FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Following Aberdeen’s 5-1 defeat at home by St Johnstone, Dons manager Derek McInnes warns his players that the rest of the teams in the Scottish Premiership will be gunning for them after they lost four goals at set pieces. (Sunday Mail)

Aberdeen midfielder Barry Robson refuses to believe the Red Army has been stopped in its tracks and does not see the “bubble bursting” as the Dons still sit top of the league. (Sunday Herald)

The 5-1 loss was the heaviest of McInnes’ Pittodrie reign. (Sun on Sunday)

Saints striker Steven MacLean praises the Aberdeen fans who stayed on to applaud the Perth side at the end of the match. (Sunday Mail)

Dundee United will approach St Johnstone for permission to speak to Tommy Wright about their managerial vacancy. The Northern Irishman is under contract at McDiarmid Park until the summer of 2017. (Sun on Sunday)

United’s 3-0 loss to Partick Thistle is likely to be Dave Bowman’s first and last match in charge of first-team affairs as the Jags breezed past them with comparative ease for their first win of the season. (Sunday Herald)

Former Poland and Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski admits he was not always a fan of Robert Lewandowski’s but the 27-year-old’s scoring feats for Bayern Munich and Poland have shown that he is a great player. (Scotland on Sunday)

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan feels it is a problem that his players are not experiencing Champions League football, unlike his rivals for a place in the Euro 2016 finals. (Scotland on Sunday)

Motherwell caretaker boss Stephen Craigan says he has found out very quickly just how frustrating management can be, after his team lost 2-1 to Dundee at Dens Park. (Sunday Mail)

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose, whose lapses helped Fenerbahce to a Europa League draw in Glasgow during the week, says he is accustomed to being criticised but insists it will only make him stronger. (Sun on Sunday)

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre says, that with the international break, it will be a long two weeks as he and his players look to get Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat by Inverness CT out of their system. (Sunday Mail)

Peter Houston accused referee John McKendrick of allowing himself to be influenced by the Rangers management team after his team lost at Ibrox. (Sunday Herald)

Houston says the tackle which was penalised and from which James Tavernier scored Rangers’ crucial second goal was “never a free-kick in a month of Sundays”. (Various)

Houston will face a Scottish Football Association charge for foul and abusive language after accusing referee John McKendrick of handing Rangers the victory at Ibrox. (Sun on Sunday)

Mark Warburton says with 20 years in the cut-throat world of trading behind him, football is “absolutely” harsher than the City. (Sunday Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is disappointed that the team allowed powerful South Africa to gain the momentum in their 34-16 World Cup win over Vern Cotter’s side in Newcastle on Saturday. Scotland can reach the last eight of the competition if they beat Samoa in a week’s time. (Mail on Sunday)

Cotter jokingly offers to buy the Samoa manager a couple of cases of beer ahead of Saturday’s must-win game for Scotland. (Mail on Sunday)

Scotland lock Tim Swinson, while disappointed to lose to the Springboks, takes comfort from the team’s World Cup future being in their own hands. (Mail on Sunday)