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Held to draw Hibs lose chance to close gap on Scottish leader Celtic
Updated: Saturday November 25, 2000 3:12 PM
GLASGOW (Reuters) -- Hibernian manager Alex McLeish condemned his side's desperate defending on Saturday as they slipped up yet again in the Scottish premier league title race. The Edinburgh club, second in the table behind Celtic, could only draw 1-1 away to St. Mirren after a blunder by goalkeeper Nick Colgan in injury time allowed the second-from-bottom club to steal an equalizer. McLeish blamed his defense, who were without the influence of injured captain Franck Sauzee, for allowing St. Mirren's pressure to build up on Colgan. "I thought we were going to get away with a win but our defending was desperate," McLeish said. "It was too deep and we allowed St. Mirren too much of the ball. This feels like a defeat to me." Hibernian now have 37 points from 17 games, seven behind leaders Celtic who play away to Rangers on Sunday. But Steve McGarry's goal three minutes into injury time means Hibernian have spilled seven points in their last three games, just ahead of next Wednesday's vital encounter with Celtic in Edinburgh. They seemed to be set for their first win in three games when John O'Neil fired a curling shot in from 20 meters after just eight minutes but despite a succession of chances could not kill St. Mirren off. A long ball in injury time saw McGarry pounce after Colgan failed to hold Mark Yardley's knock-down and drill in an equalizer from 10 meters. "Colgan made a mistake but he has been excellent all season," McLeish said in defense of his goalkeeper. Third-placed Kilmarnock also slipped up, losing 0-2 at home to St. Johnstone, for whom teenage striker Keigan Parker scored both goals. Parker scored the first from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Gus MacPherson brought down Mohammed Sylla and then thrashed in a 20-metre shot on the hour. Kilmarnock remained on 30 points from 17 games, one point ahead of champions Rangers, while St. Johnstone, with 23 points, moved up to sixth. Two late goals form Colin Cameron pushed Hearts into fifth place with a 3-1 win over Dundee at Tynecastle Stadium. The Scotland midfielder struck in the 88th minute, drilling in a shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 and then netted a penalty in 90 minutes after Ivano Bonetti had brought down Steve Fulton. Argentine striker Beto Carranza's curling free-kick had put Dundee in front after 24 minutes but Grant Murray equalized for Hearts with a 54th-minute header. Hearts now have 25 points, while Dundee remain on 22. Aberdeen also benefited from two late goals as French striker Alex Di Rocca earned a 3-3 draw at home to Motherwell. Aberdeen were trailing 1-3 until Di Rocca, on loan from Sedan, converted Kevin McNaughton's cross in the 80th minute and then lashed in an equalizer in the last minute of regulation time. Goals from Derek Townsley (14th minute) and Lee McCulloch (43 and 69) had given Motherwell a comfortable lead despite Arild Stavrum's 41st-minute strike for Aberdeen. Bottom side Dundee United finally earned their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Dunfermline, their first home league win in almost a year -- December 12 1999, when neighbors Dundee were defeated, was the last time United had enjoyed a success on their own Tannadice pitch. They still have only five points from 17 games. Sean O'Connor in six minutes and Craig Easton's 43rd-minute header put Dundee United 2-0 up. The lead was cancelled out by Lee Bullen and David Moss in 60th and 64th minutes before former Rangers player Charlie Miller fired in an 86th-minute penalty. United finished with 10 men as Easton was sent off but the visitors had only nine after Youssef Rossi and Moss were dismissed.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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