The second week of action in the Scottish Premier league threw up a few interesting fixtures - could Aberdeen break their Motherwell hoodoo? Would Rangers put their terrible week behind them and get back on the road to Europe with a win over a Hearts side full of confidence? And would Hamilton's dream start to the league continue at Inverness Caley?
In the First Division, Dundee met Airdrie, hoping to keep their place at the top of the league, while Dunfermline play another promotion contender, St. Johnstone. Down in the Second Division, the top four clubs play each other while in the Third Division, Annan Athletic started the day top of the table; would that be the case at 17:45 today? Read on to find out.
Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen get their first win of the season against a Motherwell side they'd not beaten at all last season (0:1). Tommy Wright made his debut for Aberdeen but was lucky to remain on the pitch when the former Darlington player appeared to headbutt Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan. Luckily for Wright, the referee didn't see the incident. Charlie Mulgrew got the goal for the Dons near the end of the game; a free kick from 25-yards out finding the bottom corner of the net. Not an exciting game by all accounts, but it's Jimmy Calderwood who leaves Fir Park the happier man. The first three points on the board and a competent performance sets up next weeks game against Rangers nicely. For Mark McGhee, two defeats in a row has Motherwell bottom of the league should Dundee United win against Celtic tomorrow.
We predicted the game between Hibernian and Falkirk would be a low scoring game with Hibernian coming out on top. Once again, we're half right. Hibs won, but with five goals scored it was far and away the highest scoring game in Scotland today (3:2). Two goals from Colin Nish - the first on just 24 seconds - and one from Paul Hanlon secured the three points for Mixu's men, with Michael Higdon getting both of Falkirk's goals. An exciting encounter at Easter Road then with both sides playing good attacking football. In fairness, for all the effort Falkirk put in a draw would have been a fairer result, but once again they're let down by poor finishing as Stewart struck the post in the dying seconds.
League leaders Hamilton beat second placed Inverness Caley with a Richard Offiong strike right on half-time to keep their 100% record and their position at the top of the Scottish Football pyramid (0:1). Hamilton seemed comfortable throughout and even when Brewster put three up front in the final quarter of the second half, Cerny had few saves to make. For Caley, Adam Rooney looked like a good acquisition when he came on after half time for Russell Duncan, driving a ball across the six-yard area, but there was no one at the other end to drive it home. Accies play Kilmarnock next week, a game which they should win and which will allow them to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Rangers put in a performance the kind of which we're more accustomed to seeing from them and the victory (2:0) was deserved, but there's more controversy as Mikoliunas was sent off within 10 minutes of coming on - following his second yellow card - and Hearts later had a penalty appeal waved away as Bougherra's arm appeared to deflect a Andy Driver shot. Kyle Lafferty and Kris Boyd got the goals, Lafferty getting on the score sheet first on thirty minutes when he side-footed home from close range. Rangers secured the win pretty much on full time as Miller was brought down in the box by Wallace and Kris Boyd converted the resulting penalty. For Rangers, Pedro Mendes made an impressive debut in midfield and this should go some way to appeasing the supporters. It's Aberdeen next for Walter Smith's men, while Hearts must pick themselves up the visit of St. Mirren next Saturday.
St. Mirren and Kilmarnock played out a scrappy goalless draw (0:0) with few chances for either side. Scott Cuthbert made his debut in the St. Mirren defence, taking the place of Will Haining, so controversially sent off in last weeks game against Celtic. As we said in yesterdays preview, there's been so few goals between these two sides that this was never going to be a goal feast - 9 shots on goal for both sides in the entire game and 1 offside decision each sums it up really.
Dundee United and Celtic play tomorrow.
Team P Pts
1. Hamilton 2 6
2. Rangers 2 6
3. Kilmarnock 2 4
4. Inverness CT 2 3
5. Celtic 1 3
6. Hibernian 2 3
7. Hearts 2 3
8. Aberdeen 2 3
9. St Mirren 2 1
10.Falkirk 2 0
11.Motherwell 2 0
12.Dundee Utd 1 0
(Doug Gillman, Andy Kennedy)
Scottish Division One
Dundee remain top of the first division following their goalless draw away to Airdrie. Ross County looked to be heading for their first win of the season at Clyde after Steven Craig and Scott Morrison put them 2-0 up before half time. But two second half goals from Ruari MacLennan and Pat Clarke pulled Clyde level (2:2). Unlike Clyde, Morton where unable to overturn two quick goals (Davidson and Griffiths) by Livingston in the first 15 minutes. Brian Wake pulled on back for the Ton but Livingston held out for the three points (1:2). Dunfermline continued their good run at McDairmid Park with a comfortable victory of St. Johnstone (0:3). In charge for most of the game, the Pars scored through Iain Williamson, Nick Phinn and Graham Bayne's cheeky lob over McLean in the Saints goal. Dunfermline move into second place, St. Johnstone go down to fifth.
Partick Thistle will be looking to leap-frog Dundee and Dunfermline tomorrow as they take on Queen of the South. (Doug Gillman)
Team P Pts
1. Dundee 3 7
2. Dunfermline 3 6
3. Partick 2 6
4. Livingston 3 6
5. St Johnstone 3 4
6. Morton 3 2
7. Clyde 3 2
8. Airdrie Utd 3 2
9. Queen Sth 2 1
10.Ross County 3 1
Scottish Division Two
What do all four top teams have in common?
The answer is that today they all started the second half in the lead, but ended the game either sharing t
he points, or losing them altogether. Division leaders Brechin raced into an early two-goal lead against Peterhead. Ian Nimmo scored twice in the opening fifteen minutes, but Brechin seemed to take their eye off the ball in the second half as Peterhead drew level with goals through Craig Gunn and Martin Bavidge (2:2). Arbroath took the lead through Kevin McMullan but Ayr's Ryan Stevenson and Bryan Prunty scored twice in a scrappy second half that saw seven bookings to keep the three points in the west (2:1). Alloa got their first points with a draw at home to Raith Rovers (1:1), both goals coming in the first half. All three goals in the game at the Bayview stadium also came in the first half as East Fife lost to Queens Park (1:2). Just over 300 people turned up at Stair Park to watch Stranraer's Gregory Tade score a goal four minutes from time to beat Stirling Albion (1:0). (Andy Kennedy)
Team P Pts
1. Ayr 3 7
2. Brechin 3 7
3. Peterhead 3 5
4. Raith 3 5
5. Arbroath 3 4
6. Stranraer 3 4
7. Queens Park 3 4
8. Stirling 3 1
9. East Fife 3 1
10.Alloa 3 1
Scottish Division Three
A second half penalty and a last minute goal from Steven Sloan made sure that Annan Athletic kept their place at the top of the table, as they recovered from a first minute Colin Cramb goal to beat East Stirlingshire (2:1). A healthy crowd of 980 saw the game. Dumbarton also came from behind at Shielfield park as they beat Berwick Rangers (1:2). Elgin City defeated north-east rivals Forfar Athletic in a forgettable game with only 9 goal attempts and one red card (0:1). Stenhousemuir remain in third spot following their draw against Montrose (2:2). Kevin Bradley and John Baird put Montrose into an early lead, but Scott Dalziel scored twice in three minutes to share the points. In the game with the lowest attendance, 302 supporters saw Cowdenbeath make it two-in-a-row as they beat Albion Rovers (2:1). (Andy Kennedy)
Team P Pts
1. Annan Athletic 3 7
2. Cowdenbeath 3 6
3. Stenhousemuir 3 5
4. Dumbarton 3 5
5. Berwick 3 4
6. Elgin 3 4
7. Montrose 3 3
8. Forfar 3 3
9. East Stirling 3 3
10.Albion 3 0
Scot-Ads Highland Football League
One of the first things I do after I return from the game is to find out how Fort William did in their game. Even Les Fridge, manager of today's opponents Nairn County reckoned that The Fort are due a win and that win could come anytime soon. However, it was not to be as once again Fort William slumped to another heavy defeat.
That defeat come on a high scoring day in the Highland league - a total of 33 goals scored in seven games! The six goals shared between Rothes and Brora Rangers and Buckie Thistle and Huntly where the highest scoring games. Rothes allowed Brora Rangers to come from behind to earn the points, while another great recovery was on show at Victoria Park, Buckie, as Huntly started their Highland League campaign with an emphatic victory over Buckie Thistle. It came at a cost though: 10 yellow cards and one red where shown. Another red card was shown in the game between Wick and Fraserburgh, the Broch's Ryan Christie the unlucky recipient this time out. (Elaine Garrow)
The final scores in full where as follows:
Buckie Thistle 2:4 Huntly
Clachnacuddin 0:4 Deveronvale
Fort William 0:5 Nairn County
Inverurie Loco 4:1 Forres Mechanics
Keith 3:0 Lossiemouth
Rothes 3:3 Brora Rangers
Wick Academy 2:2 Fraserburgh
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