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By David Sharp
1715: It's been a barnstorming opening day in Scotland's top flight. More to come tomorrow as Celtic open the defence of their SPL title at home to St Mirren. Billy Reid's callow Hamilton side take on Craig Levein's Dundee United on Monday. Thanks for your company. Cheers for now.
1704: Hibs went into today's game without a win in eight pre-season matches. And they only managed a measly two goals in 640 miserable minutes of football. Make that 720 minutes after drawing a blank at Rugby Park. Mixu 'Al Murray Pub Landlord' Paatelainen has his hands full lifting spirits at Easter Road.
1658: "I'm not sure Mikoliunas had a meaningful touch before he scored." Paul Mitchell, BBC Radio Scotland commentator
Well, the Lithuanian's first touch was certainly very meaningful.
1655: Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibernian Aaah, the smell of it! Napalm in the morning? No, victory. Killie hold on to overcome Hibs. Great three points for the Ayrshire men.
1653: FULL-TIMEHearts 3-2 Motherwell Csaba Lszlo gets his Hearts career off to the best possible start with a terrific win over battling Motherwell.
1652: Four minutes of stoppage time to play at Rugby Park. The scent of victory is in the air for Jim Jefferies men.
1651: "David Sharp, Get your act together, are you drunk ? Get the scores correct!!" kentc81 on 606 Join the debate on 606
How very dare you kentc81? I'll have you know I'm as sober as a judge. It's just getting a little frantic around here as the final whistles approach!
1648: FULL-TIME Aberdeen 0-2 Inverness CT Craig Brewster's side have broken the hoodoo with a wonderful win over Jimmy Calderwood's dejected side. Eighteen games without a win over Aberdeen - Inverness have banished the jinx.
1646: GOAL Aberdeen 0-2 Inverness CT Caley Thistle surely seal their first ever victory over sorry Dons as Roy McBain doubles their lead in the final minute.
1643: "You just can't defend like that." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Craig Paterson, after errors by Mark Reynolds and new captain Stephen Craigan let Hearts in to take lead
1642: GOAL Hearts 3-2 Motherwell. The visitors enjoyed parity for barely two minutes before Saulius Mikoliunas restored Hearts lead. Defensive gaffs from Reynolds and Craigan allow Mikoliunas to grab what could be the winning goal. Dramatic scenes with eight minutes to go at Tynecastle.
1640: GOAL Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibernian And Jamie Hamill has scored for Killie with his first touch of tha ball after coming on as a sub.
1640: GOAL Hearts 2-2 Motherwell Classic commenatators timing there from Paul Mitchell - David Clarkson has just equalised for Well. The words had barely left Paul's mouth when Clarkson unleashed a long-range strike which gave Stevie Banks no chance in the Hearts goal.
1639:" Hearts are repelling Motherwell with almost relative ease." Paul Mitchell, BBC Radio Scotland commentator
1636: "A draw against Hibs would be a good result. Seven points from our first three games is the expecation." killiearethemen on 606 Join the debate on 606
Killie are certainly hanging in there for the draw. But in truth neither side looks like breaking the deadlock.
1635: Hibs defender David van Zanten leaves the park with blood spilling from a facial injury. The visitors have already used up their three subs so they will want to get him patched up quickly.
1632: "Someone needs to tell Michael Stewart you don't need to make challenges on the halfway line ... the referee could easily show a second yellow card and he'd be off." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Craig Paterson
Ya betta wash out Michael else you'll be getting hooked like fellow bull-in-a-china-shop Bob 'Herc' Malcolm.
1630: Allan Preston, BBC Radio Scotland's commentator at Tynecastle, is pleased with a gag he's cracked. He's guffawing away on the airwaves. He wants to know how striker Connor Sammon is settling in at Rugby Park and wonders whether Killie boss Jim Jefferies is... "pleased with his catch". Don't take the bait, folks, etc, etc...
1627: Kilmarnock's Craig Bryson fires a powerful shot over the crossbar when a pass to a team-mate may have been the better option.
1626: Mark McGhee has withdrawn Bob Malcolm from the increasingly frenzied action at Tynecastle. Apparently the no-nonsense Motherwell midfielder, who is the spitting image of prize bozo Thomas 'Herc' Hauk from televison series The Wire, was in danger of being sent off.
1625: "Bob Malcolm's on a tightrope, you can't afford to take that chance." Craig Paterson, BBC Scotland pundit, as Malcolm is subbed by Mark McGhee moments later (see above)
1624: "Aberdeen are now beginning to put Inverness under a bit more pressure". BBC Radio Scotland pundit, Stevie Frail at Pittodrie.
1622: Aberdeen still trail to Andrew Barrowman's first half strike. Inverness are inching closer to a historic first victory over their north-east foes.
1619: What's happening then? Well, it's a stalemate at Rugby Park as Killie and Hibs trade punches like a pair of honest, but uninspired sluggers. Fletcher-aside, there's a distinct lack of quality or guile on show.
1617: "Just hope the Well can find another two goals and take three points. We've got a tough start and we need some points on the board early!" madscot125 on 606 Join the debate on 606
1615: Hibs win a free kick 22 yards out from goal but Steven Fletcher's curling effort drifts harmlessly over the crossbar. Kilmarnock respond with a counter-attack and Frazer Wright's header is cleared off the line.
1613: Allan Preston releases a high-pitched bleat as Andrew Driver once again spurns a gilt-edged chance to stretch Hearts lead at Tynecastle.
1610: All three SPL games are back underway.
1606: "Hibs seem like a different team than they did in the pre-season freindlies." Macker100 on 606 Join the debate on 606
At long last the silence is broken on 606! Where has everyone disappeared to? Have you all gone shopping with your WAGS? What's the male equivalent of that? HABS? (Husbands and Boyfriends?!). Anyway, help me out here - I'm going down like Gerry Sadowitz judging a Women's Institute marmalade-making competition
1601: A gaggle of giggling Geisha girls have just finished walking up and down my back as I limber up for the final furlong of this marathon day of football action. Is that the correct collective noun I've used there?
1555: "Jamie Mole has lived up to his name ... he must be buried under the ground as we haven't seen him." Paul Mitchell, BBC Radio Scotland commentator
That Paul Mitchell is a right wag! Let's hope that wasn't a scripted joke!
1550: "Both teams have been very positive and I've been impressed by Steven Fletcher up front for Hibs. He's a real talent, with great touch and awareness." Jim Duffy at Rugby Park for BBC Sport
1549: Half-time at Tynecastle. A rampant Hearts go in for a well-deserved cup of tea after a commanding first half performance. Motherwell did well to peg them back through Clarkson. But Csaba's team have been full of beans and are worth their lead.
1547: Three minutes of added time at Rugby Park. That would be down to the early departures of O'Leary and Thicot.
1545: Half-time at Pittodrie. Caley Thistle hold on to their slender advantage.
1540: GOAL Hearts 2-1 Motherwell With five minutes to go until half-time Audrius Ksanavicius puts Hearts in front again.
1539: "The pitch has held up pretty well considering the deluge of rain here at Pittodrie." BBC Scotland's Scott Davie
Sounds like there's been biblical downpours all over Scotland today.
1536: Steven Thicot is the second player taken off at Rugby Park. The new arrival at Hibs looks to have torn a thigh muscle and Ross Chisholm comes on. Or perhaps the delicate Frenchman doesn't fancy the rough and tumble of the SPL and will be jumping on the first plane to Paris tonight?
1535:GOAL Hearts 1-1 Motherwell Premature gloating from the Tynecastle faithful asDavid Clarkson draws the visitors level. Stephen Hughes laid it on a plate for the Well striker to stroke the ball home from a yard out.
1534: BBC Radio Scotland commentator Allan Preston shrieks like a distressed dolphin auditioning for a boy's choir as Hearts' winger Andrew Driver whistles a shot millimetres past Smith's post. Should have been 2-0 to the home side.
1533: "Are you watching Mark McGhee? Hearts fans' jibe
1532: Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil makes a great save to tip over a long-range strike from Kilmarnock midfielder Mehdi Taouil.
1528: GOAL Aberdeen 0-1 Inverness CT Inverness have NEVER beaten their nearest SPL neighbours but they've drawn first blood at Pittodrie today. Andrew Barrowman scores his first goal for Caley Thistle as the Highlanders shock the Dons.
1527: GOAL Hearts 1-0 Motherwell. The Jambos have reaped the reward for their whirlwind start as Michael Stewart opens the scoring at Tynecastle. Stewart surged into the box and gave Smith no chance with a whizzing right-foot daisy-cutter.
1525: Kilmarnock defender Ryan O'Leary is taken off in some distress, with what could be a dislocated shoulder. Frazer Wright is the replacement.
1523: Hibs have seemingly awoken from their disastrous pre-season slumber and are playing with some verve and style.
1522: Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher spins on a sixpence and lets fly with a fierce shot but Alan Combe is right behind it.
1518: Hibs striker Colin Nish goes close to scoring against his former club at Rugby Park. A slip by Gary Hay lets Steven Fletcher in and he releases Nish clean through on goal but, with only Alan Combe to beat, the striker wafts a gentle pass-back of a shot straight to the Killie keeper.
1515: The same Hearts player, Ksanavicius, is booked for diving in the Motherwell box. Simulation, I think, is the correct term for the Lithuanian's sneaky antics.
1512: Kilmarnock new boy Manuel Pascali goes close from a corner, with Hibs goalkeeper Andrew McNeil relieved to see the ball flash wide.
1511: Hearts have started their game at lightning pace. Well keeper Graeme Smith dives bravely at the feet of Ksanavicius to deny the Jambos an early goal.
1509: "Motherwell fans are singing: 'They tried to make McGhee a jambo he said No, No, No.' Not quite Amy Winehouse, but funny all the same." Paul Mitchell, BBC Radio Scotland commentator
That's a belter Paul. Any other terracing chants that cunningly adopt the tune of a famous pop song? Tell me all about it here: Join the debate on 606
1504: "Hibernian have certainly started brightly in the opening minutes." Former Easter Road manager Jim Duffy at Rugby Park for BBC Sport
1500: The games have all kicked off at Pittodrie, Tynecastle and Rugby Park. I'm in Glasgow, but I'll be straddling Scotland like a colossus, keeping tabs on all the action from the Granite City down to Edinburgh and across to the Ayrshire coast. Well, that's the plan anyway...
1459: TEAM NEWS: Hearts v Motherwell
New Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo sprung no selection surprises for his first Premier League match in charge.
With his only new signing, David Obua, injured, Laszlo picked most of the team that started the Jambos friendly win over Hull.
Lee Wallace comes in at left-back following injury, while Christos Karipidis and striker Jamie Mole are also given starting berths.
Motherwell include new signings Jim O'Brien and Gunnar Nielsen on the bench as Mark McGhee, who rejected the opportunity to take the job Laszlo accepted, named a familiar line-up.
1458: Any predictions for this afternoon's feast of football? Well, what are you waiting for? Get ranting and raving here: Join the debate on 606
1456: TEAM NEWS: Kilmarnock v Hibernian
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies gives a competitive debut to his most recent signing Manuel Pascali.
The 26-year-old Italian midfielder, who signed a three-year deal during the week after arriving from Parma, joins fellow new boy Conor Sammon in Jefferies' starting XI.
Goalkeeper Alan Combe and defender Garry Hay, who missed the club's pre-season friendlies with back and ankle injuries respectively, return to action.
Hibernian gaffer Mixu Paatelainen hands SPL debuts to new signings Joe Keenan, Steven Thicot and David van Zanten.
Former Killie striker Colin Nish teams up with Steven Fletcher in attack.
1455: Still waiting on news from Tynecastle as Csaba Laszlo picks his first competitive Jambos eleven.
1450: TEAM NEWS: Aberdeen v Inverness CT
Zander Diamond is on the bench for Aberdeen after failing to shrug off a foot injury.
As expected, Aberdeen fans will have to wait to see new signing Tommy Wright but Charlie Mulgrew, Mark Kerr and Gary McDonald all make their Pittodrie bows in the starting XI.
Inverness CT boss Craig Brewster hands Andy Barrowman a start up front for Caley Thistle.
Other new recruits Ryan Esson and French defender Lionel Djebi-Zadi have to be content with places on the bench.
1449: Sorry for the slight gap in coverage there! I nipped away to grab some grub before the main dishes of this afternoon's entertainment are served.
1432: "I thought McCulloch and Thomson worked hard in the middle of the park but Kirk Broadfoot was magnificent and gets my vote for man of the match." Billy Dodds, BBC Radio Scotland pundit
1430: BBC Radio Scotland pundit, Billy Dodds, has named Kirk Broadfoot his man-of-the match. Do you agree with Doddsy? Cast your vote here on our marvellous Player Rater. Penalty-saving Gers skipper Allan McGregor is top of your pops on 6.70 but you can still change that if you fancy:
1425: "Rangers will be delighted to get the win after the trauma of midweek. The performance is less important than the victory. Jim Traynor, BBC Radio Scotland pundit
1424: "'Unconvincing win for Rangers, but a win nonetheless. We can only improve on this, and if we get the creative midfielders Murray and Smith have all but promised then we can only get better." memnoch666 on 606 Join the debate on 606
1421: FULL-TIME Falkirk 0-1 Rangers The final whistle goes and Rangers have survived a last-gasp, powder-puff onslaught from Falkirk, to take all three points. Not very convincing from the vistors but they'll certainly take it after
1419: Madjid Bougherra has been quietly effective for Rangers today. The Algerian international is the classic cliche of 'big lad with good feet'. In plain English I think that means that despite his towering frame he can play a bit of football too.
1418: Three minutes of injury time to play. Last chance saloon for Falkirk. And the Bairns have a corner. Rangers hoof it clear.
1413: How ironic it would be if a goal from a former Kaunas player, Velicka, were to win the game for Rangers today...
1412: Charlie Adam comes on for the injured Kevin Thomson.
1411: Rangers are holding Falkirk at bay with some ease.
1407: "'Its still chuckin it down here and I stay in Falkirk." davienics07 on 606 Join the debate on 606
1405: Boyd slips on the slick surface as he races through on goal. Is he playing in his slippers? To be fair, it's been chucking it down all day in Falkirk and at times it's been a bit like watching a vintage episode of 'It's a Knockout'. I can just hear the legendary Stuart Hall becoming incoherent with laughter at Boyd's slapstick tumble.
1404: Boyd's looping header from Dailly's cross floats in a perfect parabola inches over Olejnik's bar.
1403: "'Nothing against Rangers but this is painful to watch. I grew up watching Laudrup & Gascoigne destroy teams for fun. God only knows what they must make of this? " illustriousArabScot on 606 Join the debate on 606
It may not be pretty, but it's proving effective for Rangers...so far...
1359: Darcheville replaces Velicka...at last...
1358: Superb sliding tackle from Dailly thwarts Arfield as the athletic youngster bursts into the Rangers box.
1357: Twenty minutes to go. Can Falkirk get back into this game?
1355: Rangers have come alive and Higdon's penalty miss is looking costlier and costlier by the minute.
1352: Darcheville pulls his tracksuit top back over his hulking frame. The Frenchman was poised to replace Velicka but the Lithuanian has earned himself a stay of execution with that goal. The Falkirk rearguard were AWOL.
1350: GOAL Falkirk 0-1 Rangers. Boyd nods the ball on to Lafferty who turns the ball across goal and Andrius Velicka taps the ball into the empty net from point-blank range.
1349: Jean-Claude Darcheville is warming up on the touchline. Rangers could perhaps benefit from the electric pace and throbbing muscle of 'The Flying Wardrobe'.
1347: The Ibrox men lack poise in midfield. And Velicka and Boyd are playing like The Odd Couple up front.
1346: Falkirk have got Rangers penned in again. Scott Arfield sees an ambitious volley fly wildly over McGregor's bar.
1342: What a let-off for Rangers. Higdon will be gutted he squandered such a golden chance.
1340: "Falkirk are winning a lot of the physical battles and that surprises me." David Begg, BBC Radio Scotland commentator
1337: McGregor leaps to his left and tips away Michael Higdon's spot kick. Higdon telegraphed it somewhat but that was a terrific save from the Rangers goalie.
1336: But the Bairns have a penalty now! Whittaker scythes McBride in the box. It's a stonewaller. Falkirk didn't get one at all last season. What a chance to take the lead here.
1333: John Stewart ghosts past the flailing legs of several Rangers defenders but Dailly slides in to arrest his progress. There's a hopeful shout for a penalty but it was never a foul. Dailly got the ball, not the man.
1331: And we're away again!
1326: "'Mon the Bairns, we're passing those Gers aff the park...we just need someone to finish it all off... come back Stokesy come back!" bairnabeu_fraz on 606 Join the debate on 606
I assume you're referring to Anthony Stokes, Senor Bairnabeu? Yogi Hughes has been unable to replace the prolific Irishman since he left for Sunderland in December 2006. The Dubliner rattled in 14 goals for the Bairns in the half season he spent on loan from Arsenal. How Yogi would love to have him back today...
1322: It's the same old story for Falkirk. Lots of easy-on-the-eye possession but no end product. Arguably Rangers had the better opportunities to score in what was a patchy first half from them.
1317: "I'd be surprised if Rangers went on to win the match. The full-backs, Christian Dailly and Steven Whittaker, are not using the ball well." Jim Traynor, BBC Radio Scotland pundit
1315: Bang on cue referee Dougie McDonald blows for half-time. No goals.
1310: The home side are running rings round Rangers at the moment. It's exhibition stuff. Steven Whittaker rudely interrupts the show by stealing possession and embarking on a lung-bursting run. But he runs out of steam and his limp shot trundles into Olejnik's grateful arms.
1309: "It's as if the Rangers players lack belief to even play the simple pass - but credit to Falkirk they are doing very well." memnoch666 on 606 Join the debate on 606
1307: Olejnik clears Boyd's close-range toe-poke off the line. Now it's Falkirk who are living dangerously.
1305: Kerfuffle in the Bairns box as keeper Robert Olejnik spills the ball. Boyd pounces to strike but Bullen blocks his effort.
1303: Woeful direct free-kick from Kris Boyd. He wellies it straight at the Falkirk wall. That lacked both technique and imagination.
1300: "Falkirk are moving the ball around smartly after a shaky start but there is still a lack of cutting edge." David Begg, Radio Scotland commentator
Yer darn tooting Beggy. The Bairns weave pretty patterns but struggle to stick the ball in the back of the net. If they only had a striker with a killer touch they would be two goals up by now.
1259: Latapy threads a lovely pass through to John Stewart but the ball skids just beyond him and McGregor rushes out to collect.
1258: Falkirk are in control of this game now. Rangers are all at sea.
1255: Dodgy pass back from Christian Dailly. Miscue from McGregor. Calamity at the back for Rangers but luckily for them McGregor's wild hoof spins clear of danger.
1250: Falkirk have been impressive, bossing the proceedings in the last few minutes but the game has quietened down now. The fizz has gone for the moment.
1247: Teasing cross from McBride eludes the Rangers defence and the ball breaks to Michael Higdon but he snatches at it and the ball balloons high over Allan McGregor's crossbar. What a chance that was for the opening goal. But Higdon blew it!
1244: Falkirk have taken a while to get going but the Bairns are beginning to find some ryhthm.
1241: The 40-year-old Russell Latapy - who was at Ibrox from 2001-2003- is looking ridiculously youthful and typically twinkle-toed at the heart of the Falkirk midfield
1238: Rangers have made a bright start. They're pinging the ball about nicely and appear to have overcome some of the strange agoraphobia they were clearly suffering against Kaunas. The expansive greenery of the Falkirk Stadium pitch isn't freaking them out so far and they look comfortable on the ball.
1236: Sasa Papac lines up a free-kick from some distance. But his low-slung piledriver crashes off the Falkirk wall and goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
1234: The lanky Kyle Lafferty gambols forward, feinting his way past several Falkirk players. The young Northern Irishman will be keen to make an instant impact on his domestic debut for Rangers.
1233: "My prediction...Falkirk 1-2 Rangers. Kris Boyd with both goals." Carlsberg don't do witty 606 nicknames but if they did...... on 606 Join the debate on 606
1231: "The way Falkirk are lined up suggests they're going to have a real go." Billy Dodds, BBC Radio Scotland pundit
1230: And we're off! Hold on to your hats!
1226: Rangers have a makeshift central defence with Bougherra partnering Kirk Broadfoot. And they line up in a very conventional, yet, for Rangers, madly adventurous, 4-4-2 formation.
1221: TEAM NEWS. New signing Madjid Bougherra starts for Rangers. Andrius Velicka will partner Kris Boyd in a twin-pronged attack with Kyle Lafferty on the left flank.
David Weir and Nacho Novo are both suspended, while captain Barry Ferguson is out of action following ankle surgery.
Kenny Miller is out with a thigh injury and Carlos Cuellar remains on the sidelines.
Jackie McNamara and Lee Bullen both start the game, earning their competitive debuts for Falkirk.
1210: "Now is the time for the Rangers players to stand up and be counted, earn their big wages and show some self-respect. Tuesday night's disappointment has to be put behind them." Bluesea on 606 Join the debate on 606
1208: Falkirk midfielder Kevin McBride insists John Hughes' players are ready to secure a top-six finish for the first time in the club's history:
"Every season is a big season, but I think the expectations are higher this year.
"We've been close the last two years, seventh and seventh, so I think our ambition is to try to get in the top six."
1207: Here's what Walter Smith has been saying this week.
The Ibrox gaffer is still clearly reeling from the massive blow of exiting Europe before the team they defeated in the Scottish Cup final, Queen of the South:
"You are in this game to win. When the players and fans suffer disappointment you suffer along with them.
"I still feel it as much as it did when it happened 15 or 20 years ago, that never goes away from you. If you are competitive then that's what happens to you.
"Managers always take the responsibility for it. That's a manager's job and what he does.
"We will just get up and get on with it, to make sure we don't let it cause us a problem, starting at Falkirk."
1206: Falkirk meanwhile were looking to finish in the top six for the first time ever. But despite playing some pretty football, it didn't quite pan out the way manager Yogi Hughes hoped and the Bairns stalled at seventh in the table for the second year on the trot.
1204: Rangers plan last season was to get closer to Celtic in the league. Well, Walter Smith certainly achieved that in his first season back at Ibrox. But they also embarked on an accidental assault on four fronts at home and abroad.
Which wasn't quite the plan, and cost them dearly in the end with an insane fixture pile-up, utlimately winning only a double when a quadruple was up for grabs.
1202: Rangers must feel that everything is coming too early for them this season. Following the catastrophe in Kaunas before a domestic ball had even been kicked, they are the first game up today.
1201: The summer has run away like wild horses over the hills and suddenly, without much warning, another SPL season is upon us. It's hard to believe an entire summer of sport has flashed past - Wimbledon, Euro 2008, the Tour de France, The Open golf etc - since that fateful night in May when Celtic prised the SPL trophy from Rangers fingertips on a dramatic final day.
They say it's a marathon not a sprint. Well that's certainly true of the SPL title race which has gone down to the wire three times in the last decade. And it's fairly true of today too, with four games on the menu and the amuse bouche of Falkirk v Rangers up first at 1230 BST.
Please join in with some sophisticated gibbering as all the action unfolds.
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