Mowbray heartened as brave Bhoys bounce back

TONY MOWBRAY watched his threadbare squad go within seven points of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers with a 4-1 win at St Johnstone yesterday, then revealed he has players ready to come back to increase the pressure on the Ibrox men.

The Bhoys, who have a game in hand on their neighbours, travelled to Perth with nine men unavailable, forcing the Celtic boss into giving 18-year-old defender Josh Thompson his first start.

Mowbray was dealt a further blow when defender Glenn Loovens, who had conceded a penalty which allowed Liam Craig to give the home side the interval lead, was carried off with a head injury after clashing with Kenny Deuchar.

But the game turned in the visitors’ favour after Graham Gartland was sent off seconds into the second half for a professional foul on Marc-Antoine Fortune. The former Nancy striker equalised with a wonderful angled-drive in the 64th minute and notched a second from close range, either side of a Georgios Samaras strike, with substitute Paddy McCourt sealing the win with a late solo goal.

Mowbray claims he will start to see his squad replenished ahead of Wednesday’s game against Hibs at Parkhead.

He said: “It’s just three points for us but the target and challenge for us was to keep chipping away. “We have another big game on Wednesday against Hibs, a side on form and we are looking forward to that.

“The strength of the squad is going to be significant and the pleasing thing for me is that Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney will probably join in full training tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Andrew Little described his first senior goal for Rangers as a dream come true – but was gutted it was not enough for a win.

The 20-year-old came off the bench to net a last-gasp equaliser against Hearts to cancel out Scott Robinson’s opener and earn a 1-1 draw. “It was very special for me. I was delighted,” he said. “But, for the team, we wanted three points and it’s disappointing.”

Meanwhile Jon Daly struck a hat-trick yesterday as Dundee United regained third spot in the SPL with their fourth consecutive victory.

David Goodwillie coolly slotted his third goal during their winning run to give United a deserved 29th-minute lead and Daly struck either side of half-time.

The Irishman completed his treble in the closing stages as United’s convincing victory continued their strong revival under caretaker manager Peter Houston from the difficult spell that followed Craig Levein’s departure.

Elsewhere on Saturday Anthony Stokes scored twice as Hibs hammered Hamilton 5-1, Aberdeen beat Kilmarnock 1-0 while Motherwell were 2-0 winners over St Mirren.