Tag: fear

Day of Destiny: Hearts face Celtic in league title showdown

HEARTS manager Derek McInnes says today’s end of season finale is the perfect last act for Scottish football, adding that it was an eventuality he had always been preparing for.

The Jambos head along the M8 knowing a draw, or victory will be enough to deliver a first Premiership title in 66 years. An incredible opportunity, as the head coach targets that one final big performance to get over the line.

Speaking to the media ahead of today’s match, McInnes said: “We need to go there and perform well, first and foremost.

“I think any time you go to Celtic Park with your team; you’ve got to do so many things right. There’s a consistency, a messaging of what you need to try and do there. And obviously tomorrow, with everything that entails, that just gets amplified, really, because it’s a perfect ending to a season for the league, Scottish football, for drama and excitement. It’s pure box office.

“It’s been a long time, I think, since both teams who could win the title go head-to-head. To be honest, I felt it for a while, obviously, when the fixtures came out. There’s still a lot of football to be played, so you can’t really say that at the time, for obvious reasons, but I genuinely thought it would go the full way, and we’ve kind of been preparing for that.

“In that sense, we knew we’d have to get good wins, and obviously Celtic, in the last wee while, they’ve shown those improvements as well, and consistency of results. Fair play to them, fair play to our boys for making this the situation that’s there now.

“It’s important now that we have that one big performance in us, to try and get over the line and get the title won. The good thing for me is the confidence I feel in the players is so strong. We have to go there with courage; we have to go there with belief and be bullish with our work.

“It’ll be bedlam, it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere, just because of what’s at stake. But I think that there might be people out there, who think everything’s back on script now, Celtic win their home game, win their league, and that’s what Celtic have done for the last wee while. They’ve been the team that have won more titles, but we’ve ripped the script up so often this season, and we’ve got one more in us I think, and it’s up to us to try and make that happen.”

The eyes of the world will be watching come 12:30pm on Saturday, but the head coach admits he has no concerns regarding nerves, as the Jambos have dealt with various types of pressure all season. 

“I’m not nervous about it, but I think dealing with nerves is part of professional sport, particularly when it gets to this stage. Whether it’s the last few holes in a golf tournament, whether it’s the last set in tennis, whether it’s the last round of a boxing match, whether it’s football, where you have to get it all on the line.

“Nerves are a part of that and how you control that sort of situation. There’s been a lot of pressure on our lads for a long time now, and I think that when you play for a club like Hearts, there is pressures, and there should be, there’s an expectation there, but I think the players have dealt with it brilliantly throughout the campaign.

“I’m actually not concerned with that side of it. Of course, the game’s huge and it’ll be different in so many aspects of that, but it’s also exciting. As managers and players, we play in some tough venues, but you have to sometimes celebrate and enjoy playing in what it is on Saturday.

“60,000 fans, live on TV, a brilliant atmosphere, it’s all at stake. I’d rather be playing in it than watching it, and the fact that we’re taking part in it is brilliant for us. We’re having such a brilliant season, breaking all sorts of records.

“At some point, maybe we allowed ourselves to think that 80 points internally might have been enough. Certainly, before the split fixtures, I thought 80 might have been enough to myself, not to the players, but it’s going to be 81 and we need that one more point.”

“We’ve got a team who are hell-bent and who are so used to winning and making things go their way, trying to stop us, so it’s set up brilliantly.”

Martin O’Neill: Atmosphere at Celtic Park will be electric for league title decider

After 37 games, which began with a 1-0 victory over St Mirren back in August last year, the destination of the 2025/26 Premiership title comes down to the final game of the season – a match between Scotland’s top two teams at Celtic Park.

A Celtic victory will see the Hoops crowned champions for the fifth year in a row, while Hearts will secure their first title since 1960 if they can avoid defeat.

It has been a rollercoaster of a campaign for Celtic, with Martin O’Neill enjoying his second spell as manager this season, and the Irishman has the chance to win his first league title since 2004, when he was first manager of the football club.

He is looking forward to the title showdown, as he explained in his pre-match press conference at Lennoxtown.

“It’s been a privilege to come back again,” he said. “I would never have thought it in a million years that this could have happened, and so I should actually enjoy it more than I’m doing.

“We’re really looking forward to it now and why shouldn’t we? It’s a big, big game. Naturally, we have to win it. Hearts don’t, so the advantage is with them in that aspect but we’ll be going out all guns blazing to try and win.

“From the game against Dundee United at Tannadice, we’ve woken up, we’re a better side, we’ve now got a bit more confidence about ourselves.

“And if you’d said to me after Tannadice that we had to win all our games, I would have thought that was a tall order. As it turns out, we’ve had to do that.

“I just think the players are ready for the game. They’ve had things their own way in recent times, but now they’ve had to fight and so far they’ve shown up for it and they’re ready to go.

“But the game’s in the balance. We’re at home, we have to win. Hearts just have to avoid defeat, and it’ll be a tough game for both teams.”

Controversy has raged in the media since Wednesday night’s late penalty award gave Celtic a 3-2 win over Motherwell to set up Saturday’s title shoot-out.

And as well as pointing out that it was a penalty since the ball hit Motherwell player, Sam Nicholson on the hand, the Celtic manager also acknowledged why the decision has generated so many headlines and so much comment.

“I’m not surprised because everybody wants Hearts to win. It’s really as simple as that,” Martin O’Neill said. ‘Everybody outside Celtic and the Celtic diaspora wants Hearts to win. (Not strictly true, Martin – quite a number of Hibs supporters would beg to differ! – Ed.)

“If Hearts win or draw the game, then they will deserve to win the league, and if we can win, somewhere along the way, I think we’ve deserved to win it.

“It’s the number of points you end up with at the end of the season that determines these things, but in terms of the atmosphere, it will be electric.”

THE Scottish FA issued a statement yesterday following Wednesday night’s controversial penalty decision:

(Referee) John Beaton and his family spent last night at home under police surveillance following a leak of personal details online.

The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to compromise the safety of match officials. Such vigilantism, motivated by decisions perceived to be right or wrong on a field of play, is a scourge on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention.

We are also clear, sadly, that this is the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters’ groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials.

We do not make that point lightly as the national association. Yet it is an inconvenient truth. Those who have sought to apportion blame and conspiracy towards match officials to deflect from defeats or perceived injustices throughout the season have contributed to an environment that puts the safety of our staff and match officials in jeopardy.

This is the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts. The cumulative effect impacts on our ability to provide enough referees to service our game at all levels. When it compromises the safety and wellbeing of our most senior match officials, enough is enough.

Referees are not infallible. Mistakes will be made on the field, and subjective calls made in front of the VAR monitor, just as managers will pick the wrong team, goalkeepers concede soft goals and strikers miss from five yards out. Yet the reaction to these inevitabilities could not be more contrasting.

What happened yesterday is not an isolated incident. There are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations but with individuals fearful of speaking out lest it exacerbates the situation or causes further alarm to friends, family and colleagues.

We will not allow this to become the norm. We will not allow a situation where match officials require special provision to protect their children at school to be considered an occupational hazard. We will not allow a situation where staying at home with the front door locked and avoiding the hazards of public interaction becomes a coping strategy.

The Scottish FA will be seeking to strengthen its rules to better protect those integral to the game and urge those who will doubtless join us in condemning incidents like this to support those proposals, not contribute to their watering-down on the basis of self-preservation.

As we approach what should be an exciting finale to the season, we ask those who have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those who have sought the easy way out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and those who have approved incendiary statements and posts to reflect on their contribution to creating an environment of intimidation, fear and alarm.

We urge tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation.

The game kicks off at 12.30pm.

INCIDENTALLY, Hibs could qualify for European football next season if they can overcome a very good Motherwell side at Easter Road this afternoon. Just saying!

Firework fear: experts urge pet owners to start preparing their furry friends for New Year’s Eve

Vet charity warn fearful pets face fireworks misery

As we look forward to New Year’s Eve celebrations, many pet owners may find themselves more stressed than excited by the prospect.

Vet charity PDSA is urging owners to take preventive action – especially those who took on a pet during the pandemic – in a bid to reduce the extreme distress and suffering that fireworks can cause for many of our four-legged friends. 

Our pets’ enhanced senses mean they can find the loud noises and bright flashes from fireworks overwhelming, which can lead to severe anxiety and trauma.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “The firework season may be an especially difficult time for pups who were raised during lockdown – our 2021 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report* shows that 15 per cent of UK dogs (139,000) obtained during the pandemic are showing signs of fear.

“One well recognised fear in dogs is noise phobias, and our previous research reports that 40% of dogs are afraid of fireworks. Of those dogs owned before the pandemic, our research revealed 3% of dogs (260,000) were reported as showing signs of fear, so it’s unknown what the impact will be come New Year.

“Thankfully, there are simple steps that can be followed to reduce distress in our pets – the sooner you can start preparing the better. While some pets who are very affected by fireworks can take months of training to make them more comfortable with the bangs and flashes, there are still plenty of things you can do now to help. PDSA has produced a free guide to help owners lessen the impact of this stressful period.”

PDSA’s top tips on tackling fireworks phobias include:

1. Start early

The earlier you can start your pre-fireworks prep, the better. Play firework noises quietly throughout the house in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, and pair these with their favourite treat! If they show any signs of stress, stop the noises, and try again at a lower volume when they are not reacting. Continue to do this all year round, so your pet builds up positive associations with these sounds.

2. Secure your garden

Secure your home and garden in advance, as fearful furry friends may panic and scarper. Ensure any ‘escape routes’ – such as holes in fences – are inaccessible. Keep doors, windows and cat flaps closed to keep everyone safe, and pull the curtains to help muffle the sounds as well as block the flashes. Don’t forget to provide a litter tray for your cat if they usually toilet outside.

3. Set up a hideaway

Create a ‘den’ in a quiet room or cupboard, which your pet can use as a safe space to hide in. It’s important that your pet already views this space as a safe place that they can escape to. Make it extra cosy with blankets and their favourite toys and treats, and add pillows or cushions to help absorb the loud noises – you can also do the same to hutches for smaller four-legged friends, who may also appreciate some extra bedding to hide away in.

4. Create calm vibes

Using pheromone products can help anxious pets, as the scents they release provide a calming effect to relax a stressed pooch or puss. You can even prepare a calming playlist, as music with a repetitive beat might help to disguise the loud bangs from fireworks and may keep your furry friend relaxed.

5. Speak to your vet

If you’re concerned your pet has a severe phobia of fireworks, it’s best to speak to an expert. Your vet can advise you on measures to improve the phobia, such as professional behaviour therapy or prescribe medications to help.

For more information on how to prepare your pet for New Year’s Eve and to download PDSA’s free Firework Guide, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworks2021.

Three quarters of Scottish paramedics have feared for their safety or felt threatened at work

Three quarters (75%) of Scotland-based paramedics who took part in a major UK-wide survey by their professional body, the College of Paramedics, said they had feared for their safety or felt threatened while carrying out their duties.

This is higher than the UK-wide figure of 70% which has been revealed by the College of Paramedics today. The survey, which was completed by 2,345 UK paramedics including 148 based in the Scotland, also revealed that almost half (49%) of all respondents had suffered physical abuse while 80% said they had been verbally abused during the course of their work.

These findings come one month after new NHS England figures revealed that paramedics have suffered a 32 per cent rise in assaults over the past five years, with 3,569 incidents taking place in 2020-21 alone.

Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics, said: “We have long been aware of the physical and verbal abuse that paramedics suffer and the toll it takes on their health and wellbeing – but this is the first time that a large-scale survey of this kind has revealed the extent of the problem.

“It’s absolutely outrageous to think that so many paramedics have been abused whilst carrying out their duties, going above and beyond to help people when they are at their most vulnerable, and often in the most challenging of circumstances. Worryingly, the abuse appears to have increased during the pandemic when paramedics are already exposing themselves to greater personal risk.

“Enough is enough! It is time for us all to take a stand and find new ways of working together to prevent abuse from happening, as well as  demanding zero-tolerance  when it does occur.

“We welcome the steps that the Government has taken to mitigate some of the risks by announcing that funding will be made available for body worn cameras and by introducing harsher custodial sentences for perpetrators of violence against paramedics – but more needs to be done.

“After years of lobbying, the legislation is now in place to ensure that the worst offenders are severely and appropriately dealt with. The problem is that the law is not being used to full effect and sentences are still far too lenient. We are calling today on the courts to step up and impose the harshest penalties available to them.”

The College of Paramedics has warned that the abuse paramedics are experiencing is having a direct impact on their health and wellbeing. Most paramedics surveyed (89%) said their jobs were taking a toll on their mental health and 69% said this had intensified since the start of the covid pandemic.

Tracy Nicholls continued: “One of the most worrying aspects is that paramedics are continuing to soldier on, despite in some cases being pushed to breaking point.

“It’s a disgrace that paramedics are having to work under these conditions – whether they are part of our NHS ambulance service, in a military or prison environment, working in private practice or wherever they are. These issues deserve much greater attention and we will be working hard to bring about change.”

The College of Paramedics will form part of the NHS Health & Wellbeing team and will focus dedicated resources on the prevention of abuse and the provision of support to paramedics who have been affected.

As part of its five-year strategy, the College of Paramedics will engage with national initiatives which promote the health and wellbeing of its members and will include it within its Continuous Professional Development programmes so that members can access up-to-date information and guidance on how to keep themselves safe.

Tracy Nicholls added: “With the results of this survey, we are well placed to push forward collaboratively to make a difference in this area which is vital for the safeguarding of paramedics and the patients they are trying to assist.”