3 hours ago 1

Scottish Premiership: Dessers gives Rangers early lead at Hibs

Summary

Who needs what in final-day Europe race?
Listen to Sportsound commentary from Celtic Park
Celtic 0-0 St Mirren - nine changes for champions; O'Hara returns
Dundee Utd 0-0 Aberdeen - Babunski & Trapanovski in; Okkels one of three changes
Hibs 0-1 Rangers - Dessers with early opener

Live Reporting

Nick McPheat

Postpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time
Dundee United 0-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen have been on the front foot at Tannadice, but no chances to show for it.
United come alive for the first time and Ryan Strain hoists a ball to the back post, Ross Docherty hits the deck and appeals to referee John Beaton.
Nothing given. Not for me.
Postpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time
Hibernian 0-1 Rangers
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Easter Road
The Hibs defence has received many plaudits this season, but they have been awful in the opening five minutes here at Easter Road.
Postpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time
Celtic 0-0 St Mirren
First big chance for Celtic.
Alistair Johnston rolls a low cross into the six-yard box that looks likely to be easy for Zach Hemming.
However, the goalkeeper spills it under a Daizen Maeda challenge and the Celtic forward's shot on the turn is blocked by the sliding body of defender Marcus Fraser.
Noisy and colourfulpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time
Celtic 0-0 St Mirren
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
They're very much in party mood, the Celtic fans, and little wonder.
Another title long since wrapped up, a Scottish Cup final to look forward to and a yet another trophy presentation coming in about an hour and a half.
The stadium is a riot of green, white and gold, the atmosphere is noisy and convivial.
On-field, all quiet so far as both sides try to build a platform in the game.
Image source, SNS
Postpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time
Hibernian 0-1 Rangers
That puts Cyriel Dessers on 18 league goals at the top of the Premiership scoring chart, two clear of nearest challengers Daizen Maeda and Simon Murray.
GOAL! Hibernian 0-1 Rangerspublished at 12:36 British Summer Time
Cyriel Dessers
That was quick!
Hibs keeper Jordan Smith chips a ball out that Nicolas Raskin nods straight back to unmarked Cyriel Dessers, who hits on the spin to score.
It's a dreadful goal to give away, that all began with a Hibs goal kick.
Smoke in the far cornerpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time
Celtic 0-0 St Mirren
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
There's a big cloud of smoke trying to disperse into the east-end air, after - sadly - pyrotechnics and flares were lit in the section housing the Celtic ultras.
KICK-OFFpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time
Away we go at Celtic Park after a minute's applause for former Celtic chairman Jack McGinn.
There's also a minute's applause at Easter Road for ex-Hibs owner Sir Tom Farmer.
The players are only just out at Tannadice.
Europe at stake herepublished at 12:31 British Summer Time
Dundee United v Aberdeen (12:30)
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice
The sun is out at Tannadice for a big game for both sides, where Europe is very much on both managers' minds.
A draw is good enough for Aberdeen to secure Europa League qualifying, but Dundee United could miss out altogether if St Mirren better their result against the Dons.
All to play for.
Guard of honourpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time
Celtic v St Mirren (12:30)
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
St Mirren are lining up on the pitch to give Celtic a guard of honour to show respect to the champions on trophy day.
It's the home side's second in succession here at Parkhead after Hibs clapped them on last weekend.
After that, Stephen Robinson says he wants his men to show no fear.
Walton struggling with groin issue - Goodwinpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time
Dundee United v Aberdeen (12:30)
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "Jack Walton has been playing through a groin injury for a number of weeks and it's been impacting on his performances. We've got a fantastic second-choice goalkeeper in Dave Richards, who gets the nod.
"It's fantastic we're in this position. The players deserve a huge amount of credit. The fact we're going into the final game to win and go fourth to guarantee European football next season is a great place to be.
"If you'd offered that to anybody connected with Dundee United at the start of the season, they'd have snapped your hand off for it.
"Today is our cup final."
'No better way' to end season than beating Rangers - Graypublished at 12:23 British Summer Time
Hibernian v Rangers (12:30)
Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland about Martin Boyle's new contract: "Very pleased for everyone. He's had a fantastic season again. He's been a brilliant servant to the club, knows exactly what it means to play for this club.
"There's a lot of positive conversations [with other players] all the time. My focus was always making sure the out-of-contract players stay motivated until the end of the season. They've not been distracted at all and we're getting the benefits.
"There's no such thing as a nothing game, I want to beat Rangers at home and that's not been done for a very long time in the league. That's the challenge to the players.
"There's no better to way to top off the season."
Image source, SNS
Aberdeen need to be 'more compact' - Thelinpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time
Dundee United v Aberdeen (12:30)
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "We're approaching the game to try to win the game and end in the best way after a long league season.
"All the effort everyone has put in, with good times and tough times, everyone keeps coming back and it's important to end the season with a good result.
"It will be a different type of game to Rangers and Celtic. But we need to keep believing in what we're doing. We need to adjust some things to be more compact in some areas."
✈published at 12:19 British Summer Time
Hibernian v Rangers (12:30)
Since we're getting Hibs v Rangers at Easter Road on the final weekend of a Premiership season, I can't get this moment of out my head...
If we get anything like that 5-5 draw in 2018, we'll be in for a treat in Leith.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
Much-maligned Dessers aiming for golden bootpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time
Hibernian v Rangers (12:30)
Clive Lindsay
BBC Scotland Sport
Image source, SNS
He has been much maligned and handed a perhaps unfair share of the blame for Rangers' struggles this season, but Cyriel Dessers has shrugged off the criticism to rise to the top of the Premiership scoring chart.
The 30-year-old Nigeria striker's double in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dundee United took his total to 17 goals, one better than Celtic and Japan forward Daizen Maeda.
Considering the contrasting seasons the rival Glasgow clubs have had, that is no mean feat.
Indeed, his five goals from his past four appearances takes his total in all competitions to 28.
'We have to do it the hard way' - Robinsonpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time
Celtic v St Mirren (15:00)
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson reveals his side will give the champions a guard of honour.
"They have been the best team in the league by a mile and obviously deserve that," he tells BBC Scotland.
"But, after that, we have to respect them but not fear them. We have to play as well as we can to stay unbeaten in the top six."
Robinson's side still have a chance of qualifying for European football for a second successive season.
"There's no harder place to do it, but we have done everything the hard way this season," he adds.
"We are playing some very good football, but today is going to be a different."
Image source, SNS
Buddies look to end long streakpublished at 12:11 British Summer Time
Celtic v St Mirren (12:30)
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
The last time St Mirren took a point against Celtic was here at Parkhead in May 2023. It took a late Callum McGregor equaliser to deny the Buddies a memorable win.
They've faced the champions eight times since and lost them all. A point today could take them fifth, and back into Europe, if Dundee United lose to Aberdeen.
Defeat, and St Mirren stay sixth.
As they standpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time
Scottish Premiership
The top three places are confirmed, but there could be movement below that.
In the race for Europe, Aberdeen can't finish any lower than fifth, while Dundee United could end the day fourth, fifth or sixth.
For St Mirren, it's likely going to be sixth given they are at Celtic - but don't put a dream fifth-placed finish beyond Stephen Robinson's men.
'Still things to achieve' - Rodgerspublished at 12:06 British Summer Time
Celtic v St Mirren (15:00)
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stresses that his side will not be taking their eye off the ball despite this morning's parade of the trophy to Celtic Park.
"We can celebrate afterwards," he tells BBC Scotland. "We still have a job to do. We are looking for our 30th win and there are still things we want to achieve out of the game."
Rodgers explains the nine changes to his side and insists there are places up for grabs in next weekend's Scottish Cup final.
"The players were brilliant in midweek, but I can trust whatever team I play throughout the season with so many games," he adds.
"Some of the players who played in midweek have not played a lot recently and then they come in and play at a tough place like Aberdeen and perform really well.
"That allows me to freshen up the team today and have a real energy."
Image source, SNS
Rodgers targets records on trophy daypublished at 12:04 British Summer Time
Celtic v St Mirren (12:30)
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
They've had plenty of practice for these sorts of occasions. Since 2011 there's only been one year - 2021 - when there hasn't been a 'trophy day' in front of a packed Celtic Park.
Manager Brendan Rodgers is still chasing targets, however - most home goals scored this millennium (two required to surpass the 62 scored by Martin O'Neill's side) and most goals scored in a league campaign (four needed to past Ange Postecoglou's 114 from two years ago).