Porter offers fitting tribute

MOTHERWELL fought back as Chris Porter’s second-half double secured a 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The Lanarkshire club, were playing their first game since captain Phil O’Donnell tragically died on December 29. The team wore shirts with his signature on the chest.

Deividas Cesnauskis fired Hearts into the lead on 10 minutes and Andrius Velicka added a second seven minutes into the second half but Porter’s goal began the fightback and he equalised with 16 minutes remaining.

Celtic took their place in the fifth-round draw with a 3-0 victory over Stirling Albion, bottom of the First Division, at Parkhead. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink broke the part-timers’ resistance on 37 minutes, with strike partner Scott McDonald and midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura registering in the second half.

Hibs paraded new boss Mixu Paatelainen before their 3-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Easter Road. Dean Shiels scored on five minutes, made it two just after the break and completed his hat-trick six minutes from time.

Junior side Linlithgow Rose saw their dream run ended in Dumfries as First Division side Queen of the South eased through with a 4-0 win at Palmerston Park. First-half goals from Stephen Dobbie, Jim Thomson and Sean O’Connor put the tie beyond doubt. An own goal by the amateurs’ Stuart McArthur completed the rout.

Falkirk and Aberdeen will replay a week on Tuesday after an entertaining 2-2 draw. Aberdeen took the lead after four minutes through Jamie Smith and although Falkirk’s Darren Barr equalised within 60 seconds, Steve Lovell made it 2-1 soon after. Arnau Riera set up the replay with a second-half equaliser.

Gretna threw away a two-goal advantage at Morton and will replay on January 23. Fabian Yantorno and Evan Horwood put them ahead, but Kevin Finlayson and Jim McAlistair hit back.

St Mirren beat Dumbarton of the Third Division, Mark Corcoran, David Barron and Billy Mehmet scoring in their 3-0 win at Love Street, while Hamilton and Brechin drew 0-0 at New Douglas Park.

Seven of the 15 ties did not survive freezing temperatures, with matches at Airdrie, St Johnstone, Livingston, Huntly, Cove, Clyde and Partick postponed. Rangers will host Third Division East Stirling at Ibrox this afternoon.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk