Today

 

 

 

Murray through

 

The Herald:

Andy Murray roars his approval as he reaches another Australian Open semi-final

 

Moral leader

 

The Herald:

Tennis head of integrity Philip Brook will head up an investigation into match-fixing and promises to examine every element

 

History girl

 

The Herald:

Johana Konta is the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 1983 after winning her Australian Open quarter-final

 

Big brother leading the way

 

The Herald:

Jamie Murray (right) with doubles partner Bruno Soares as they march on in Melbourne 

 

King Kev

 

The Herald:

Kevin Kelbie celebrates his extra time goal that sent Linlithgow Rose through to the Scottish Cup fifth round

Put up or shut up

 

The Herald:

Kris Boyd (left) reckons its time to be walking the walk rather than just talking the talk as he surveys former club Rangers' transfer activity

 

Transfer target

 

The Herald:

Celtic reckon they are homing in on Manchester City's Patrick Roberts

 

Fed up

 

The Herald:

Hearts owner Ann Budge makes clear her irritation with misbheaving Hearts fans 

Not amused

 

The Herald:

St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown has made his feelings known about the SPFL's handling of League Cup semi-final ticket allocation

 

And another thing...

The Herald:

Paul Hartley, who is engaged in a spat with TV pundit Pat Nevin, makes another point as his Dundee side goes through in the cup 

 

Tough day at the office

 

The Herald:

Scotland women's team boss Anna Signeul watched her native Sweden put six past her side

 

Always Well-come

 

The Herald:

James McFadden is heading to America with Motherwell's blessing

 

Signs of improvement

 

The Herald:

Alex Rae reckons he is seeing hopeful signs at St Mirren

 

Moving into Villa

 

The Herald:

Eric Black has been appointed first team coach at English Premier League side Aston Villa

Clan ready for big clash

 

The Herald:

Ben Davies reckons Braehead Clan are set to overturn a deficit in the Challenge Cup (pic courtesy of Al Goold)

 

Next big thing?

 

The Herald:

Prop Zander Fagerson has been called into Scotland's Six Nations squad

 

06.05 Radio Scotland sports headlines

 

Tennis to have a full review into match-fixing charges against the sport… Johana Konta into Australian Open semis… Andy Murray one set all against David Ferrer in his quarter-final… Linlithgow Rose into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup as Dundee also go through… Liverpool reach English League Cup semi-final

07.05 Radio Five Live sports headlines 

 

Murray two sets to one up in Australian Open but David Ferrer has just broken back in fourth... Konta continues magnificent run in Melbourne... Liverpool through to League Cup semis... Dundee into fifth round of Scottish Cup along with Linlithgow Rose

The Herald:

Andy Murray throws the towel - literally rather than metaphorically as he battles with David Ferrer in Melbourne

 

 

Back Pages

The Herald:

 

The Herald:

 

 

The Herald:

The National leads on Ann Budge hitting out at Hearts fans’ misbehaviour that has cost the club money, the Evening Times has advice for all around Ibrox with Stuart McCall telling the fans to relax, while Kris Boyd tells Dave King it is time to walk the walk in terms of his spending promises and The Herald also goes big on Boyd’s criticism of King as well as Celtic boss Ronny Deila’s pursuit of Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts, St Johnstone’s anger at ticketing arrangements for their League Cup semi and TV pundit Pat Nevin’s defence of himself in the wake of Dundee manager Paul Hartley’s attack on him

 

Grandstanding – today’s sports comment

 

There’s a mixed bag in The Herald with Davie Hay proffering the view that as good as Ronny Deila’s youngsters are they will never be as good as the Quality Street kids he grew up with, Simon Cambers his analysis of why Maria Sharapova can’t get past Serena Williams and Stuart Bathgate contemplating some perplexing aspects of Celtic prospect Duncan Weir’s move from Glasgow Warriors to Edinburgh. Meanwhile in the Evening Times Neil Cameron outlines what Celtic need to do to avoid losing to a Highland team in the cup for a fifth time and The National lets The Rucker wax lyrical about the Six Nations Championship which is round the corner.

The Herald:

18 love down to Serena Williams in their last 18 meetings Maria Sharapova looks bewildered

 

Sporting Twitterati

 

 

Good year for the Rose

 

 

 

 

Today's top message

There has been a fair bit of discussion recently about the absence or otherwise of opportunities for young Scottish footballers but the progress of Linlithgow Rose, out-lasting Forfar Athletic in extra time to become the first Junior team into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup offers the latest encouragement that there may be more than we think.

It used to be that it was England's FA Cup that produced all the great giant-killing stories, but this great year for the Roses has happened at the same time as East Kilbride have earned themselves a meeting with Celtic. It may, of course, merely indicate an overall dropping of standards in Scottish professional football, but as fiscal reality has set in across the sport there has been increasing evidence of a levelling of standards and resultant increased competitiveness between the Premiership, the Championship, Leagues One and Two and now, it seems, with the non-league and Junior set-ups.

That can only mean more players and, indeed, coaches who can get the most out of limited resources, will be able to catch the eye.

In the meantime congratulations to Linlithgow, not least on having done it the hard way after two trips to Forfar and a decisive match that went the full distance.

The Herald:

In the name of The Rose... Linlithgow celebrate their cup win

 

Thanks for reading. Back with tomorrow's Scottish sports agenda