartache still but I am getting there. ‌ "I have got six belts sitting in my living room that I can sit and look at, think about and be proud of. "I am very proud of what I have achieved for Scottish boxing and to pave the way for the next generation coming through. I feel very proud that I have put it back on the map. "It's still quite raw knowing it's the end and that I haven't gone out on my own terms. "I have had problems with my eye since 2019 and had three operations on it. I'm not playing the lottery with my health anymore."

Inside Dundee United's memorable European trip of 28 years ago as milestones up for grabs in Vienna
Inside Dundee United's memorable European trip of 28 years ago as milestones up for grabs in Vienna

Scotsman

time2 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Inside Dundee United's memorable European trip of 28 years ago as milestones up for grabs in Vienna

I was there for both legs of thumping win over Andorrans Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Of all the ties involving Scottish clubs this week, one in particular sticks out. Rapid Vienna versus Dundee United sets the pulse racing, evoking memories of the night the great penalty innovator Antonin Panenka graced the Tannadice turf (along with Hans Krankl) but could not stop Jim McLean's side progressing to the last four of the European Cup. 'It was the fulfilment of another impossible dream for the club that has dragged itself forward in the past decade,' wrote Wallace Moore in the next morning's Daily Record. Sweeter still, it meant emulating Dundee's achievement of 21 years earlier. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad United are returning on Thursday to Vienna, where Derek Stark slammed home a priceless away goal in March 1984. They have been emboldened by last week's long overdue aggregate victory over Luxembourg's UNA Strassen. While this success hardly seemed like news to stop the traffic, there was surprise from many – manager Jim Goodwin among them – when it was noted that it was in fact United's first victory in a European tie since 1997. It was not news to me, however. I was there for both legs of the thumping aggregate win over Club Esportiu Principat of Andorra. Derek Stark was on target the last time Dundee United travelled to face Rapid Vienna en route to reaching the European Cup semi-finals. | SNS Group What has been surprising to discover is that United have not progressed through successive rounds of European competition since that never-to-be-forgotten run to reach the Uefa Cup final in 1987, when the likes of Borussia Moenchengladbach and Barcelona were put to the sword. Maybe not as memorably, but nearly as impressively, very decent opposition in the shape of Lens, Hadjuk Split and Universitatea Craiova were also taken care of. So while playing for a place in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition is now a pipe dream for both United and Rapid Vienna, there's still much at stake in this tie, with the winners rewarded with a Conference League play-off round berth. Additionally, a victory in the rebuilt Weststadion in the Hutteldorf district of Vienna would represent a very significant milestone for United. It would stand as their 50th victory in Europe stretching all the way back to that celebrated maiden win in 1966 against the team now firmly installed as their patsies: Barcelona. Modern times have not been so storied, with aggregate wins over the likes of Glentoran, Coleraine and Fimleikafelag Hafnarfjordur of Iceland interspersed with painful KOs delivered by the Tatran Presovs and MyPa-47s of the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fans of Rapid Vienna, who host Dundee United in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round on Thursday, hold up their scarves in support of their team at the Weststadion. (Photo by) | Getty Images Goals galore and a recognisable referee The games against Principat were, however, a lot of fun. The first leg in Andorra – 23 July, 1997 - was particularly memorable for this writer since it was my first European trip for The Scotsman and involved taking a charter flight from Dundee airport with Tommy McLean's team to Toulouse. We were then decanted into a bus for a nausea-inducing ride through the Pyrenees to Andorra. However far they had fallen from the days the previous decade when they were jousting with giants, if a soothsayer had told anyone on that trip that United, recent European aristocrats, would not win another European tie for almost thirty – yes, thirty – years, well, it would have called for another round of (stiff) drinks for their fans. The tiny principality proved a hospitable place for the 100 or so supporters who made the trip. The generosity extended to United, who helped themselves to eight goals (Robbie Winters 4, Gary McSwegan 3 and Lars Zetterlund). Re-reading my report of the match, it ought to have been more. Erik Pedersen's penalty was saved by overworked 'keeper Rui de Castro. It was awarded by referee Pierluigi Collina. Whatever became of him? The Andorran leg was the first leg so the job was only, er, half done. The second leg was of course academic although United had a record aggregate victory in their sights. An 11-0 win would have done it, bettering Rangers' 18-0 aggregate win over Valetta in 1983, which still stands as the record for a Scottish club. United 'only' hit another nine to book an appointment with Turkish side Trabzonspor from the Black Sea port city of Trabzon (interestingly, Rapid Vienna were potential opponents when the draw was made). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That, too, was a strange but memorable trip. Popular United 'keeper Sieb Dykstra complained about being distracted by the call for prayers from the mosque behind his goal at Trabzonspor's winner. Jim Goodwin is the first Dundee United manager since Tommy McLean in 1997 to win a European tie. (Photo by Marcel Bonte / SNS Group) | SNS Group What became of Principat? But that's another story. We're recalling the time Dundee United beat a team from Andorra whose HQ appeared to be a restaurant. A quick internet search suggests Charlie's restaurant, which was themed on Charlie Chaplin obviously and sponsored the team, has since closed. This also appeared to have been the fate of the club. Wikipedia claims Principat folded in 2015, which was sad news given the memories of the 1997 tie and their European pedigree that extended beyond debut games against Dundee United to involve ties against Ferencvaros (1-14 – a goal!) and Viking of Iceland (0-18). However, an email address found on the Andorran FA website suggested the club still existed in some form, and so it proved. They had re-formed as a futsal team, the small-sided, indoor version of football, so unlikely to re-appear on the European stage anytime soon, but still performing a very admirable function. A phone number was produced. I learned from an official that not only does the name survive, the actual club is set to return to competitive 11-aside football. Principat will play in the second tier of the Andorran league, with their opening game scheduled for as soon as next month in La Massana. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad

I totally back Russell Martin's treatment on Rangers rule breakers – and here's why, says Graeme Souness
I totally back Russell Martin's treatment on Rangers rule breakers – and here's why, says Graeme Souness

Scottish Sun

time3 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

I totally back Russell Martin's treatment on Rangers rule breakers – and here's why, says Graeme Souness

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GRAEME SOUNESS has backed Russell Martin's no-nonsense decision to axe skipper James Tavernier and Nico Raskin. Both players were benched for Rangers' crucial Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 James Tavernier and Nico Raskin were left on the subs' bench by Russell Martin Credit: Willie Vass Martin made the bold call after slamming the self-preservation attitude and ego within his dressing room after the weekend 1-1 draw with Motherwell. And Ibrox legend Souey insists: 'When I was a manager I expected the senior players to be the standard bearers. 'They were the ones that had to set the standards within the dressing room. 'And that's how it should be. 'I'm a great believer that you don't have a successful football club unless you have good senior pros. 'And maybe he's expecting a bit more from some of the senior pros than he got at the weekend. 'And I don't see anything wrong with him digging them out and saying, 'Look, it ain't good enough,' and then taking it forward to the next game and leaving them out. 'I don't see anything wrong with that. It's all on his head. It's his decisions that'll make him successful or not. 'You'd have to say that he's put his foot down pretty quickly. 'And I don't see that as a bad thing. Rangers star John Souttar opens up on his future as he reveals new contract talks have stalled 'I think you're putting a marker down that 'I have my standards and you're going to have to come up to my standards to be a regular member or a starter in this team.' 'It's not about him dropping his standards to accommodate players. 'A manager has to be the boss, and I think it's never been more difficult for a manager today to do that job than certainly when I was working. 'I always felt Jock Stein was harder on Kenny Dalglish and me with the Scottish team. 'He didn't go after the younger guys and I think the message he was getting across to us was, 'I can pick on these and I can bully them.' 'He did that; I was frightened of him. Although I'm not sure Kenny was! But the message was, 'If I can do that to them, you make sure you're on it.'' Souness - who was at Ibrox for the 3-0 win over Czechs Pzlen - firmly believes his old club is set to be transformed by new owner Andrew Cavanagh and the 49ers enterprises shareholding. He added: 'I think the new guys have started well. The noises that have come out sound very professional and it's as if they know what they're doing. 'This is not a case of will they get it right. This is a case of when they get it right. 'This is not their first dip into soccer. 'And like in any new business, they will have made some mistakes down in England with Leeds United. 'And I expect them to hit the ground running to a certain point. From what I'm hearing from within the club and how it comes out publicly, I'm very much encouraged.' Souness sparked a Rangers revival in 1986 when he became Ibrox player-boss in a stunning appointment. Asked if the arrival of Cavenagh was just as significant, he added: 'Yes. 100 percent. 'As I said, these people understand soccer. Do they fully understand what Glasgow Rangers is about? 'I'm sure they have realised that this is a unique football club and a unique football experience. 2 'It's a very special football club. And working in the west of Scotland is quite unique, trust me! 'But people know what roles they've got within the organisation. 'And I think there's a clear path that's being led from the top. I think everyone now knows their job and they can get on with it.' 'This was always going to happen. There were always going to get people coming in that have the financial muscle and the know-how and an eagerness to understand how it works up here. 'I think it's a good thing having people coming in from outside and starting with a clean piece of paper and saying, 'right, we've done this before, what applies before will apply in Glasgow.' 'There'll be enormous similarities. There'll be a lot of stuff they can back into Rangers. 'And there'll be other things that they'll have to work out for themselves that are quite unique here.' Graeme Souness was promoting Premier Sports' coverage of Scottish football including over 80 matches from the Scottish Premiership, Premier Sports Cup, Scottish Cup and KDM Evolution Trophy. Fans can watch an entire season of football for only £99 using promo code PSCUP25. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

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