Football Daily - The Debrief: Five-goal Stamford Bridge thriller, AFCON final is set

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

Will Liam Rosenior drop Robert Sanchez for Chelsea, and is Viktor Gyokeres good enough for Arsenal? Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green, former Arsenal defender Matt Upson and football correspondent John Murray join Steve Crossman from Stamford Bridge to react to Arsenal's 3-2 victory over Chelsea. That puts Mikel Arteta's Gunners in prime position to progress to the Carabao Cup final, but raises big questions for both sides. The panel debate them all, and you'll hear from the two managers, including Liam Rosenior reflecting on his first match in charge at the Bridge. Over in Morocco, there were two more semi-finals being played, as Senegal triumphed over Egypt and hosts Morocco defeated Nigeria on penalties to set up a mouth-watering AFCON final. Sadio Mane reacts to his goalscoring display which downed Mo Salah's Egypt in the early game, while John Bennett reports from Rabat, as the hosts celebrated long into the night. Finally, Kenny Crawford rounds up the night's Scottish Premiership action, with further reaction from Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Hearts goalscorer Lawrence Shankland. Timecodes: 00:45 Chelsea's goalkeeping errors in defeat to Arsenal 07:50 Is Viktor Gyokeres enough for Arsenal? 16:45 Reaction from Mikel Arteta 18:43 How good can Alejandro Garnacho be? 22:15 Reaction from Liam Rosenior 25:15 AFCON finals set, with reaction from Senegal goalscorer Sadio Mane 27:58 Hearts win with 10 men 29:10 Interview with Hearts goalscorer Lawrence Shankland 30:30 Celtic win under O'Neill again 31:35 Reaction from Martin O'Neill

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What a night at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 2, Arsenal 3, full-time, first leg of the League Cup semi-final. Liam Rossini's first home game in charge, Arsenal, twice leading by two goals. White, Yockeresh and Zubimendi for Arsenal for Chelsea. Two goals from Alejandro Garnacho after he came on as a substitute. Also more to come on Celtics 1-0 win at Falkirk and Hart's 2-0 victory over St. Mirren. They went down to 10 men when it was 0.0. but that helps them greatly up at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

We're also going to hear from Sadio Marnay as well. In the next half hour, he scored the goal for Senegal as they knocked Egypt out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the semi-final stage. But these are the sounds of Stamford Bridge. The correspondent John Murray and Matt Upsin inside the stadium, former England goalkeeper Rob Green is with us as well. Rob, you launched a spirited defence of Robert Sanchez over the first Arsenal goal. What about the second? No, can't do it. Sorry, Steve.

Technically, his legs have gone one way because he's trying to cut his body to get down to the ball. But when you do that, your legs throw your body weight up. And therefore, he's done that rainbow dive as opposed to drop him down onto the ball and basically just not got his hands behind the ball. And that's what hurt them. You're thinking two goalkeeping errors in there

in a game against Arsenal, you just can't afford to do that. You need your defence on point. You need your goalkeeper on point. And he wasn't. board diver technical turn? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've never heard that one before. No, it's, you can picture it. It's an up and a down rather than a down and a cross, put it that way. There's a joke somewhere in there, John, about them still having hope because of Gar Nacho, but I won't be the one to make it. Yeah, I think it was certainly entertaining

for Liam Rossignor's first match here as the head coach. And I think there's certainly something for him to take from this. But the hard fact is, as we know, they know, everyone knows at Chelsea, you will be expected to win and he lost. And yes, you know, there was the rally after he made his changes in the second half and one of his substitutes, Garnachio,

scored both of the goals. But, you know, the fact is Chelsea will have to go and win at the Emirates and no visiting team has done that yet this season. What do you think, Matt, will be Liam Rost Sr's sort of favourite takeaway? What will he have enjoyed seeing? I think he'll enjoy the fact that they came back a couple of times from times in the game where Arsenal could have run away with it

and I think that's partly down to them sticking at it in fairness to them, partly down to the fact that I think Arsenal would be disappointed they haven't come away from here with maybe a little bit more as we've already touched on with two goalkeeping errors. You'd think that they might have had more of a lead but weren't able to and I think that that's a big positive. I'm just looking at the team and I think there was only three players

in the Chelsea team that, didn't change position throughout the 90 minutes. I mean, talk about tinkering and what have you. So he's had a real shuffle about with nearly everyone, Barr Santos Enzo and Esteval, who stayed out on the right. Everyone else changed at some point. So goalkeeper, Steve. You're a goalkeeper as well, of course, with Sanchez so four.

So with that in mind, they've actually done all right. Steve, I think they've had a bit of grit and dug in. And they've done okay because that amount of change during the game, the team is efficient and as organised as Arsenal's not easy to cope with him. They've hung in there. I mean, and I don't take any pleasure in just sort of laying into a goalkeeper, Rob, or anyone else, but especially a goalkeeper because you're on. If you are Liam Rossini, you are surely thinking, well, two things happened in that game,

which are completely beyond my control. Yeah, yeah, and you say, well, I set a team up and touch it on what Matt said, you go, you can see the goal within the opening minutes of both half, And they're both errors. And you think, what can we do here? What can I do? And the fact of the matter is that Philip Jorgensen played in his first game and played really well in goal against Charlton.

Yes, it was against Charleston. Yes, there's different challenges in doing that. But all of a sudden, the challenge for Robert Sanchez is you'd proven yourself to be number one. You've got to go and do it again. And it's something that's against the team that you just do not want to do it against. Do you think it could be an even keel now, for those two keepers, Greedy. In terms of new manager coming in

and reset and thinking, right, who am I going to play? Or do you think he'll go with Sanchez? I think he'll stick with Sanchez because he's had the shirt. But you look at how they're playing now, Matt, and it's interesting, they're looking to lure that press.

They've got the double pivot. They've got the overload around their own goal, and it was hairy at times, wasn't it? You're looking at Sanchez. He didn't look assured on the ball. I think that's the difference. that's where Jorgensen can play. He's got shortcomings in the shot-stopping attributes and stuff like that,

but the playing out from the back, if you want your keeper to do that, then all of a sudden it throws in a very different dimension. Because Moreska had changed that. Moreska had allowed Sanchez to go long. So all of a sudden these errors of, you know, he's saying, well, what are you bringing to the party if you're going to cost us goals as well as not be able to play out as well? So it's going to be an interesting one.

I never know, Rob, quite how it works with who's going to play. Who's going to play in goal in the League Cup? So, Jorgensen had started all three matches in this competition, but a new manager comes in and it's Sanchez who plays. Whereas for Arsenal, Kepa has started all of the matches in this competition and continued to play in the semi-final. I presume every case is different. But, I mean, what sort of deals, if I can call it that, are done?

Or does it just come down to the manager wanting to give the only? other goalkeeper a match? Yeah, it's just, it's, you know what, some of it, some are on a game by game basis, some sign to play only in cup games, and it is a very odd dynamic

because the feel of everything, a whole 11 can remain virtually the same. You change your goalkeeper, it sends a completely different message, doesn't it? It's a really odd dynamic. I suppose the thing is, John, that normally it is a manager

who has two good goalkeepers, who wants to try and do what they can to keep the number two keeper happy, so that they stick around. But that's not necessarily the case with Chelsea, is it? There is an argument there that neither one of their goalkeepers could necessarily kick up a fuss if they weren't picked on any given week at the moment.

But then sometimes it comes to the final. Oh, yeah. And then the other goalkeeper comes in, but then sometimes it doesn't. Look, there's a third option in all of this, Matt, which is they go and buy another one. Yeah, I mean, that is an option. And I think, you know, as well as Sanchez has

done at times and I think he has had very solid games and come away with positive performances. I think what Rob said there, every time I see him, I don't quite trust him with his feet. He doesn't look comfortable a couple of times tonight. If it's coming to him and he's under pressure

and he's got to get his head up and find that pass which you have to if you're going to play that out from the back as Rob just described, I'm not sure he's got that in the armoury. So that's something for Liam Rossignia to have to figure out and whether or not that that needs addressing.

And we don't know why he played the goalkeepers this way round as well. That would be quite interested to know whether or not he's saving Sanchez, because he feels this was obviously the bigger game than Charlton or whether or not he fancies Jorgensen more and wanted to play him. We don't know his decision making. So that's quite an interesting one as well. Let's move it on to Arsenal then, Matt. Goodness me, if anybody is feeling relieved after this game tonight, it's got to be

Victor Yockech, hasn't it? Yeah. Yeah, it has. I mean, showed, you know, large parts of the game where you kind of think is he effective enough. I feel for him in a little way because I think that, you know, in terms of what his strengths are, he's not going to get that many opportunities

to showcase what he likes to do. So he's got to adapt. And I think he's got to learn that. And he's got to almost be coached that and change the way that he's played previously. So to see him in the second half, offer up himself to have that ball into his feet centrally in the pitch on the edge of the box

and find a little offload for Zubimendi for me was a real plus point because I think it showed that centre forwards have made such good careers off those type of movement. I mean Olivier Jou play for both of these teams was one of the best I've seen at that. I think he was fantastic at playing that role and he's got to learn that that kind of link up is essential

because you're going to dominate the edge of the opposition box all the time and you have to have that in your locker to play for a team like Arsenal and that's got to come more from Yoccarez. You can look at the bullish running and steaming through people which he did a couple of times and he can cause a bit of havoc. He can have two or three people hanging off him

while he's driving with the ball and then it pings out to someone else and he draws players to him. So he is effective but he's got to offer up more and he did that in moments tonight. Rob, you know the thing that I think really stood out after the goal is of the 10 people who celebrated that goal

everybody celebrated it more than Yockeresh, which almost paints the picture of a group of players who are desperate to get him going. Well, that's because he was still sign a sigh of relief, wasn't it? You could just see him physically go, oh, thank God all for that. It was, but he was there. He was there. And you go back to the first half,

and Zhao Pedro had a shot come cross, and no one was there for Chelsea. They didn't have that instinctive centre forward there. So you kind of, you say, oh, it was a tapping. You've got to be there to score that tapping. And he was. So you got to give him credit for that. And I just find it interesting.

Matt, I was going to ask you on him, do you think with the way that they play with Urien Timber and Ben White marauding forwards is the sort of, is the modern day sort of number 10, full back come number 10 kind of attacking player? Do you think that brings a dynamic that he's not used to as a centre forward? that almost you've got to pin yourself in there because like you say,

he wants to make those channel runs, those bullies runs, but there's already someone there. Yeah, yeah. Like I say, the space a lot of the time is it, and you see him drifting around the centre of the field. There's a little bit of aimlessness about him looking at where should I place myself.

So in those moments when they're all up there, you have to offer that ability to take the ball in and set it off, win a foul, pin the centre half, find where the midfield, because he'll always have options, because he's got world-class players all around him from the midfield. But it's just getting in that mindset and giving it time to do that. And to your point, Steve, on them wanting to celebrate that with him, do you remember Havert at Bournemouth where they gave him a penalty?

Yeah. And said, you go and take it and then ran over it. And they really made a fuss of him. Yeah. To bring him into the group and to give him a boost. And it just reminded me of that. And, you know, it's a testament to the, I think the spirit. that Mikhail Ateta has built in that Arsenal dressing room.

How long does that go on for, though? How long do you keep not scoring? Handing him a penalty or something to... Yeah, yeah. I know, because it is manufactured, isn't it? You know, it's a sign of support, but sooner or later you've got to pick it up and do it yourself, haven't you?

Exactly. There'll be a time limit for that for Yoccas. I mean, he does bring a different dimension to anyone else, so it is useful, but for that starting role, which he obviously wants coming into the club, with habits getting fit and what have you, that could start to slip away for him.

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, Matt, but the thing that I found really interesting about that is that sort of reaction to a player is almost what I would expect if a striker who has been missing loads of chances and therefore his low in confidence scores a goal and everyone's behind him. I'm not sure that's the Yockech story, is it?

It's not like he's been passing up a hatful of easy opportunities. No. He just hasn't necessarily been there. It's not really a confidence thing, is it? No, I don't think he's had a lot of the opportunity. So you're right. It's not a thing where, oh, he's having a bad time in front of goal. It's just you're not getting into the places like he got in tonight to have those tapping.

Yes, it was gifted to him by a goalkeeping error, but that's fine. He's in the spot. He tucks it away. That's his job, you know, the assist for Zubimendi. That for me was the best part because he's in the right place. He's taking the ball in. He sees the offload. He executes it.

It's done his job. And I think that's really, really good. But he's not missing hatfuls of chances. He's just getting in those positions. In seven Premier League matches this season, he's not had an attempt on goal that he's delivered. So they're not misses, their lack of efforts. Hence, why, John, it almost seems, well, not unnecessary answers that he shouldn't have done it.

But it isn't one of those situations necessarily where teammates need to get around a player and sort of get them going because he's not a player who is missing. a ton of chances. He's just a player who isn't taking a ton of shot. And also now there is direct pressure on his position with Jesus and Haverts now fit. And maybe that actually is something that he needs. You know, that's sort of the threat of losing his place to these other guys. He could react brilliantly to that and you can get a different dimension out of him. I mean, possibly. But I don't think he's not, he's not given it his all. You know what I mean? I don't think he's given it as all. It just requires for me a change of tact and a change of understanding that his role can't just be what's

made him successful so far and got him the move to Arsenal is done that bit, is now here, right, what do I need to do to be a success at this club? And it might just need those tweaks and him playing that role to really bolster his importance to the team. There's a great piece, by the way, on the BBC Sport website by Alex Howell, which is all about basically the question of, can Arsenal go and win a Premier League without a player who necessarily scores over 10 Premier League goals because it hasn't happened before but at the moment they're on course to do it. Now the answer to that is obviously yes because they're top of the Premier League despite that fact. That said Rob, doesn't it kind of feel inevitable that this is just Havert's team to walk back into? Has the ship not sailed on

Yockech keeping him out? I don't know because he didn't score a bundle himself did he? We're just talking about it then with the... Does he not offer more though? He's a better footballer. He's a better I think he's a better centre forward. He's more involved. Yeah, he's more involved. I think he's more versatile. I think he's got a better, he's got a cut to football brain.

Whether he scores the hatful of goals that we're thinking, I don't know, but he's, I can't see him getting 10, that's for sure, this season. But I do think the Giorcares has come in as someone who they desperately needed. They needed a number nine. Where would they be?

If they hadn't have had him this season, they'd have still been playing Mickle-Marino know up front. And that had its shortcomings in itself. So there's definitely space for him. I don't think it's his fault, Yorca, that he's not that great of football. He's not that great as a sense of forward.

Of all the things you've ever said about, I just don't, you know, he's not at that standard. And I do feel like he's, that when they come up against the good teams, the really good sides, that that's where they've come short, fallen short, isn't it?

He's probably an important part of potentially Arsenal going on to win the league because he's playing that role. But for that position, to really nail down that position and grab it and run with it and be a full success there, I think there's definitely a lot of work to do for him. And I think Mikhala Teta really does like Kai Habertz. He likes the way he plays. He likes that intelligence that Greenie just mentioned about what type of footballer he is. So that's going to be an interesting.

thing to unravel from here on in. But you look at saying, sorry. No, you're all right, got up. Yeah, but where we were. And it's 64 million was it. John was saying that they've spent. And they were saying that the drop-off isn't as far from player one

to player two now. So you may be looking at your career saying it's 64 million spent on player two when Kai Havert's fit. So the drop-off isn't that great. I think that's where the key difference is. I was about to ask you both how you think Mikhail Artetta will feel after that.

But I don't have to, because here he is with John Salthor. 2-0 up and at 3-1-up, you must have thought we can really go on and push on and finish this one off. So is there a lingering frustration tonight that you didn't? Yeah, we tried. With the 1-3, we kept going.

We kept pressing them. We put them under a lot of problems. Had two massive chances to score the fourth one. And when we had the best moment, they scored the goal from the corner. And how do you see the tie now? I mean, you are clear favour of you? It's just half time, but it's very open,

and especially with the quality that they have. Was it a bit too open for you tonight? At 2-0 or at 3-1, should you have maybe seen it out better? It is so much quality in that pitch. And the moment somebody unlocks one player, it's a lot of space. And that happened in many occasions today. Well, he dodged it there, Matt, but the answer to that question is, yes, surely. It must have been too open for Artetta's liking in the end.

I think that they didn't deal with a couple of situations that he would have liked. I mean, the cross that wound its way all the way back to Garnacho, they were a little bit stretch, and it was just too easy for him. Obviously, the second one was a bit more of a tricky one. It was deflected out, and it was a good first time finish. But, you know, he was right. I thought the subs made a massive impact.

Marino came with energy, Martinelli. The save, you know, on a positive note with Sanchez, was fantastic for Marino really came out, made himself big and got a great block in, which really did save Chelsea, because that would have been big trouble. think that would have put it to four one, wouldn't it, John, at that point?

So, you know, that was a big moment in the game where it could have gone completely the other way. So he will be disappointing because I think it was there for the taking at moments in the game. But I think you could hear in the smile in his voice, I think, cup match, first leg away from home, you win it.

Yeah. That's the bottom line. It's not disaster. That is the bottom line. This is quite a big question, but I'm going to ask it anyway, because I feel like we should talk a bit, John about Alejandro Garnatcher. And it is really easy to forget so much so that I just had to Google it.

He is still 21. And yet he is a player who it feels like there are a myriad of discussions around is he ever going to live up to his potential. He's still 21. He feels a lot older. The world is his oyster and he is a very, very talented player. And, you know, he's in a place here where he has intense competition for a place in the starting lineup. If this is a Cup final, if it's on the line, if it's a Champions League match, does Garnacho start for Chelsea? Is he one of your best 11? I think that's, you know, I said to you before the game,

how long is Liam Rossini going to keep him happy if he's not picking him in big games? And, you know, he's got that feel about him as a character, you know, that's just me from the outside, how I see him, what he is and I said at half time to John I think he would have an impact on the game and he did and he did it because I think he's got this

different personality which I thought was such a positive for Chelsea tonight he came on and he brought something different he's got a way about him he was direct he's hungry it's desperate to to prove himself and be the best player and I think he's got that kind of arrogance and will to want to do that whether or not

he's easy to manage I don't know and that that'll be the test and that'll be Liam Resignor's job, but he has something, he's got an edge about him as a person. I mean, I think it's, to me, it's odd that he's not still at Manchester United. Why?

But why do you think he's not still at Manchester United? There might well be a very good reason for that. Clearly, you know, there were issues there, but, you know, he's come through, he's been developed at Manchester United. But, you know, there's a lot of that that goes on. I think, you know, Madweke was on the bench today for Arsenal. I think it's odd that he's not still at Chelsea.

From the point where he was with Chelsea, his development, being a part of a successful team last season, and yet they sold him to a team across the capital, who are one of their direct rivals. But maybe... John actually frustrates a life out of me. He is someone who you look at tonight, you say, just bottle it, do it again.

And you get games, and I've watched him live so many times already this season, where you're going, right, this is yours for taking. Enzo Fernandez, when he plays in that more advanced role, loves to get on and get in between the... right-sided centre half and the right back and the right back has to tuck in and then all of a sudden Garnaacho's got a third of the pitch on his own and you're saying just take it just do it just run at him use the combinations with Enzo with your number 10 whoever it might be just go and do it and he

doesn't and then you see him tonight where it comes on with his bit between his teeth and he's got something to prove and he goes and proves it yeah but oh come on do this he needs managing though Rob, then he's not one of those players you can kind of leave him to his own devices to produce that. I think it's a constant progress with him. And you're right, that reaction he had today, he was desperate to get on and do something. And he did. That's how capable he is. Well, if Liam Rossini couldn't unlock Alejandro Garnacho, that might be a heck of a start.

Guys, lovely, really, really good. Enjoyed that. Thank you very much, John, Matt, Matt, Rob. Excellent. John Murray, Matt Upson, Rob Green, who've been with us. On five live sport tonight, Chelsea 2, Arsenal 3, first leg of the league cup semi-final. Excellent game. Let's hear from the Chelsea manager, Liam Rossini, with John Southall.

Liam, it was a very good watch for the neutral. How did you find your first Stanford Bridge experience? Yeah, no, to walk out was a great thing for me. And my family, my family were here today. In terms of the result, not the result we wanted, is half-time in the tie. A lot of positive aspects in terms of the energy, the attitude, the intensity, the result. of the players, but disappointed in the manner that we conceded the goals. I was going to say how frustrated were you with that and how much can you learn from those goals?

Yeah, we have to. We have to, myself included. The first goal, work on the corners. We know where they're going to put the ball. I think lots of managers have said that against Arsenal. We need to be stronger in that moment, you know, we need to fight that one out. And the third goal was disappointing because we actually were in a really good place in the game at 2.1. The energy of the crowd was up. We were on top of the game. And then we switched off on a restart where they played a quick free kick through our lines and they have quality they took advantage and punished us but again we come back and i have to say that's what i've spoken to the group about is resilience determination i thought we had some really really good passages of football we were

exciting to watch but we need to make sure that we're pragmatic at the same time at two nil down and maybe at three one it i mean it looked like the game might get away from you so in a strange way are you not that disappointed to come away with a three two i'm always disappointed to lose a game But what I did like was the resilience, the determination of the players. I felt we looked fit. I'm asking him to press in a different way. I'm asking him to be even more intense than it have been. And there were a lot of really, really positive signs in terms of the engagement, the attitude of the players.

But we can't give cheap goals away. And a word about Garnacho, he came on as a sub. I mean, you must be thrilled with him. And how important could he be if you can get the best out of him? He's an outstanding player. It's no surprise to me. He gets goals. He can finish.

two fantastic finishes from him. But I felt the other two wingers were out of I felt Estaval is going to be scary, how good he was today. Pedro Netto was top in terms of playing three different positions. He played in number 10. He played on both wings. I thought his energy levels, his quality was really, really good.

So again, pleasing aspects to our performance, but we want to start winning games of football. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight ample cargo space, and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure.

Learn more at landrover.ca. From a small village on the banks of the River Nile. Everybody call me Muhammad, but you know, short name or nickname, they call me more. To the biggest stages of world football. Sala is more than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king. Muhammad Sala represents a dream

for Egyptians, for Muslims, for Africans. More than just a football player, he gave us hope. I'm Kelly Kate. This is Sporting Giants, Mo Sala. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, the debrief with Steve Crossman. Okay, let's talk Africa Cup of Nations because we have our final. Senegal will play the host's Morocco.

Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties. John Bennett was watching. Well, here in Rabat the Dream, former. Morocco to win a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 50 years is still on. Thanks yet again to their keeper, Yassin Bonu. He was a hero at the World Cup in Qatar when they beat Spain on penalties during the tournament. And he was a hero in this semi-final. Saving from Samuel Chukwese and Bruno on Yemechi before experienced striker Yusuf Niziri stepped up to score the winner,

leading, of course, to delirious celebrations. The coach, Walid Reg Raggi, who'd been under pressure during this tournament, sprinted onto the pitch, punching the. the air. The 120 minutes before the penalty shootout have been gripping despite the lack of goals scoring opportunities. Nigeria's star man, Victor Osman, never really got into the game and the Super Eagles are going home despite scoring 14 goals in their first five matches at this tournament. Earlier Senegal, Sadio Manet won the third part of his international football trilogy against Egypt's Mohammed Salah, his former Liverpool teammate. Manet scored the winner 12 minutes from time,

which means Salas wait to win the title goes on. But the question. is will this be his final afghan as for senegal they have a chance to win the cup of nations title for the second time in four years let's get some reaction to tonight's earlier game at the cup of nations because Sadio Manez Senegal beat

Mo Salas Egypt so Egypt out at the semi-final stage another tournament goes by without Mosella being able to lift it Mane has done it before of course and he scored the winner in the semi-final and then he spoke to Isaac Fannin in Tangier

I have plenty reason to be happy tonight because it was not easy game. And also I score for my team and throw to the final. So I can't complain honestly. They made it really, really tough for you. It felt like it was attack against the feds. Yeah, like I said, always Egypt is one of the best teams in the world, and even historically. So playing against them is always tough.

But we respect that from the beginning. And you can see how compact they are and how tough is difficult to break their defense. But yeah, I think we try to play well. We didn't do too many mistakes and we play quick, fast the ball, and we create some chances at the end of the day. I think we score one goal, fair play. I think we deserve to win. Your old friend, Mo Salo, of course, disappointment for him.

Yeah, of course I think it's not easy for him, but still he did everything. He carried his team till now. And fortunately, one half to pass, one have to. And, yeah, I'm happy to win the final. In Scotland, hearts remain six points clear at the top. at the table after a 2-0 win over St. Mirren. They lead Celtic, who was second after winning 1-0 at Falkirk.

Let's go to Tyne Castle. Kenny Crawford was watching second game in a row. Hearts have had a player sent off. This time, it felt like it would cost them, and yet they're fined away. Yeah, Steve, in the past four days, hearts have had two serious examinations of their title credentials, and they have passed both with flying colours.

Head coach Derek McKinness, who, by the way, epitomises this team, said after the 1-0, win at Dundee on Sunday that it was their biggest three points of the season because they had to play the second half with ten men. This is surely an even bigger three points because this time around the Time Castle side had Benny Beningamey sent off after 15 minutes yet managed to score two second half goals to grab a win when a point would surely have been acceptable. A lovely Lauren Shanklin finish and an opportunistic Thomas Magnuson head. Our hearts will definitely encounter or further test Steve with 16 league games remaining,

but this team appears to be determined to win the title. Let's hear from Hart's striker, goal scorer again, Lauren Shankland. It's a great result, first and foremost, obviously the circumstances go against us again in the red card. I haven't well seen it back to be honest, but Kevin was pretty sure it was a red. Snowlight Bennett, but honestly, he's no ferocious tackler, but it's one of the circumstances we have to deal with,

But I think the other night, obviously, we went so long with 10 men, it probably gave us that wee bit of belief that we knew we could do it. As I said, it's a great result. We still carried a threat on the other end. It was important we did that. We managed to get a goal, so it got a great result. We were just talking about Alejandro Gar Nacho at 21, so a word for a man more than twice his age.

Because I know that Lawrence Shanklin gets all of the attention because of his goals, but Craig Gordon back again for hearts and another clean sheet. Yeah, and just his presence, there maybe wasn't the one dramatic. take save like there was against Undy at the death on Sunday but just his presence he commanded his area I'm currently reading at home

just now Steve Neville South Hall's autobiography The Binman Chronicles and I think he played his last game for Rill in North Wales at 43 as well so I'm sure he would take his hat off to Craig Gordon for keeping on going and I think the man who will be most pleased about this outside of hearts as Steve Clark

because I don't think Alex Swallov the Hart's goalkeeper who got sent off on Sunday is going to get back in the team now I think Greg Gordon's going to run on right through to the World Cup and that'll be exactly what Steve Clark wants. There's a lot of competition, but I actually think the best line of the whole show tonight was from Martin Dowden before the game at Falkirk

where he said the last time Falkirk beat Celtic, a young Casper Schmeichael was in goal for Falkert, which is remarkable. That run continues and probably more importantly, Martin O'Neill's run continues with another win. Yes, seven games out of 81 in his first stint, is interim this season and then that's two out of two

so far two clean sheets I think I mentioned on Saturday at the United to Celtic game at Celtic Park Celtic's last clean sheet before Saturday was in Martin O'Neill's last game of his first interim stint

if you're still following me during the Wilfred Nancy rain there was no clean sheets at all and then Martin O'Neill comes back and it's two clean sheets straight away so it just shows you and they're just grinding out they're doing what hearts do

they just grind out victories that's what they did tonight I think Falkirk from what I heard played very well but Celtic hit the back of the net. Kenny, thank you very much and here is what the Celtic manager Martin O'Neils had to say.

Congratulations on the win. It felt like a match that it was living on a knife edge for large parts. What was your assessment of your side's performance? I totally agree with you. It wasn't a knife edge. I thought Falkout played very well. First half,

it had some good chances that in another night they might have scored and we were fortunate to go in a half-time 1-0 in front. We hadn't played particularly well. I thought the second half we started to improve a bit. We got a wee bit tighter to Falkirk, which was really important. But overall, delighted to have won the game, but we can play much better.

What was your message to the players at the end? What do you want to see more of? Well, we've, suddenly what is about 72 hours or whatever it may be, since we've played brilliantly against Undy United. So we're looking for a sort of a level of performance, which is great. That's nice. but to win tonight in considering that we didn't play well, we gave the ball away in some silly situations,

but overall for us to win tonight, considering we didn't play well, was terrific. So that was the message, really. All right, that's it for this episode of the Football Daily. Thank you very much for listening. Next up, the Euroleaks. I think you just have to go out there and be the best that you can be. We're going to go out there and lay it all in the line.

A 12-yard touchdown line. And the Eagles have beaten the Chiefs convincingly in Super Bowl 59. Five Lys for NFL. Listen on BBC Sounds.