The topic of a Dundee bypass has raised its head once again after recent traffic chaos at the Swallow Roundabout Drivers have faced long delays after the installation of traffic lights at the junction while there has also been confusion over signs and road markings That has led to hundreds of motorists complaining to the Scottish Government via a councillor Some – including The Courier columnist Steve Finan – say a city bypass would be the obvious solution So why has a Dundee bypass never been built The Courier looks at the history of the proposal and what barriers it has met The idea of a Dundee bypass to reduce traffic on the Kingsway has been on the cards for nearly two decades A 2008 Scottish Government report outlined a ‘Northern Peripheral Bypass’ as one of two options to improve traffic The other option was to upgrade the Kingsway’s roundabouts and junctions The report said a new road could leave the A90 to the west of Invergowrie and rejoin the A90 north of Dundee It was estimated the bypass would cost between £250 million and £500m at that time The report said a bypass could reduce Kingsway traffic by up to 50% and improve journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt by up to 15 minutes The report also argued a bypass would be less expensive than making incremental improvements to the A90 Transport Scotland said at the time: “The bypass route is expected to provide more value for money than the on-line upgrade.” the government body also acknowledged the bypass would likely “introduce adverse environmental impacts” in the countryside north of Dundee Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government said they would hold talks about a potential Dundee bypass It prompted renewed calls in 2014 from Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City transport partnership Then-Aberdeenshire councillor Peter Argyle told the Evening Telegraph he would back bypass plans He said: “If you’re looking to have a good transport network then having a major through-route from a particularly dynamic part of Scotland through to the central belt that passes through another city isn’t ideal “A bypass would be hugely advantageous.” Dundee City Council said it wanted to focus on upgrading the Kingsway instead In June 2014, the Scottish Government published The National Planning Framework 3 It once again outlined plans for a bypass as part of Dundee’s regeneration The Courier reported how the framework had suggested how a “new alignment bypassing the city” could be an option for upgrading the A90 A reader’s letter published in the Evening Telegraph in February 2019 said: “If one travels north from London the first set of traffic lights and congestion is at Dundee “The Aberdeen bypass is almost complete now leaving Dundee as the only city between London and Aberdeen without a proper bypass.” In July that year, The Courier also reported how a crash on the A90 had caused traffic chaos and prompted further calls for a bypass leader of the council’s opposition Labour group said the issues showed the “difficulties of not having a bypass outside the city” The Courier reported how plans for a bypass to the north of Dundee were being reappraised by the Scottish Government However, in December 2022, it was revealed the plans had been “consigned to history” in the latest Scottish Government Strategic Transport Projects Review This report called for road safety improvements to be made to the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen but did not mention a bypass According to the report Holyrood was instead getting behind an “integrated transport plan” for the A90 in Dundee The idea has not been back on the table since Scottish Conservative MSP for the north-east has previously spoken out in favour of a bypass He believes the Scottish Government’s decision to focus on improving the Kingsway was a mistake He said: “Dundee desperately needs an alternative like a bypass which would reduce emissions ease congestion and improve quality of life “Dundonians look north and see the great impact the Aberdeen bypass has had and wonder why they’ve got nothing “The current state of affairs with traffic in Dundee is intolerable “This plan must be revisited as a key infrastructure priority “Electric cars and public transport need good quality roads too.” A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We currently have no plans to take forward a Dundee northern bypass or relief road “An upgrade to the A90 Kingsway or a possible Dundee northern bypass was considered in 2022 “But the supporting transport appraisal concluded that it would only bring modest benefits in comparison to the significant environmental and financial costs of a new road “The recommendation from the second Strategic Transport Projects Review was that further more detailed work was required to develop a solution that delivered for both local residents and through-traffic.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments. © DC Thomson Co Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved. © Hibernian FC 2024 Hibs took a huge step forward in the race for third as we beat Dundee United 3-1 at Easter Road, with Martin Boyle, Mykola Kuharevich and Dwight Gayle getting on the scoresheet. Martin Boyle opened the scoring early on before Kuharevich drilled in the Hibees’ second inside 15 minutes. Kristijan Trapanovski pulled one back for the visitors but Gayle\'s late header would wrap up the win for the Hibees. The result moves David Gray’s men three points clear in third ahead of Aberdeen in the William Hill Premiership. Following our first defeat in 18 league matches last weekend at Pittodrie – as Hibs narrowly lost out 1-0 to Aberdeen – Head Coach David Gray opted to make two changes to his Hibernian XI. Centre-forward Kuharevich and wide attacker Junior Hoilett returned to the starting line-up, as Josh Campbell and Kieron Bowie dropped to the bench. Joining the outgoing pair was Lewis Miller, who was deemed fit enough to be named as a substitute. Hibs wasted no time in getting ahead as positive fluid football from David Gray’s men, intermixed with a defensive hiccup from the visitors, saw Martin Boyle force the ball over the line inside three minutes. An intelligent, weighted pass from Junior Hoilett granted Chris Cadden the opportunity to fire in a dangerous grounded cross that was haphazardly flicked into our number 10’s path. Boyle, reacting rapidly to the situation, nudged the ball beyond the goal-line with the help of the woodwork to put the Hibees ahead. It would take an impressive double save from United’s number one Jack Walton to keep out the Hibees just minutes later. A well-placed interception from Dylan Levitt on the edge of the area let Boyle shunt the ball into the feet of Mykola Kuharevich. The striker stung the fingertips of Walton with his strike, before Hoilett was promptly denied on the rebound with a simple stop. Hibs would find themselves two in front on 14 minutes. Roared on by a lively home support, Mykola Kuharevich broke away at pace from a sparse United defence before striking low across Walton and wheeling away in celebration as the ball clipped in off the post. The away side’s first attempt came on 18 minutes, as wing-back Will Ferry and striker Sam Dalby worked well up the left-hand side together to allow the latter to take a pop at goal from 25 yards. Dalby’s strike troubled Jordan Smith initially, but the Hibs keeper had no problem collecting the ball at the second attempt. The action-packed start continued in Leith as Boyle took aim with a skewed volley after Jordan Obita fizzed in a fierce delivery from the left. The ball remained in play and was hastily re-worked to an advancing Nectar Triantis, who saw his promising attempt deflected behind. The action stagnated slightly as the half wound down, though Kuharevich remained keen to snatch another goal. The forward would fire low on his left foot from a central position, following some neat interplay from Levitt and Boyle, and force an outstretched stop from Walton on the cusp of half-time. The second 45 started with a worry as Hibs keeper Smith stayed down for treatment after keeping out Emmanuel Adeboyega. Failure to get rid of a corner led to the United centre-half appearing at the back stick looking almost certain to convert. However, his close-range effort was heroically turned behind by a brave Smith stop. Corner concerns continued to plague the Hibees, with half-time substitute Kristijan Trapanovski capitalising on the visitors’ next delivery. Hibs’ inability to clear their lines allowed the North Macedonian attacker to fire in beyond Smith on-the-turn. Minutes after being booked for simulation, Dundee United captain Ross Docherty fired wide from the edge of the area after being awarded an abundance of space 25 yards from goal. With 10 minutes to go both sides saw their shape and structure become more fluid as each team pressed for the crucial next goal. This led to left-back Obita picking up possession high in an unfamiliar position high on the right flank. His improvised run inside led to an attempt from range, which rolled into the arms of Walton. The Hibees nearly wrapped the game up on 83 minutes when Josh Campbell surged into the box to latch onto a cut-back from fellow substitute Kieron Bowie, though the midfielder’s fierce finish was excellently parried to safety by Walton. It would in fact take another substitute pair to seal the victory with three minutes to play, as Nicky Cadden and Dwight Gayle combined superbly to spark joyous celebrations amongst the bouncing Easter Road support. Nicky’s curling cross was perfectly placed onto Gayle’s head, allowing the striker to glance in Hibs’ third of the afternoon and ensure all three points remained in Leith. Close110"Angry and frustrated" Dundee manager Tony Docherty describes the decision to disallow what he thought was a brilliant second goal by Antonio Portales in their 2-1 defeat by Motherwell as "a disgrace" and suggests officials "contrived to disallow that goal" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionEditor's recommendations'Officials finding ways to disallow goals' - Dundee boss 00:03:08'Officials finding ways to disallow goals' - Dundee boss 3:08 Up Next Watch: Fan catches ball while daughter covers his eyes 00:00:19Watch: Fan catches ball while daughter covers his eyes 0:19 'It's hard to watch' - Solskjaer discusses Man Utd woes 00:02:02'It's hard to watch' - Solskjaer discusses Man Utd woes 2:02 Moyes & Pickford share favourite Goodison Park memories 00:01:06Moyes & Pickford share favourite Goodison Park memories 1:06 Five things to know before Miami Grand Prix 00:01:51Five things to know before Miami Grand Prix 1:51 Nobody expected this - Amorim on first-leg win in Bilbao 00:01:34Nobody expected this - Amorim on first-leg win in Bilbao 1:34 Maresca praises 16-year-old Chelsea debutant Walsh 00:01:08Maresca praises 16-year-old Chelsea debutant Walsh 1:08 Beckham at 50: His first taste of Man Utd 00:01:28Beckham at 50: His first taste of Man Utd 1:28 'He's quite fussy!' - meet the craftsman who makes O'Sullivan's cues Video 00:02:09'He's quite fussy!' - meet the craftsman who makes O'Sullivan's cues 2:09 Yamal is a genius 0:52 Bompastor proud of WSL title winners Chelsea 00:01:10Bompastor proud of WSL title winners Chelsea 1:10 Arsenal need 'something special' to reach final - Arteta Video 00:01:14Arsenal need 'something special' to reach final - Arteta A Dundee man has been locked up for more than two years for knifing someone who was run over in broad daylight moments later was brought from prison to Dundee Sheriff Court to be sentenced for his role in the vicious attack Robertson chased James Cooper and struck him with a knife before Marley Williams mowed him down in a bid to kill him on Strathmartine Road He was initially charged with attempted murder alongside co-accused Williams, who was jailed in March for seven years and four months Robertson – whose extensive criminal record is littered with dangerous driving, assault and car theft convictions – was sentenced to 28 months detention Prosecutor Ewan Chalmers said: “In the early hours of 9 July the complainer and associates were walking on Strathmartine Road Mr Robertson was the driver and he had a passenger Both were shouting ‘Are you Scott Wheeler?’ “The accused drove at speed at Mr Cooper then alighted in possession of a knife and pursued on foot Mr Cooper managed to get away but passenger Williams took over as driver while Robertson got into the passenger seat Williams ran over Mr Cooper in the Ford Fiesta dragging him under the vehicle for several metres Mr Cooper – who recovered but has mobility issues – suffered fractured ribs three fractured vertebrae and a 10cm bone-deep laceration to his buttock It was not outlined in court what injuries Robertson’s knife attack caused Robertson admitted his role in the incident in March by assaulting Mr Cooper to his severe injury on July 9 last year Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed 28 months detention and ordered him to be subject to a supervised release order when he is liberated The sentence was backdated to July 29 last year when unemployed Robertson Sheriff Murray said: “The court must impose a significant custodial term “I accept you are not facing a charge of attempted murder you suffer from certain medical difficulties despite your age you have 25 convictions with 61 offences “Your offending has increased in severity and frequency Robertson’s lawyer David Duncan said: “It is accepted that a period of detention is appropriate in this case – it is also accepted that period requires to be significant “Although Mr Robertson was not performing the role of the co-accused there is still a very high level of culpability and there is still a very high level of harm “Mr Robertson has a tendency to focus on what’s directly in front of him Mr Robertson has recognised he has done something significantly wrong the only issue was what exactly he had done wrong “The decision to prosecute him at this level was made by a senior member of crown counsel “There is a real understanding from him of what your Lordship has to do and why your Lordship has to do it “He’s had fleeting experiences of custody before but nothing significant “The effect of his remand has provided him with some level of maturity and insight.” 24-year-old Williams was prosecuted at high court level for his role in the incident When officers told him he was under arrest Williams replied: “It wasn’t meant to happen like that For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook The decision to rule out Antonio Portales’s super strike against Motherwell has been branded “ridiculous” and “poor” by Sky Sports Ref Watch With Dundee leading 1-0 seconds before half-time Portales fired in what appeared to be his second fine goal of the game Clark Robertson was adjudged to have been offside by VAR official Calum Scott after making a move to get on the end of Joe Shaughnessy’s knockdown before the ball fell to Portales Dark Blues boss Tony Docherty was furious at the decision, calling it a “disgrace” And the panel on Sky Sports Ref Watch agreed Former England international Sue Smith said: “It’s a ridiculous decision “We watched it how many times and what was it ruled out for Ex-Cardiff and QPR striker Jay Bothroyd continued: “That’s such a poor decision for me “The defender got away with it really because it’s a poor clearance “The attacker has kind of put his foot forward but pulled out of it so he hasn’t actually impeded the defender Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was more reserved But he was in agreement that VAR should not have interfered and that Dundee’s goal should have stood “The eventual offside is given for the No 3 “The VAR’s opinion – because the goal was given on-field – was that Robertson actually challenged the defender he takes ownership of the decision and I think Robertson actually pulls out of the challenge to be honest “I think it was looked at too deeply for me “I think the forward pulls out and the defender clears the ball not very well.” 🗣️ "It is a ridiculous decision." The Ref Watch team disagree with the officials who ruled out Antonio Portales' wonder strike for Dundee. More ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/R5rANFiRrr — Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 5, 2025 A second VAR intervention saw Motherwell defender John Koutroumbis red carded after being given a yellow on-field by referee Kevin Clancy SNSPublished4 May 2025Martin Boyle scored his 12th goal of the Premiership this season The forward has contributed to goals in his last five home games in the Premiership (three goals Hibernian have avoided defeat in their last 13 matches when scoring first in the Premiership since a 1-4 loss to Dundee on 23 November 2024 They are also unbeaten in their last 27 Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W20 D7) dating back to 18 March 2023 against Celtic (L1-3) David Gray's side have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 21 of their 35 games only Celtic (25) have done this more often in the Premiership this season Nicky Cadden has assisted his sixth goal at the Premiership this season Hibernian have scored 16 goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season Dundee United have failed to win any of their last six matches when conceding first in the Premiership since a victory over Dundee on 2 January 2025 Jim Goodwin's side have failed to score a first-half goal in 23 of their 35 games Johnstone (25) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects What is still to be decided as season reaches climax Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A garage on the main road through Broughty Ferry is closing down National Tyres and Autocare has been operating out of the building on the corner of Queen Street and Fort Street for many years the garage – part of a chain owned by Halfords – will close in the coming weeks Halfords says workers are being offered alternative roles where possible The garage building is already on the market for sale or lease A spokesman for Halfords said: “We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on Queen Street, Broughty Ferry will close following a review of our estate in the area “We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible “We’d like to thank our customers for their continued support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage on East Dock Street customers can also access Halfords Mobile Expert – our mobile service that delivers tyre fittings and other essential services directly to their doorstep.” Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is marketing the building for sale at offers over £250,000 or lease at £25,000 per year It says the building could be put to a variety of commercial uses or redeveloped Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 1:24:21 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); A Dundee private hospital has invested £2.2 million on expanding its facilities provides specialist high dependency complex care Its clients include people with learning disabilities with autistic spectrum disorder or who have mental health difficulties the next phase of an extensive renovation and expansion has been completed The latest multi-million-pound investment has seen eight new beds added to the provision Two self-contained flats are due to open later this year Cygnet said the investment will help meet growing demand for mental health care and ensure people in Scotland are treated closer to home Hospital manager Kerryanne Johnstone said: “We are really proud of the new environment “The expansion was designed to provide a balance of privacy comfort and safety in a homelike atmosphere “It provides more space for patients to relax and engage with treatments which provide them with skills they need to move on and pave the way to a better future for them “The additional beds will enable us to support more people that require more complex care closer to their homes and support networks.” Ms Johnstone said the reaction from patients has been “overwhelmingly positive” Wallace Hospital has different areas for people with different levels of need This ranges from intensive support to residential-based support and finally transitional studio flats to prepare individuals for moving on The service has a dedicated activity coordinator and facilities like a library and garden Cygnet says the focus is to work towards discharge from the point of admission and to create a pathway more independent living This expansion at Cygnet Wallace Hospital is part of Cygnet’s wider £65 million investment in an extensive building and refurbishment programme across the UK This includes six new hospitals and eight undergoing total modernisation providing 200 additional beds and creating 1,000 new job opportunities Michael Wimmer’s thoughts on coming from behind to beat Dundee and securing Premiership football for another season Motherwell face their third and final matchday of the week as they turn their attention towards Cumbernauld when they face title-chasers Rangers at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday The women of steel have already faced a Scottish Cup Semi-Final against Glasgow City before competing against league leaders Hibernian at Meadowbank on Wednesday evening Paul Brownlie’s side will seek to reverse their previous fortunes at Broadwood following a two-nil defeat in October last year Motherwell have faced a tumultuous week of competitive action after experiencing the pride and heartbreak of a Scottish Cup Semi-Final defeat at Hampden Park before closely-battling league leaders Hibernian but were left frustrated by two self-inflicted goals that gifted the hosts a narrow advantage A defensive mix-up win the Motherwell box allowed Hibs to capitalise after an opening period of attacking opportunities for the visitors A corner-kick moments before half-time sealed the three-points as Motherwell left the Scottish capital frustrated but encouraged by their impressive display The women of steel will be without midfielder Sophie Black and forward Eilidh Austin as the pair remain unavailable to play against their parent club Rangers have faced a mixed week of results after securing their Scottish Cup final place following a five-nil victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park but a one-nil defeat to rivals Glasgow City at Ibrox extended the Gers gap to leaders Hibernian to five-points Tickets can be purchased online prior to the game HERE or through the turnstile at Broadwood Harry Paton would love to remain at Fir Park next season but knows he’ll only get that opportunity if he impressed manager Michael Wimmer in the remaining William Hill Premiership matches Paton and the squad remain as hungry as ever for these four remaining matches with everyone wanting to finish as high up the table as possible Manager Michael Wimmer was delighted to see Lennon Miller recognised as one of the best young talents in the country following his nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award Wimmer described Miller as a player playing football way beyond his years and has thoroughly enjoyed working with the 18-year-old Wimmer provides a fitness update on the the squad as well as discussing the importance of securing Andy Halliday’s services next season It’s time to vote for your G4 Claims player of the month for April Andy Halliday and Johnny Koutroumbis are all up for nomination To vote, head over to the Motherwell Facebook page Luca Ross made his first-team debut for Motherwell at the age of just 16 Introduced as a substitute by then-manager Stevie Hammell at Ibrox the young winger got a taste of what being a professional footballer was like his last-minute equaliser against Ross County sparked wild scenes amongst the Fir Park faithful but it was also a pivotal moment in his development Scoring his first professional goal was a milestone achieved at such a young age Having gone on to make five first-team appearances for the Steelmen Ross joined Annan Athletic on loan for the 24/25 season The good news has continued to come for the young man with him also being offered a contract extension earlier this month “When I first heard I was going to get another contract for the club I’ve grown up playing for “I’ve been working hard all year just to try and get another deal because I knew I was up in the summer and the assistant manager Ahmet [Koc] mentioned it The manager just said he liked everything about me: how I play with the ball how I am off the pitch and that I would be in his plans next year if it all goes well “It was always in the back of my head that I would be a free agent in the summer but I always believed in my own abilities and that I could get offered terms I didn’t want to doubt myself because that’s when things could start to dip.” Ross was faced with the arrival of a new manager and only a short time to impress before his deal ran out That meant he had to up his game and give it everything in the hope of being rewarded “I was thinking about the small period of time to impress the gaffer before the end of the season,” Ross admitted “I’m glad I got to train with him when he first arrived so he could see me and he’s said how well I’ve been doing.” Ross’ big moment came in the 2023/24 season when he helped secure a point with the last kick of the ball against Ross County at Fir Park poking it home in stoppage time in a 3-3 draw he feels he has matured as a player and as a person “It feels like a wee while ago just because there’s been a few stepping stones since then,” he explained playing with the reserves and under-18s here and signing new deals Training with Motherwell’s first-team has been huge for me but to do that and then add in training with Annan at night and play games with men regularly “I’ve just been taking everything as it comes but I feel more like a man than just a boy now I’ve had a bit of time where I’ve been on the bench at Motherwell travelling and prepping like a professional footballer “But I just felt the loan move would be best so I could get some games in for me to try and come back to Motherwell and be more involved than just travelling and on the bench “On the drive down to my first training session with Annan I was nervous and thinking about what it was going to be like I wondered if the players would even like me “It’s just because I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never been in that kind of environment before; it’s always been the same club throughout the spell with the League One side has been a successful one and the winger has built up a healthy amount of minutes and has found the back of the net three times “The players have looked after me,” Ross stated “Willie Gibson has been great because he has a lot of experience He demands a lot and wants high intensity from everyone and you’ve got players like Paul McGowan and Josh Todd who have been with different clubs over the years and they give you lots of information on the pitch “It’s just about listening and taking that in when playing I think overall the time there has helped me develop my character “Having that feeling of being disappointed that I’ve not made the starting 11 or whatever Feeling and experiencing those moments are important because every player has them Dealing with them at my age is important.” Annan are battling to avoid the drop in League One and Ross has had to deal with the pressure of playing in highly important games he will apply himself fully and will then return to Motherwell for pre-season with his own ambitions in mind “I’ll give it everything to help the club achieve its goals between now and the end of the season,” Ross said My thoughts are always going to be about playing in the first-team at Motherwell I’ll see if I can come back one of the fitter boys and if I can get in the manager’s eye-line and he likes me “I want to be playing for Motherwell; this is the club I’ve grown up playing for I can focus on football and not contract stuff.” The women of steel battled league leaders Hibernian to the final whistle but were forced to leave the Scottish capital with nothing as the Edinburgh side capitalised on two lapses in concentration in their march towards the league title Motherwell started brightly and the performance certainly looked promising in the opening 15 minutes as the visitors pressed the Hibernian backline but the hosts were quick to capitalise on a mistake in the Motherwell backline McGovern netted early in the first-half to give the hosts the lead before Reilly doubled the hosts advantage seconds before the close of the half Paul Brownlie – whom earlier in the day had been nominated for SWPL Manager of the Year award – named a much changed side from the Scottish Cup Semi-Final last weekend Brodie Greenwood and Sienna McGoldrick assumed their places in midfield with defender Jo Addie captaining the side Motherwell looked threatening from the beginning and were menacing when going forward with chances falling to both Louisa Boyes and Bailley Collins the hosts showed no signs of easing their SWPL title charge and reaped the rewards seven minutes later A weak back-pass gifted the Hibees possession in the Motherwell 18-yard-box and McGovern raced through before watching her shot trickle over the line The home side capitalised on Motherwell’s frustrations and continued to turn up the heat moments before the half-time whistle a beautifully weighted corner found its way to Reilly in the box who rose highest to power home into the top-corner leaving Mutch static in the Motherwell goal The Motherwell stopper was soon called into action reacting brilliantly with an outstretched leg to deny Hibs a second from close-range but despite chances from Katie Rice and Eilidh Austin coming close with positives to take for the women of steel as they turn their attention to the weekend when they take on title chasers Rangers at Broadwood Stadium Andy Halliday and Calum Ward have both signed contract extensions Andy Halliday has signed a contract extension that will see him remain at Fir Park for the 2025/26 campaign The 33-year-old has made over 50 appearances for the club since arriving in January 2024 and played in every match during the 24/25 season and I was really eager to extend that,” Andy Halliday adds “It’s really encouraging to see the groundwork being put in place for next season which I think everyone should be optimistic about “We’ve had some special moments this season including Hampden and the Friday night win over Dundee United which are the moments that make you appreciate where you play your football I want to thank all the fans for their support since I arrived and I’ll get back to work once again.” Scoring four goals and assisting four times he was awarded the Players’ Player of the Year award for his consistency and durability throughout the campaign “I’ve been so impressed by Andy since I arrived,” manager Michael Wimmer said “He has trained and played at such a high level all the time and it’s great to get him signed up for next season He is a role-model professional for every other player and a great character to have in the dressing room “We’re continuing to sign players for next season and I’m glad we’ve been able to make progress in that department as there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes.” Calum Ward signed a one-year contract extension with the club holding the option of a further year “Calum is a great guy and has shown an excellent attitude,” Michael Wimmer added “I was keen to get him on board for next season and it will be interesting to see the competition for the goalkeeping position.” The goalkeeper arrived on deadline day in February initially signing a contract until the end of the current season “The club have been brilliant with me and the last few months have been great,” Calum Ward said “I will keep working hard in training and will be looking to impress and we’re constantly pushing each other I’m looking forward to the rest of my time here.” We will be running a supporters bus for our season finale against Ross County on Sunday 18 May The bus will leave from outside the Cooper Suite at 9am and return straight after the match Price per person is £30 and your place can be secured here You can book your spot on the bus here we will not be able to provide this service Updates on numbers will be communicated periodically in the lead up to the day Fresh from their appearance at the National Stadium Motherwell turn their attention to the Scottish capital with league leaders and title-chasers Hibernian the hosts at Meadowbank Motherwell will travel to the Leith-side outskirts of the Scottish capital looking to redeem themselves following a spirited defeat to Glasgow City in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final last weekend Paul Brownlie’s side will also be looking to reverse their previous fortunes at Meadowbank following a four-nil defeat last December Motherwell were 90-minutes away from their first major domestic cup final since 2018 but nine-time champions Glasgow City emerged with a comfortable four-nil victory at Hampden Park The women of steel will leave the Southside of Glasgow encouraged by their competitive first-half display and will look to continue to build onto their final matchday’s of the 2024/25 SWPL fixture list as they prepare for a monumental season-defining tie against Glasgow City at Hampden Park Paul Brownlie will near closer to a full eligible squad this evening with Brodie Greenwood and Eilidh Austin both returning to the matchday squad Grant Scott’s side remain narrowly perched at the top of the SWPL table two-points clear of nearest rivals Rangers earning 20-wins from 27 top-flight fixtures this season Tickets can be purchased online prior to the game HERE or through the turnstile at Meadowbank *Concession prices apply to under-13s and those over-65 Leisure and Dundee has teased “an exciting new chapter” for the café at The McManus as a £1.5m contract is advertised A notice published on the Public Contracts Scotland website reveals a new operator is being sought the run the café and provide hospitality at the art gallery and museum It is currently operated by Dundee-based Willow Tree Catering Limited The tender notice, which was published on May 2 details “the café is located in a thriving space situated in the centre of the museum” Those bidding for the contract must have a minimum of two years’ experience in providing a similar service which involves the creation of a destination experience They must also be “experienced and up to date with current modern trends in café-restaurant operations” and “provide suitable menus and beverage selections” Applications should be submitted by June 2 The estimated value of the contract is listed at £1,500,000 and it will run for five years A spokesperson for Leisure and Culture Dundee said: “The current contract with the café operator at The McManus is coming to an end “This marks an exciting new chapter for this thriving space at one of Dundee’s best-loved visitor attractions “We look forward to sharing more details about future plans in due course.” The McManus café previously made The Courier’s list of the five best child-friendly cafes in Tayside We have also pulled together a guide to the best laptop-friendly coffee shops to work remotely in Dundee Plans have been lodged to turn a former Dundee pub into a convenience store and offer an “affordable alternative” to a nearby Co-op has lodged proposals with Dundee City Council to transform the former Clancy’s Irish Bar on the corner of Polepark Road and Milnbank Road The pub, formerly the Bay Horse, closed in March A statement submitted to the council says rising operational costs and increased competition from supermarket alcohol sales led to its closure Clancy’s was “further impacted” by the presence of the Polepark Bar Bosses decided operating the unit as a pub was “no longer sustainable” and a convenience store would “better serve the needs of the local residents and businesses” They say the proposed store would be an “affordable alternative” to the nearby Co-op on Brook Street The supporting statement added: “The area around Polepark Road has a significant student population many of whom seek budget-friendly food and daily essentials “The proposed convenience store’s stock would include locally sourced goods and products tailored to the specific needs of the community “Converting Clancy’s Irish Bar into a convenience store provides a practical and sustainable solution for a commercial unit that might otherwise become vacant coupled with the ongoing demand for accessible and affordable groceries the store will be open 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 10pm at the weekend The plans will be considered by Dundee City Council in the coming weeks It comes as there are plans to turn another former Dundee pub, the Airlie Arms, into a Keystore convenience shop The Courier has rounded up the latest pub, restaurant, shop and hotel news from across Tayside, Fife and Stirling – including another Dundee pub being taken over Dr Andrew Tibbs has only been in post for a couple of months as the newly appointed interim chief executive of Dundee’s Unicorn Preservation Society But in a sit-down interview with The Courier to learn more about his role and the latest in the £30 million race against time to save Scotland’s oldest ship the Fifer’s bold vision for the future of HMS Unicorn is clear “When you look at ships of her age and older across the world – the Mary Rose Viking ships in Oslo – all of these are on the world stage,” he says “We’ve got the world’s third oldest floating ship – Unicorn – here in Dundee and we should be on the world stage with them We want to create an experience that gets the international attention “But also something that Dundee and Dundonians can be proud of and that’s in our city.” We’re drinking coffee at the Apex hotel with the 201-year-old HMS Unicorn visible through the window She sits quietly in Dundee’s Victoria Dock But her future now rests on the success of Project Safe Haven a multi-million-pound campaign to move her into the East Graving Dock and finally address the structural vulnerabilities threatening her survival As Andrew puts it: “We’re shifting a 201-year-old lady just a few hundred yards but that may well be the riskiest few hundred yards of her life.” But ambitions are high that the ongoing project recently boosted by National Lottery funding can not only safeguard the critically-endangered ship but open a new chapter that celebrates Dundee’s maritime heritage It’s part of a vision to turn the city into a “multi-day” tourist destination alongside other waterfront attractions like the V&A the restoration and ambitions for RRS Discovery and the Eden Project challenge and survival sits at the heart of Andrew’s vision The ambitious proposals for HMS Unicorn are about more than it being a visitor attraction It’s as much about it being a visitor experience “I often talk about telling Unicorn’s story ‘from acorn to Graving Dock’,” he says The oak that made her came from English forests “They ran out of oak after her – the next ship had to be built in India With a PhD in Roman archaeology and a background ranging from fieldwork to communications the Stirling and Reading University graduate’s career has wound through academia He spent the first 10 years of his life in Carnock at a time when his imagination was captivated by running free in the fields he was first captivated by tales of Roman forts near his childhood home – myths he later disproved through study “There was no Roman fort in Carnock,” he chuckles After spells at Archaeology Scotland and SRUC he led communications efforts before returning to academia in Durham where his work in university colleges often straddled heritage and operations – including managing a medieval castle that doubled as a museum and a hotel he’s relishing the fact that he’s gone from a 1,000-year-old castle to a 201-year-old ship – and the problems are “remarkably similar” became a trustee of the Unicorn Preservation Society after moving to Dundee two and a half years ago It was his partner’s job that brought them back to the area When former Unicorn Preservation Society chief executive Matthew Bellhouse Moran, who spoke to The Courier in January the trustees turned to Andrew for continuity and a move to the “next level” at a critical point in the ship’s life A £1 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant is underwriting the current phase of work The ship’s internal structure has to be strengthened in preparation for her eventual move into dry dock where further assessment can take place “We’re designing an internal skeleton to stabilise her shape,” he explains “It hasn’t been emptied in 40 years,” Andrew says We need to test the walls to see what happens when we empty her We need to see what’s lurking in the sediment HMS Unicorn will be moved into the dock around autumn 2028 we won’t know what’s going on below the waterline,” Andrew says “That’s when we can make decisions about her longer term future copper-sheathed – but the last proper inspection was in the 1990s.” But what’s missing is the story about Dundee’s maritime heritage he says – and probably the biggest element of that is the Unicorn That vision includes working with the community local tradespeople and colleges to reignite lost shipbuilding The restoration itself should also part of the visitor experience And people need to understand why she needs help – not just what she used to be Unicorn’s future is inseparable from Dundee’s Andrew is therefore keen to continue working with other heritage attractions to create a unified visitor experience the Eden Project on the way – and us He points to local support as vital – from the council, the National Lottery, heritage partners and especially the Northwood Charitable Trust “It’s the best job and the hardest job,” he says “But it’s all about ensuring she lasts another 200 years.” Antonio Portales lining up in midfield for Dundee last week at Hearts was a surprise to many The Mexican has played almost exclusively as a central defender in his time in Scotland he has revealed he was a midfielder in youth football before being moved into defence because of his size “I spoke with our coaching staff before and told them that I like to play in that position,” Portales said “I started my career in midfield but the manager at Monterrey told me that I had to play in defence I was a midfielder and I enjoyed playing there if our manager Tony tells me we need you to play striker I would do it as I love to play football I said to myself that I had played the position before and I just had to control the ball “When we didn’t have the ball I had to be aggressive to get it back Portales impressed in the role whether he retains his place in this afternoon’s home clash with Motherwell remains to be seen And whether he remains a Dundee player beyond the summer is also up in the air Portales arrived at Dens Park in 2023 speaking very little English but has become a big character in the Dark Blues dressing-room over his two years Back in November he expressed his desire to stay at the club after a new contract was offered However, that has not been signed with just four Premiership matches remaining this season “My agent is speaking with Dundee,” Portales said of his expiring contract very happy to play here and I am thankful for all the support I get from the fans “The last game I heard my song which was great because I feel good “I’ll focus on the pitch and work hard every day and then we will check.” Motherwell secured top-flight football for a 41st consecutive season after coming from behind to beat Dundee 1-2 at Dens Park Antonio Portales gave the home side the lead but goals from Tom Sparrow and a last-minute winner from Tawanda Maswanhise secured all three points for Motherwell who were reduced to ten men following Johnny Koutroumbis’ red card Michael Wimmer made one change to the starting eleven that beat St Johnstone last weekend as Aston Oxborough replaced Ellery Balcombe between the sticks The stopper was called into action early in the first half as he raced off his line and produced a fine save to deny Adewumi the English keeper was powerless to deny Dundee taking the lead on the half-hour mark A throw-in deep into the Motherwell box came deflected off Andy Halliday and set up Antonio Portales to fire into the top corner from 15 yards Motherwell looked for a quick reply and weren’t far off as Callum Slattery’s first touch set him wonderfully but the midfielder had to watch as his shot fizzed just over the bar Dundee thought they had doubled their lead minutes before half-time as Portales produced a stunning carbon copy of his first goal Clark Robertson was ruled offside in the buildup The Steelmen almost went into the break level as the ball fell to Johnny Koutroumbis at the back post but the defender couldn’t find the finish Michael Wimmer turned to his bench at the break bringing on Tawanda Maswanhise to replace Harry Paton and he looked an instant threat as he danced down the left and saw his shot deflected wide of the post The Steelmen looked more dangerous and got their rewards just before the hour Teenage midfielder Lennon Miller worked his way forward and forced a kind ricochet for Tom Sparrow to fire in his sixth goal of the season As the game wore on and with a draw looking most likely Motherwell’s hopes of coming away with a point took a dent as Johnny Koutroumbis saw red the Aussie’s tackle was deemed worthy of further inspection by VAR with referee Kevin Clancy agreeing that there was more than met the eye initially The visitors might have settled for a point but actually looked more dangerous and from the resulting set-play Dan Casey’s header came crashing back off the bar The visitors’ luck seemed to be out until stoppage time when Dom Thompson found himself down the right wing He cut back in on his left foot and sent a deep ball to the back post where Tawanda Maswanhise rose highest and powered a header past Trevor Carson the result sealed Motherwell’s place in the top-flight for another season Dundee University’s revised recovery plan is a welcome step forward that no one should mistake for a happy ending Interim principal Professor Shane O’Neill deserves credit for steadying the university in an almost impossible situation Faced with a £35 million deficit, furious staff and the erosion of political support, he worked quickly to revise a plan that softens the immediate blow to the university community and restores some stability But let’s be clear: it was not consultation that provoked the change of heart It was strong-arm tactics from the Scottish Government despite its insistence that the university is autonomous Ministers made clear that the original plan – with more than 600 job losses – was politically unacceptable The university’s new path is therefore a compromise designed to navigate political pressure as much as respond to financial need Dundee risks the departure of talented staff it cannot afford to lose while preserving roles that add less to its future strength Without the ability to shape departures strategically the university may find itself weakened in ways no leader would choose And the plan’s financial assumptions are far from guaranteed Major new public funding is still under negotiation Commercial borrowing must still be secured and then repaid at potentially significant cost Dundee must compete for students in an increasingly challenging market with no guarantee that the shadow of crisis will not deter applicants UK Government policy decisions also play a major role in the wider crisis across the higher education sector making the UK less attractive to fee-paying international students interest rates and global instability all threaten fragile budgets And next year’s Holyrood election also looms large A change of government could tear up current funding discussions overnight leaving the university’s future hinging on short-term political goodwill Other Scottish universities face serious financial challenges Without a broader solution to the broken model of higher education funding the problems will inevitably recur and spread across the sector In that context, Labour’s Michael Marra deserves praise for galvanising the political pressure that forced the government to act and for keeping the crisis firmly on the national agenda Ministers who had initially been reluctant to intervene moved significantly – and that shift helped make this alternative plan possible The Courier believes Dundee University is not just important – it is essential It is a centre of research that changes lives a driver of economic growth and a symbol of the City of Discovery’s ambition and pride Dundee’s future is inseparable from the university’s continued success Allowing it to decline would be a betrayal of not just the university community but Dundee and the wider Tay region That is why the path forward must be more than cautious recovery It must be a bold reimagining of what Dundee does best – investing in world-class teaching It must be open and accountable at every turn And it must be accompanied by a wider reform of Scotland’s higher education system as a whole This is not the time to patch over the cracks at huge public expense – only to face another crisis in 18 months The Courier demands something lasting and sustainable Professor O’Neill has stepped up when others deserted to take charge and buy precious time – but that longer-term goal remains worryingly distant If Dundee University is to thrive – not merely survive – it will need bravery vision and a Scottish political class willing to match its ambition The Courier will stand with the university and this city every step of the way demand better answers and fight for the future those are the attributes the university instills in its students – and the same qualities it now desperately needs from Scotland’s leaders Is there a more relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning than sipping coffee It felt like we’d only just arrived for our one-night stay at The Leddie the building was turned into a hotel in 1970 bought over in 2023 and re-opened the following year after an extensive renovation Now it is a 27-bed hotel in the epicentre of Scotland’s golf coast We arrived after a pit stop for lunch in South Queensferry Between battling Edinburgh traffic and a tight squeeze through to the car park (even in our little Corsa) we were slightly flustered on arrival That was soon forgotten after a friendly welcome at reception with an offer to carry our bags to our room on the first floor an ode to the original name of the river running through the village has an inviting lounge which feels airy during the day then cosy and inviting with its log fire at night a junior suite with a lovely view of the courtyard tastefully decorated and supplied with a Nespresso coffee machine and beautiful-smelling L’occutane bathroom products The only tiny downside was my hair straightener plug did not fit in the socket as it had been built in too close to the dressing table there were plenty of other sockets in the room (unusual for a hotel) and if that was the only fault we could find We took a walk around the village before dinner and noticed lots of helpful information boards for visitors A tranquil coastal location makes Aberlady the perfect base for a golfing holiday more peaceful than nearby Edinburgh or North Berwick we perused the expansive drinks list before settling on cocktails It also features page after page of wine options or We were equally impressed with the dinner menu which offered a wide choice of dishes with locally-sourced ingredients which was delicious but a small portion compared to Steven’s huge bowl of Shetland mussels However when my steak arrived I was relieved not to have filled up too early devouring every bite of the meat (supplied by East Lothian butcher John Gilmour) and side of fries and salad Steven’s pan-fried cod was also delicious and he somehow found room for a side of crispy garlic potatoes which were perfectly cooked and used to soak up his mussel butter sauce Neither of us have a sweet tooth so we debated sharing a cheese board for dessert I like the option to pay per slice so you only order what you want However Steven declared himself stuffed after his mountain of seafood so I went for affogato with Baileys During the meal deputy manager Ferris stopped by our cosy corner table for a chat and recommended some places to visit the following day another quiet corner allowed us to enjoy our chat without interrupting checking if we needed refills or recommendations After a sound night in one of the most comfortable beds I’ve slept in we enjoyed the waterfall shower and the robes mentioned back at the start of this review At breakfast we loved the “starter” option of porridge or yoghurt It gave us the choice of a buffet with the service of a sit-down meal I enjoyed Greek yoghurt with rhubarb compote while Steven tried out a breakfast banana split We both opted for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on sourdough which was the highest-quality breakfast we’d tried for a long time After a swift checkout we manoeuvred the dreaded car park again and travelled the seven miles to North Berwick by car there are bus stops right outside The Leddie with services to North Berwick and Edinburgh Longniddry and Gullane beaches all make for peaceful walks nearby North Berwick and Muirfield are all close by It’s easy to see why AA awarded The Leddie five stars created under the watchful eye of head chef Shaun Lund the service was impeccable and the surroundings were stylish without lacking in comfort As I live in Dundee, I’m looking forward to seeing what owners Wirefox do with the Ardgowan Hotel in nearby St Andrews, currently closed for refurbishment and due to re-open in 2026 The Leddie: Our stay in a junior suite with bed and breakfast The same deal on a standard room is available for £255.50 Getting there: Various buses between Edinburgh and North Berwick stop in Aberlady The nearest railway station is three miles away at Longniddry which is just 20 minutes from Edinburgh by train That's all from us on another topsy turvy day in the Scottish Premiership - and the conclusion of the main season in Leagues 1 and 2 our feast of football continues with Sportscene's Premiership highlights show kicking off at 19:15 BST on the BBC Scotland channel which is repeated at 23:40 on BBC One Scotland 63Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe battle for third...published at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 May18:00 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership with kick-off between Rangers and Celtic at high noon at Ibrox Only pride and city bragging rights are at stake for both the visiting champions and hosts already secure in second Hibs have the advantage but must visit Celtic next weekend as Dundee United host St Mirren and Aberdeen travel to face Rangers There could be more twists and turns to come in the race for those European qualification places 93Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Officials contrived to disallow Portales goal' - Dochertypublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 3 May17:55 BST 3 MayFT: Dundee 1-2 Motherwell "The officials are killing the game." 224Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRobinson praises 'great finish'published at 17:54 British Summer Time 3 May17:54 BST 3 MayFT: St MIrren 1-0 Aberdeen St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "We struggled at the start we just couldn't get into a rhythm or get hold of the ball I don't remember too many clearcut chances from Aberdeen "We can play better than what we did today but it shows the character of the players and the quality when we've needed it It was a great finish from Mika [Mandron] - a set play we've worked on tirelessly." 176Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Massive team performance'published at 17:51 British Summer Time 3 May17:51 BST 3 MayFT: Hibernian 3-1 Dundee United Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "The result was the most important thing - the reaction from the players to the defeat last weekend "Everyone was looking to see how this Hibs team would bounce back and I got that today "Credit to Dundee United in the second half they got a bit of a foothold in the game and we lose a really poor goal "The players showed me massive character to make sure we saw the game out 304Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMcDiarmid Park showdown at bottompublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 3 May17:48 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership Today's results set up a massive game at McDiarmid Park next Saturday St Johnstone host Ross County in a battle of the bottom two and anything less than a win will surely end the Perth side's hopes of avoiding automatic relegation who are now four points ahead and would end their own relegation fears with a victory 72Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDons 'not good enough to deserve win'published at 17:41 British Summer Time 3 May17:41 BST 3 MayFT: St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeen Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "We wanted more but they used the opportunity from the set play to score that goal "The final pass today didn't arrive in the right spaces - that's football sometimes "We need to improve some parts in the away games and do better because we now have three more important games in the league "We have to believe and try to do some things better in our away games." 87Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We never felt we couldn't win the game' - Wimmerpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 3 May17:38 BST 3 MayFT: Dundee 1-2 Motherwell Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer tells BBC Scotland: "I'm very happy especially in the second half - and the first half we lacked a little bit of energy and also the defence from the two throw-ins was not good enough 122Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Hard to pick yourself up' - Valakaripublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 3 May17:35 BST 3 MayFT: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "The fight continues Other results give us a little lifeline and that's what we need to grab "We could not perform well enough today it will be difficult and I'm very disappointed in how we give away the first goal "We are very honest with ourselves - it was not good enough how we defended in crucial moments We have these three matches to grab something 38Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEast Kilbride to face Bonnyriggpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 3 May17:33 BST 3 MayFT: Brora Rangers 3-3 East Kilbride (agg 4-7) East Kilbride completed their passage into the Pyramid Play-off final after sharing a six-goal thriller with Brora The Lowland League champions' 4-1 first-leg win proved crucial against their Highland counterparts and they will face Bonnyrigg 50Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBeaten County 'can't feel sorry for ourselves' - Cowiepublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 May17:30 BST 3 MayFT: Ross County 1-3 Heart of Midlothian Ross County manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "We get the first goal it's important we keep it at 1-0 going in to half-time but we are still in the game - then we make a mistake and are punished Ronan has a great opportunity at 1-1 and doesn't take it "There is no point feeling sorry for ourselves we have to get ready for a massive week next week "I've got belief in the group and myself but we've got to get act upon it." 17Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingKilmarnock 'didn't need to be brilliant' - McInnespublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 3 May17:29 BST 3 MayFT: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "The pitch is really difficult but that is really difficult for the players to try and connect We could have been more effective with our work We saw the importance of another midfielder arriving late in the box "Davie [Watson] has the quality to get on the road "We knew the second goal didn't need to come it put pressure on them and we stayed strong within our structure professional performance and the exact one that was needed we just need to be steady with our work." 192Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME RESULTSpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 3 May17:28 BST 3 MayScottish League 2 The League 1 play-off semi-final line-ups have been decided with Edinburgh clinching third place despite losing their derby with Spartans That's because fourth-top Elgin also lost - to runners-up East Fife It means the Fifers will take on Edinburgh while Elgin face Annan who finished second bottom in the league above Bonnyrigg fall agonisingly short in their bid to avoid the Pyramid play-off to stay in League 2 A victory away to Stranraer was not enough as Forfar's draw with Stirling keeps the Angus side ahead on goal difference 41Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingShankland will 'score goals wherever he plays' - Foxpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 3 May17:22 BST 3 MayFT: Ross County 1-3 Heart of Midlothian Interim Hearts head coach Liam Fox tells BBC Scotland: "We are delighted after a difficult week for the club "We had to fight through a period where we lost our way but stuck to what they were asked to do That shows the players' courage and we scored three really good goals "There's natural disappointment when County scored but we were asking them to be brave and pass the ball and "We did a lot of work this week on the structure of the team and how we want to create chances Lawrence Shankland will score goals wherever he plays I just felt we need him in and around the box to hopefully get him the chances he did today he usually hits the back of the net." Asked if Fox expects to be in charge against Motherwell next weekend Fox replies: "Unless I hear otherwise 174Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME SCORESpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 3 May17:20 BST 3 MayScottish League 1 The Championship play-off semi-final line-up are complete Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir sealing their places Cove finish second after a convincing win over Annan and will face Queen of the South who finish third after drawing with champions Arbroath into fourth after a win over Dumbarton and will face Airdrieonians who finished second bottom of the Championship 40Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHibs see daylight in third-top racepublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 3 May17:15 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership Hibs started the day in pole position to finish third and they end it with a three-point gap between themselves and Aberdeen - and six clear of Dundee United 3811Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 3 May17:12 BST 3 MayStay with us for manager reaction from around the Premiership.. 20Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnd then there were three...published at 17:10 British Summer Time 3 May17:10 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership but it looks like this afternoon has shaken down the potential Hearts and Kilmarnock have healthy cushions with Dundee and Ross County in a head-to-head to avoid the play-off spot 133Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME Dundee 1-2 Motherwellpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 3 May17:06 BST 3 MayA sensational second-half fightback from 10-man Motherwell and Michael Wimmer's side secure their Premiership safety After a largely dominant first 45 from Dundee in which Antonio Portales' scored two beautiful volleys - albeit one ruled offside - Motherwell came out fighting in the second half and Tom Sparrow rifled the ball into the roof of the net to draw them level They kept battling after Koutroumbis was shown a red card for a challenge on Ziyad Larkeche and Tawanda Maswanhise's late header sealed all three points are just two points off second bottom Ross County 5527Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeenpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 3 May17:04 BST 3 MayIt's another excellent outcome for St Mirren who are loving life in the top six once again safe from danger with aspirations still to chase It's unlikely Mikael Mandron's winner will deliver a European place given they have to overall an eight-point deficit to Aberdeen in three games it's not impossible and the chase for fifth is now on with Dundee United next up They will point to Jeppe Okkels' strike being ruled out for an earlier handball Watch on iPlayerKheredine IdessaneBBC Sport Scotland Senior ReporterHead coach David Gray insists Hibernian are not taking anything for granted despite beating Dundee United, one of their nearest rivals for third place in the Scottish Premiership. Another fine, attacking performance in front of a noisy Easter Road crowd allowed the hosts to strengthen their grip despite a spirited United comeback. But Gray knows there is still work to be done to secure European football for next term. "Until it's mathematically done, we need to keep pushing and taking it one game at a time, because there's still improvements to come," the boss said. "Everyone was looking to see how this Hibs team would bounce back and I got that. I'm delighted for the players. I challenged them for a reaction and for the three points today and they delivered that." Goals in the first 15 minutes from Martin Boyle and Mykalo Kuharevich gave Hibs an early lead they never relinquished and a fine late header from substitute Dwight Gayle added gloss to the scoreline after second-half replacement Kristijan Trapanovski had blasted United back into contention. But for a fine double save from visiting goalkeeper Jack Walton to keep out Kuharevich and Junior Hoilett, the interval deficit could have been much worse. United were markedly improved thereafter, with manager Jim Goodwin making a double change at the break that totally transformed the Tangerines, Glenn Middleton adding to the impact of scorer Trapanovski. His strike, indeed, could have been a leveller but for the heroics of home goalkeeper Jordan Smith keeping United at bay, bravely diving at the feet of Mane Adegboyega when the defender seemed certain to score. With Aberdeen losing to St Mirren, Hibs move three points clear of the Dons with just three games to go and - on this form - will fancy their chances of staying there and sealing the European football that comes with it after extending their winning streak at home to seven. With Dylan Levitt and Nectar Triantis pulling the strings in midfield - and Boyle, Hoilett and Kuharevich at times offered the freedom of Easter Road to run into - Hibs threatened completely to overwhelm United with their energy and enterprise. United contributed fully to Hibs' early goals with some calamitous defending, Declan Gallagher at fault for the opener when he seemed to lose his footing inside his own six-yard box. As poor as United were before the break, they were significantly better after it, much to the delight of a sizeable and noisy travelling support who urged their team on to an equaliser that just would not come. Hibs will feel they fully merit the win, however, with Ryan Strain clearing off his own line to thwart Josh Campbell before Gayle's header finally put the game beyond United. This was just what the doctor ordered for Gray after last week's tough defeat by Aberdeen. His side had energy, ideas and organisation - in stark contrast to their opponents in the first 45. It's not difficult to see why Hibs have risen to favourites for third: strong and calm in midfield, pacy and dangerous up front, they have goals all over the team and a solid foundation at the back with Warren O'Hora, Rocky Bushiri and Jack Iredale. Yes, Hibs were given absolute gifts by United, but they still had to be clinical enough to take them, with Kuharevich keeping his cool to score on the run for the second. The momentum built up by their long undefeated streak has not been punctured too badly by that Pittodrie defeat and, on this evidence, Hibs will not fear anyone, even if their next match is a trip to face champions Celtic. Well, where do you start with this Jekyll and Hyde United performance? Horrendous in the first half. Tremendous in the second. The mistakes they made in defence in the opening quarter of the match were as glaring as they were completely unexpected. Normally organised, disciplined, defensively strong and hard to beat, they were none of those things before the interval and this was not the ground to put in one of their poorest 45 minutes of the season. Credit to the manager, though. He made a double change at half-time, hauling off Jort van der Sande and David Babunski and replacing them with Trapanovski and Middleton. The wingers effected quite the transformation, with Trapanovski almost immediately reducing the deficit from close range. Their chances of third place are now a long shot, but regardless, they have been a welcome addition to the Premiership and, on the evidence of the second half, their season is far from over. Hibs head coach David Gray: "The result was the most important thing - the reaction from the players to the defeat last weekend. "Everyone was looking to see how this Hibs team would bounce back and I got that." Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We got off to the worst possible start. "It was a mistake ultimately. You can't do that against that level of opposition. The second goal was a poor one, the third one was a free header in the middle of the six yard box. "When you analyse the goals back, they are situations we have to manage better." The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Trapanovski Match OfficialsReferee: John BeatonVideo Assistant Referee: Grant IrvineAssistant Referee 1: David McGeachieAssistant Referee 2: Elliot Husband PowtonFourth Official: Chris GrahamAssistant VAR Official: Alan MulvannyMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightAfter their 3-1 win in February Hibernian could pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Dundee United for the first time since winning three in a row over them in 2006 Dundee United have only lost one of their last 14 away top-flight trips to Hibernian (W5 D8) Hibernian have won each of their last six home league games their longest run in the Scottish Premiership since winning seven in succession from January to April 2018 under Neil Lennon Dundee United have won both of their last two away league outings last winning more in a row in the Scottish Premiership on their travels in August 2020 (4) the Tangerines are winless in their last 16 away games in the competition against the four sides currently above them in the table (D6 L10) since a 3-0 win at Hibernian in October 2021 Hibernian remain unbeaten in their last 16 top-flight home games against newly promoted opponents (W6 D10) since a 0-1 defeat to Ross County on Boxing Day 2012 FT: Dundee 1-2 Motherwell - Portales scores & has second ruled out Well's Koutroumbis sent off but Maswanhise puts visitors in front & seals safety Trapanovski briefly brought United back at 2-1 FT: Ross County 1-3 Hearts - Hale puts County in front Shankland counters with double & Forrest adds third FT: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock - Watson nets opener FT: St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeen - Dons' Okkels has goal disallowed before Mandron hits winner for Buddies Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray has made two changes for today’s William Hill Premiership game against Dundee United; 3pm kick-off at Easter Road Stadium Both changes come in the forward areas as Junior Hoilett and Mykola Kuharevich return to the starting XI The duo both scored in our win over today’s opponents at Tannadice back in February They come into the side in place of Josh Campbell and Kieron Bowie who are both on the substitute’s bench this afternoon That means that Jordan Smith is in goal with a settled back three of Warren O’Hora Chris Cadden will provide the width on the right Nectar Triantis and former Terrors man Dylan Levitt are in the middle of midfield with Junior Hoilett playing in-front of them Kuharevich will lead this line this afternoon Lewis Miller has been deemed fit enough to make the bench David Gray is without the injured Elie Youan Thousands of revellers descended on bars and clubs across Dundee for the 27th Dundee Dance Event The largest gathering of its kind in Scotland about 200 DJs and artists performed at 30 venues on Sunday into Monday There was also a surprise performance from Hannah Laing in the LiveHouse car park LiveHouse – which opened on Friday with a DJ set from Craig Charles – was also the venue for the closing party Courier photographer Steve Brown was on hand to capture some of the event’s best moments A 40-year-old man has been found seriously injured outside a Dundee pub as police guard the scene Police Scotland has launched an appeal after he was discovered outside The Tavern on Lothian Crescent on Saturday morning The man was taken to Ninewells Hospital at 1.50am after suffering a serious head injury An ambulance was called for him when he was found injured outside the Whitfield pub Police remained at the scene on Monday morning with an officer standing by the alleyway behind Family Shopper a member of staff said police had been at the scene since 4.30am They said: “I’m not really sure what’s happened it’s not got anything to do with the store “The milkman told us the police were here when he arrived at around 4.30am.” Police are searching for a man who had been with the 40-year-old before he was escorted outside Detective Inspector Craig Kelly of Tayside CID said: “From our inquiries so far we believe the injured man had been in the pub in the company of one other man and then he is seen being escorted outside from the bar “He appears then to slump to the ground with a number of people trying to assist him “We would ask the man who had been with him initially or indeed anyone who knows what happened to him “His family is now aware and are with him in hospital where he remains in a serious condition.” Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland quoting incident number 1065 of Sunday Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously The 40-year-old was in The Tavern on Lothian Crescent, Dundee, in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 40-year-old was in The Tavern on Lothian Crescent in the early hours of Saturday morning in the company of another man. Police said he was escorted from the bar to the outside. He then appears to slump to the ground with a number of people trying to help him. Officers said an ambulance was called for and the man was admitted to Ninewells Hospital where he remains in a serious condition. Police are searching for the man who had been with the 40-year-old initially, and is urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Detective inspector Craig Kelly, Tayside CID, said: “From our enquiries so far, we believe the injured man had been in the pub in the company of one other man, and then he is seen being escorted outside from the bar. He appears then to slump to the ground with a number of people trying to assist him. “We would ask the man who had been with him initially, those who were with him outside, or indeed anyone who knows what happened to him, to come forward. “His family is now aware and are with him in hospital where he remains in a serious condition. “If you have any information that may assist officers with their investigation, please call police via 101 quoting incident number 1065 of Sunday, May 4, 2025. “Alternatively, details can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Dundee have no “divine right” to escape relegation admits skipper Joe Shaughnessy Motherwell’s late winner at Dens Park on Saturday leaves the Dark Blues just two points ahead of Ross County in the relegation play-off place Their safety from bottom spot is not yet assured either though it would require St Johnstone winning all three matches and the Dee losing all three of theirs Three games now to prove Dundee are good enough to remain at Premiership level We need to work really hard for each other,” skipper Shaughnessy said “Like the performance at Tynecastle last week like the performance against St Mirren a couple of weeks ago “We’ve got to really work hard for each other because there’s not much time left to train and do anything new “You’ve been training all season and now you’ve got three games to go and prove that you deserve to play in this league next year.” Dundee have developed a bad habit of letting leads in games slip from their fingers That happened again against the Steelmen where Antonio Portales’s fine opening goal was overturned by a Tom Sparrow equaliser and stoppage time winner from Tawanda Maswanhise The final goal coming after Motherwell had been reduced to 10 men. “We shouldn’t have lost the game to 10 men,” Shaughnessy admitted “We kind of felt like we pushed on to get the winner which maybe left us a little bit open at the time “But when they’re down to 10 men and you’re at home you really feel like you need to go and get the winner “We didn’t really create anything of note even when they’re down to 10 men “It’s frustrating I guess when you go from last week defending well and then you lose a game like that but it’s probably been the story of the season It is a big reason why Dundee are still in relegation trouble with three matches of the season remaining And despite their quality going forward and the amount of goals scored Shaughnessy admits they are not too good to go down the league table is usually exactly as it should be after 38 games,” he added “No one has a divine right to be staying in the league or not to be down in the bottom six we’re the players and we’re there now “So it’s not really any use us saying we shouldn’t be here “I don’t think we can say we’re too good to be in this position because we’re not “We are there and it’s up to us to pull up our socks and get ourselves out of it You’ve just got to put your bodies on the line now “There’s only so much talking about it you can do “It’s up to us to stand up and do the job.” Eden Project Dundee has the potential to be an “economic dynamo” that will bring billions of pounds into the region on the site of the old gasworks on East Dock Street is still several years away from opening the eco attraction designs need finalised and a main contractor appointed And then there’s the small matter of raising tens of millions of pounds Speaking exclusively to The Courier on a visit to Dundee chief executive Andy Jasper doesn’t underestimate the fundraising challenge – but said the economic impact will make it a “no brainer” He said the project was rapidly moving towards stage four of the design stage – moving from a concept to a detailed design. Planning permission was approved last summer A contractor will then be commissioned which will then make the final budget clearer However, he expects the cost to exceed the £130 million previously reported He said: “We expect it to be above that (£130m) “This is dependent on fundraising and us being able to secure the funds for Dundee “We’ve got a fair idea of where that’s coming from but it’s all needing to happen in stages It’s a huge challenge but it’s a strong partnership in Dundee and everyone we talk to is fully committed very tight but the benefits are what we have to keep your eye on “An attraction like this will attract more business in the area We can see billions of pounds coming into Scotland because of Eden Project “With Eden Project Cornwall, £2.2 billion pounds has come into the local region economy over the last 20 years but the really exciting element is the impact it will have.” Mr Jasper said there would be a focus on sustainability and local when it comes to building and running Eden local in terms of mileage of goods coming in “When we are looking for contractors we will be looking at everything to do with sustainability and local employment “We will need a huge amount of soil for the site and it would be crazy to source that from 150 miles away.” The Eden team expects to move into a temporary home in Dundee later this year This will also be used to engage with the community about the plans This month John Pye will join Eden Project and will act as project director for the Dundee project He recently delivered the Weston Walled Garden in Bridgewater for the Royal Horticultural Society The team is also continuing with its engagement work with schools Mr Jasper said he was encouraged by the excitement in the city about Eden Project He said: “Dundee is one of the most up-and-coming cities – you can see the change that’s happened just since the V&A has come here “When I talk to people in Dundee they’re all so proud of the change that’s happening and they see Eden Project accelerating that a place that is really difficult to imagine being a beautiful garden “The restorative value that developing this will have on Dundee is just going to be off the charts.” A councillor who spent four days as a member of the European parliament is standing for the SNP in Dundee City West in next year’s Holyrood election SNP members locally selected Coldside councillor Heather Anderson as their candidate for Dundee City West Her selection as the SNP candidate comes after incumbent MSP Joe FitzPatrick announced he would stand down after nearly two decades representing the city in the Scottish Parliament Speaking to The Courier one year out from the vote Ms Anderson said: “I’m incredibly chuffed to be here In addition to her three years as a councillor Ms Anderson was also one of the shortest serving members of the European Parliament Appointed on January 27 2019 after the incumbent SNP MEP, Stirling politician Alyn Smith, was elected to Westminster, Ms Anderson served for just four-days before the Brexit process was completed on January 31 Returning Scotland to Europe is a key plank of the MSP hopeful’s campaign Ms Anderson explained: “I was very lucky to make it to the European Parliament When you go somewhere else in the world you suddenly see how highly Scotland is regarded.” Closer to home Ms Anderson was asked about her priorities for the constituency This included the Raac concrete crisis which has left 900 homeowners and social housing tenants living under roofs built with a substandard and potentially dangerous concrete She said: “I can completely empathise with the stress of those homeowners There are lines of responsibility if people have their own properties the council can’t just sort all of that “One of the things we’re doing at the moment is looking at different ways of dealing with Raac in properties but behind the scenes there is a lot of work going on about different ways of treating the problem.” The financial crisis at Dundee University would also feature in Ms Anderson’s in-tray if she is elected She said: “We’re not out the woods but we’ve walked away from the edge of the cliff. It was a huge relief that we’ve walked back from compulsory redundancies the Scottish Government have managed to mitigate the scale of that but it’s still terrible news for the staff and the sector.” Ms Anderson’s closest rival in the election is likely to be Scottish Labour In the running is Dundee-based regional MSP Michael Marra The Dundee City West constituency was previously an SNP stronghold Mr FitzPatrick secured over 61% of the vote and a majority of nearly 13,000 at the last election in 2021 But it shares its much of its boundary with the Dundee Central seat, where SNP MP Chris Law saw his majority slashed from over 15,000 to just 675 at the general election last year Gregor: I fear a play-off and possible relegation now We are in a rut and the manager blaming officials isn't helping our cause Gary: The game changed on the disallowed goal Antonio Portales had two perfectly good strikes but chalking off the second gave Motherwell the impetus and we fell out of it is just as frustrating as the season has been as a whole We still need points and favours to be safe however Tony Docherty has never had a plan 'B' - never mind a plan 'A' Fin Robertson and Olawaseun Adewumi have been very poor for many games but remain on the park If we stay up we need a new management team and a half-decent team Iain: That game sums up or season perfectly Tony Docherty's rinse and repeat post-match excuses are beyond tiresome Innes: I can't even think who to call out for this The VAR has a portion of blame here as a two-goal cushion changes the game dramatically the players and manager have to have a good John: Possibly our worst display this season Scott Fraser at least looked like he could pass to a player in dark blue rather than hump up-field for Simon Murray to chase Their keeper was hardly tested though he did pull off good save in first half A poor first half proved costly as we fell to defeat in Edinburgh. Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer) Jim Goodwin made three changes following defeat to Celtic last weekend. Allan Campbell and Ruari Paton all dropped out in favour of David Babunski Jort van der Sande and Declan Gallagher as we opted for a change in shape. There were two DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad. We were behind in less than three minutes as Martin Boyle opened the scoring. An incisive pass from Junior Hoilett carved open the space for Chris Cadden to fire a low cross into the six-yard box which got caught between the feet of Declan Gallagher for the Hibs' number 10 to steer home. Jack Walton was on hand 11 minutes in as we were almost made to pay for some slack defending It was a superb double-stop from our number 1 who denied Mykola Kukharevych and Hoilett in quick succession. One did become two as Kukharevych found the net ten minutes after the opener - racing clear of Emmanuel Adegboyega and Gallagher and sliding it into the far corner with aid of the post. We made our first real move of note as the clock ticked towards 20 minutes A neat interchange between Will Ferry and Sam Dalby teed up our marksman for the shot but his curling effort stung the palms of Jordan Smith What remained of the first half was tame as we went in two behind We made a double substitution at half-time as Kristijan Trapanovski and Middleton replaced van der Sande and Babunski. Emmanuel Adegboyega will be wondering how he didn't reduce the arrears moments after the restart as a stunning save from Jordan Smith denied him from all of two yards at the back post. we were back within one as our number seven halved the deficit less than five minutes after his introduction. Sustained pressure from a United corner kept the ball alive and a poor clearance fell to the feet of Trapanovski who swivelled and his finish was sharp to find the far corner. There were appeals for a United penalty before the hour as Ross Docherty went down after sliding through green and white shirts but he was cautioned for simulation and a quick VAR check confirmed John Beaton's call. Half-sightings at goal came and went - Vicko Ševelj the closest with a glancing header that failed to find the target. Hibs wrapped up the points with two second-half substitutes combining as Dwight Gayle nodded Nicky Cadden's cross down into the far corner ?? Slow start costly and frustrating?? Subs made desired impact?? Ran out of steam in closing stages?? Collective push needed to finish stronglyPost-match reaction from #DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin following this afternoon's @WilliamHill Premiership defeat at Easter Road ????????? pic.twitter.com/VCbXILQ5Pa Attention turns to next Saturday as St Mirren make the journey to The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park Tickets start from just £10 - get yours HERE! Watch on iPlayerJane LewisBBC Sport Scotland Senior ReporterTen-man Motherwell earned a brilliant win at Dens Park to secure their Scottish Premiership status for next season as Dundee manager Tony Docherty was left claiming that officials "contrived" to disallow a "brilliant" goal. Motherwell had John Koutrombis sent off on 80 minutes, but second-half goals from Tom Sparrow and Tawanda Maswanhise gave them victory and took them 10 points clear of second bottom with three games to go. Dundee led at half-time after a wonder strike from Mexican midfielder Antonio Portales, who then had a similar hit ruled out for offside later in the first half with team-mate Clark Robertson ruled offside in the build-up. "I'm not abdicating responsibility as Dundee manager for losing the game," Docherty said. "But we're in a situation now where we've got officials that are finding a way to disallow goals. "There's no doubt the opposition gets a lift from that decision. We should be going in at 2-0. The officials contrive to find a way to disallow that goal. I just think it's a disgrace to have made that decision." Defeat means Dundee are not safe of relegation trouble, with Docherty's side two points above the relegation play-off place and eight above bottom. The hosts started full of intent and kept busy returning Motherwell goalkeeper Aston Oxborough, who kept out Oluwaseun Adewumi then the rebound from Ziyad Larkeche. Oxborough was at it again to deny Dundee captain Joe Shaughnessy, while Callum Slattery unleashed a cracker that came close to giving the visitors the lead. Portales showed the way to goal in spectacular fashion. From a long throw-in, the defender controlled and bent the ball into the top corner. The Dundee fans were still waxing lyrical over the hit when the Mexican was at it again. It was almost an exact carbon copy, the only difference was he finished with his left foot this time. Unfortunately for him and Dundee, his wonder strike was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. Koutrombis lifted over before half-time and the visitors started the second half well. Lennon Miller danced into the area and the ball fell kindly to Sparrow, who finished off well. That goal set up quite the finish at Dens Park. Home midfielder Josh Mulligan raced forward, was in a good position in plenty of space, but his shot was way over. Well were then depleted. Right-back Koutroumbis was initially shown a yellow for his lunge on Ziyad Larkeche and, after another VAR intervention, it was upgraded to a red. While many might have fancied Dundee to stretch the 10 men, the visitors were not overly effected. Substitute Maswanhise forced Trevor Carson into a smart save, Dan Casey smashed an effort off the woodwork and Tony Watt shot wide. And they got the winner when Maswanhise met a lovely ball and nodded it past Carson. Casey could have added another just before full-time but somehow shot wide. While Dundee were full of intent and desire in the first half, playing with plenty of confidence, they dropped off in the second half and their disallowed goal was at the centre of that. Portales' goal was a beauty, but when his second was disallowed for offside against a team-mate, it almost proved a turning point and they are under severe pressure going into the last three games. Their heads did not quite go down, but Motherwell looked to receive a lift from not going in at half-time two down. Dundee did not quite find the same level in the second half and they paid the price. It was a sore loss, especially as they were up against a numerically disadvantaged Motherwell. Docherty cannot allow his frustrations over refereeing decisions to fester as he prepares his side for massive games. Motherwell definitely got a lift from the decision to rule out the second Portales strike. They came out for the second half fired up and even the loss of a player did not affect them negatively. They played as a team all after the same ambition and it was little surprise when they popped up with a winner. They showed hunger to get forward and were organised at the back when they had to be. Now safe from becoming embroiled in any relegation play-off battle, they can play without pressure for the remaining three games. They will take so much from this game though, and will want to build upon it for sure. 'We're finding ways to disallow goals' - Docherty Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I'm really, really angry and really frustrated. And most of that is directed towards the officials. We're finding a way in this country with our officials to disallow goals. The officials are killing the game. "I will take full responsibility for my team contriving to lose that game. But, if we go in at half-time like we should, justifiably, 2-0 up, the dynamic of the game is totally different. If we brush this under the carpet again and don't address it then it's a disgrace." Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer: "I'm very happy, very proud of the guys. They did well, especially in the second half - and the first half, we lacked a little bit of energy and also the defence from the two throw-ins was not good enough. "We spoke about this at half-time, but the second half was brilliant with certain shots on goal and also after the red card there was no feeling that we could not win the game." Armstrong at 94 minutesSubstitutesNumber 54 Zdravkovski Match OfficialsReferee: Kevin ClancyVideo Assistant Referee: Calum ScottAssistant Referee 1: David RoomeAssistant Referee 2: Scott Robert AndersonFourth Official: Lloyd WilsonAssistant VAR Official: Daniel McFarlaneMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightAfter their 4-1 win in December Dundee could earn back-to-back home league victories over Motherwell for the first time since October 2015 and first time within a single season in the top-flight since 2001-02 Both sides have scored in six of the last seven league matches between Dundee (13 goals) and Motherwell (11 goals) with the exception a 1-0 win for the Dee in October this season Dundee have won three of their last five league games (L2) as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D4 L9) They are looking to pick up back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since March 2024 Motherwell have lost seven of their last nine away league games (W1 D1) conceding 18 goals in this period (2 per game on average) while scoring only five Simon Murray has scored in seven of his last eight league appearances (8 goals) and is now the joint-top scorer in this season’s competition with 16 goals (level with Daizen Maeda) – the most by a Dundee player in a Scottish Premiership campaign since Kane Hemmings in 2015-16 (21) SNSPublished3 May 2025Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We got off to the worst possible start you can't do that against that level of opposition the third one was a free header in the middle of the six yard box they are situations we have to manage better We didn't do the basics in those situations well enough and that's why we were on the wrong end of the result "I don't think there was a lack of effort or commitment in the first 45 minutes but we definitely lacked a bit of energy and pace at the top end of the pitch Hibs are a very atheltic team and are always a real threat on the counter-attack "At 2-1 we were very much in the game and you could sense that bit of anxiety around the stadium but I thought Hibs ran out worthy winners in the end "Right now we're all a little bit flat because that's two defeats back to back but I have to keep reminding myself of the position these players put us in in the first place I'm not going to stand here and throw anybody under the bus because the players have been fantastic "We can't allow the season to peter out now they'll still believe they can catch us We have to have the mindset that we're capable of catching Hibs and Aberdeen above us "I think everybody out there with a connection to Dundee United would have accepted top six before the season started but now we're getting a little bit greedy and we're thinking about European places I think the main priority for us now is to secure fifth and if we do that let's see how high up the table we can get." SNSKheredine IdessaneBBC Sport Scotland Senior ReporterPublished3 May 2025Well where do you start with this Jekyll and Hyde United performance The mistakes they made in defence in the opening quarter of the match were as glaring as they were completely unexpected they were none of those things before the interval and this was not the ground to put in one of their poorest 45 minutes of the season hauling off Jort van der Sande and David Babunski and replacing them with Kevin Trapanovski and Glen Middleton with Trapanovski almost immediately reducing the deficit from close range Their chances of third place are now a long shot but regardless they've been a welcome addition to the Premiership and on the evidence of the second half The striker, who signed a new contract this week, controlled Mark O’Hara’s outswinging free-kick on his chest before lashing home a fierce volley to score the only goal of the game. Aberdeen’s Jeppe Okkels had a goal ruled out by VAR, but otherwise St Mirren restricted the Dons to few openings as they secured a vital win. That result, coupled with Dundee United’s 3-1 defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road, means the Saints are now only five points off the fifth-placed Tangerines ahead of the match between the two sides at Tannadice next weekend. Robinson said: “People thought I was crazy when I said that we could get into Europe. I know this group of players. “I know the talent and desire they have and people thought we would turn up for these two games and not put everything into it and that’s not how my teams work. “I’m delighted with the win. I didn’t think we started well today. It took until the goal was disallowed for us to get into our rhythm. There’s no rhyme or reason behind that. “I thought the subs were terrific. When we needed to, we defended really well. I thought we deserved to win without being at our very best. “We’ve shown we can compete with the best teams in the league who have spent a lot of money. “Aberdeen have spent very well and recruited well. But to match that and be the better side, in terms of creating chances, is credit to the players. “We’ve got everything to play for. We have to go and win. (Dundee United boss) Jim Goodwin’s had very good results against us and he holds all the cards against us. “It’s up to us to break them down. They’re a good side who have a good manager and they’ve had a terrific season, but it’s all to play for certainly. “When you get top six it’s easy to go, ‘The gap’s too big’, but what we’ve done – and it’s still going to be hard – is given ourselves a chance and that doesn’t surprise me.” Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin rued his side’s failure to create chances after the Dons failed to have a shot on target as they slipped to their first defeat in nine games. He said: “It was a tight game. I don’t think we did enough to deserve to win, but I am not sure we were so bad as to deserve to lose. “It was one of those games where you needed to do something special to win it. We did a lot of good things and were almost there sometimes, but not quite enough to deserve to win it. “So we have to improve some areas in our away games to deserve to win. Today it was not there, but also credit to St Mirren for the way we played. “It is not over yet, we have three more difficult games to play and you have to keep believing until the end of the season and keep going.” Facebook pageTwitter feed RSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd A 3-1 win saw Hibs open up a gap in the Premiership table. Martin Boyle fired the home side ahead after just three minutes before fellow striker Mykola Kuharevich added a second after 14 minutes to give David Gray’s side a comfortable interval lead. Jim Goodwin needed to stir his lacklustre side at the break and second-half substitute Kristijan Trapanovski quickly reduced the deficit after slack Hibs defending. The rejuvenated Taysiders however, could not complete the comeback and Hibees substitute Dwight Gayle restored the two-goal advantage with a header in the 87th minute. With the Dons, who started the day behind on goal difference, losing 1-0 at St Mirren, Hibs opened up what could be a significant gap with only three fixtures remaining. Both sides were coming off defeats. United losing 5-0 at home to Celtic on the day the Hoops clinched the title, while Hibs lost 1-0 at Aberdeen which ended their 17-game unbeaten run in the league. The game had yet to settle when the home side took the lead with a goal that owed much to poor defending. Attacker Junior Hoilett’s threaded pass found wing-back Chris Cadden down the right and when United defender Declan Gallagher failed to deal with the cross, the ball fell to Boyle, who knocked into the empty net from a couple of yards. United captain Ross Docherty got caught in possession at the edge of his own box and Jack Walton made two good saves, firstly from Kuharevich and then Hoilett on the follow up. However, moments later, on a Hibs counter, the United keeper was beaten by Kuharevich’s angled drive which went in off the far post, after he had outstretched the visiting defence. Tannadice striker Sam Dalby had a decent drive saved by Hibs keeper Jordan Smith but the sharper Leith side were firmly in control. United had it all to do and they came out for the second with real purpose and determination. Smith made a brave save from Emmanuel Adegboyega at his post and needed treatment but the visitors kept up the pressure and when Kuharevich failed to clear a corner, Trapanovski – on at the break for David Babunski – fired in from a tight angle. Glenn Middleton, who took over from Jort Van der Sande for the second half, was also making a difference on the left wing. Docherty was booked by referee John Beaton for diving inside the Hibs box, with VAR checking for a penalty to no avail as far as the Tannadice men were concerned but they were right back in the game. Hibs steadied themselves and began to threaten again and in the 75th minute defender Jack Iredale headed a Boyle corner just over the bar. At the other end, United defender Vicko Sevelj missed the target with a header from close range before Tannadice defender Ryan Strain blocked an effort from Hibs substitute Josh Campbell for a corner that was defended. The game stretched further in the latter stages and the points were secured for the men from Leith when Gayle steered a header from a cross from fellow substitute Nicky Cadden to take Hibs marching on. Ryan Strain walked away from European football with St Mirren He missed out on the opportunity to cross swords with Juventus and PSG in the Champions League the Dundee United defender has no intention of allowing the carrot of continental football to slip away this season Strain, 28, was part of the Buddies side that ended a 37-YEAR wait for European qualification with Stephen Robinson’s men finishing fifth and teeing up Conference League showdowns with Valur and Brann he walked away to join newly promoted United It was a switch that raised a few eyebrows; but one that will be vindicated if the Terrors finish above his former club AND seal continental qualification “I didn’t have any regrets (about leaving) when I was watching St Mirren in Europe,” Strain reflected “But you do think that you want to be part of it yourself in the future “I watched their game against Brann and thought they did really well “It was always my hope to do the same with Dundee United and we’re within touching distance of it This club should be up at this end of the league; should be aiming to play in those European competitions “We’re happy with how things have gone but there are four games left Strain is no stranger to European football The Australia international reached the Europa Conference League group phase with Maccabi Haifa in 2021/22 with the Israeli side lining up against the likes of Neftci Baku Feyenoord and Slavia Prague during that adventure But the post-script to that journey would prove a “frustrating” one – with Strain departing before getting a crack at three continental giants in the subsequent campaign “I played in Europe before with Maccabi Haifa “We got through the Europa Conference League qualifiers and played against Feyenoord and a few others they got into the Champions League against PSG Unless they are usurped by St Mirren in the final weeks of the season, United’s current berth of fifth will be enough to seal a Europa Conference League second qualifying round place. with just three points separating the Terrors and third-placed Hibs “This weekend is like a cup final,” added Strain “Hibs have been in good form but we’re full of confidence We will definitely be going there to win.” Strain will also be keen to exorcise the ghosts of the last meeting of the sides when Sam Dalby’s towering header at Tannadice was ruled out for a phantom handball with the score balanced at 1-1 with Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum later acknowledging that a mistake was made who whipped in the cross for Dalby’s disallowed goal rued: “That was a sore one for a few weeks “It actually made it worse when they came out to say it was wrong – it would be better if they’d (SFA) just said nothing But it’s happened now and hopefully we can get the result this time.” a contest against the Hibees is the ideal platform as he seeks to regain his place in the Australia squad Strain last represented the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh last June and is yet to make a squad under new boss Tony Popovic – albeit he only took the helm in September 2024 Martin Boyle and Nectarios Triantis all made Popovic’s last group it is fair to say the Oz gaffer will be keeping a keen eye on events in Edinburgh Australia’s next fixtures are against Japan and Saudi Arabia this summer “The Australia manager (Tony Popovic) was at one of the previous games we played against Hibs,” he added but I get messages from the backroom team asking how things are going “The Hibs boys have been doing really well and hopefully I can join them in the next squad.” V&A Tunnel Linlathen Iron Bridge