In the First Division, league leaders Dundee take on Queen of the South though the game of the week is undoubtedly the one at East End Park between the sides in third and fourth spot, Dunfermline against Livingston. Down in the Second, Peterhead and Raith, two of the four sides filling positions one through four meet up, while in the Third Division, Cowdenbeath face a tough game against Stenhousemuir as Annan Athletic look to go five games unbeaten as they take on second bottom side Albion Rovers.
So much for the highlights, lets look at the games and we begin, as usual, in the SPL, but keep reading for our Division One, Division Two , Division Three and Scot-Ads Highland League previews as well.
Scottish Premier League
Dundee United v Kilmarnock
These two sides meet for the first time this season and both could do with better results. Kilmarnock won last week against much fancied Hamilton thanks to Manuel Pascali's header in half-time injury time and will have given Jim Jefferies men a much needed morale boost. Kilmarnock lie in third spot behind the Old Firm - it's been a while since the Ayrshire club scaled such giddy heights. Dundee United on the other hand got their first win of the season in mid-week, but sadly it was not in the league. Their win at Cowdenbeath with pretty much a full strength squad will have got the team feeling a bit more confident, now all they need to do is keep up that form in the tomorrow game. Regular readers of Inside Left know that we like to check how previous games between sides went as an indication of what we can expect, but as we've seen for most of this seasons games, past performance is not always an indication of future results. Nevertheless, Dundee United won two of the three games between the sides in season 2007/2008 while Kilmarnock won the first game, coincidentally also the first meeting of that season. Generally always pretty even games, and given both these sides league form with only 5 goals scored by both these teams so far, it's not going to be another goal fest. Mind you, we said that about the St. Mirren game in midweek too, and look how that ended up. Kilmarnock have not scored an away goal so far this season, while United have only conceded one at home. We go for a United win.
Falkirk vs Inverness CT
Falkirk find themselves bottom of the SPL and have yet to score at home. Last week they lost 3:0 to a rampant Celtic side in a game that was not without incident. Bairns manager John Hughes feels there is a sinister conspiracy out to get him; he may or may not be right, certainly he's had some pretty back luck in the refereeing in his games, but we worry that it is starting to affect the teams performance on the park. They badly need a win to get their season going: could it come against Craig Brewster's Caley tomorrow? Caley came from behind last week to draw 1:1 with Hibs and had a rough time of it in the CIS Cup in midweek needing extra time and penalties to get past Arbroath. They go into tomorrows game without their captain Grant Munro and Russell Duncan, while Falkirk might give debuts to former Aberdeen striker Steve Lovell and Burton O'Brien, signed from Sheffield Wednesday before the start of the season. Falkirk had a good win in midweek in the Cup so spirits will be high. We fancy the Bairns to pull of a slender win.
Hamilton Accies v Hearts
Hamilton lost their first game of the season last week against Kilmarnock. Perhaps unlucky to lose all three points, Hamilton played well for large portions of the game but the Killie defence did enough to keep Richard Offiong from scoring. A win for the Accies in the Cup in midweek against their former division stable-mates Clyde will have made up for that loss and expect Hamilton to come out again with all guns blazing. Their opponents in tomorrows game, Hearts, had a slightly less enjoyable time in midweek when they went out on penalties to Airdrie. Certainly, for manager Csaba Lazlo things have not gone as smoothly as he'd have liked since their opening day win against Motherwell. Beaten by Rangers the week after, the Jambo's managed a win against St. Mirren, but their midweek elimination was not what you'd expect from Hearts. Perhaps it's a chance for the Jambo's to concentrate on the league campaign. Hearts have been tipped by other pundits to do well this season - we don't think they will, certainly not this season - and Csaba needs to turn the midweek humiliation into a victory over Hamilton. Otherwise the fans or, worse still, Mr Romanov will start to ask questions of the Hungarian. It's been nearly 16 years since these two sides last met, so statistically theres not much we can say about the game, other than mention that Hearts have not lost in the last 18 meetings between the sides (Hamilton's last win was in 1979 when the won 3:1). It's a tough game to call, so we'll go for a draw.
Hibernian v Motherwell
Oh dear, poor Hibernian. Only one league win so far, out of Europe and thanks to their midweek exit at the hands of Morton, out of the CIS Cup. Hibs are not playing badly, but the luck of their Irish roots seems to be deserting them, not helped by poor refereeing decisions. Ahead 3:2 in midweek against Morton, a penalty awarded for handball (even though the replay clearly showed the ball hit Hibs midfielder Dean Shiels on his side) allowed Morton to draw level and eventually win. The refereeing decision may have been bad, but lets not forget that Hibs had to come from two goals down against a side that currently sits second bottom of the First Division to even get ahead, and therein lies the main problem for Hibs: they don't defend very well. Mixu Paatelainen is in the hunt for former player Derek Riordain (as are Hearts) but he'd be better off getting a reliable back line in place before too much damage is done. Motherwell had no mid-week game (finishing third last season, they don't appear in the CIS Cup until the next round) so would be the fresher side going into the game. Mark McGhee's side drew 1:1 with United last Saturday in a game that saw John Sutton scoring his debut goal for the 'Well. A missed penalty, several shots off the bar and a few sitters suggests that Motherwell know the route to goal, they just need to start converting. Motherwell will be hoping to avoid the 6:1 humiliation two years ago at the hands of Hibs, while the Edinburgh side will be looking to put midweek disappointment behind them and beat a team they only beat twice in their four meetings last year. With home advantage expect Hibs to win.
St Mirren v Aberdeen
St. Mirren can score, as they showed in midweek against hapless Dumbarton when the seven goals they scored, including a Billy Mehmet hat-trick, took them through to the next round. It's just a shame they cant do that in the league. Along with Falkirk, St. Mirren are the only other team not to have scored a home goal this season. Mind you, they've not conceded any either. They play an Aberdeen side that beat Second Division leaders Ayr in midweek. Chris Maguire's goal was enough to win, but you'd have expected Aberdeen to do better. Then again, does anyone remember that pre-season friendly against another Second Division side, Peterhead? The Dons where lucky to come away with a point at home against Rangers last weekend when another dreadful decision, this time by the linesman, saved their bacon. Aberdeen where absent in the first half of that game but things improved in the second. The partnership in the middle of the park between Mcdonald and Kerr seems to be gelling, and the Dons where boosted by news that Andrew Considine signed a new deal, plus the arrival of West Brom's Jared Hodgkiss will add depth to the right-back spot that has caused Aberdeen problems in the past. St. Mirren will be without Antonio Tonet, while Aberdeen are still without Zander Diamond in defence, as well as the fill-in at that position, captain Scott Severin, who is also doubtful. Neither side are exactly performing well at the moment, but we go with Aberdeen to get all three points here.
Scottish First Division
The Games
Airdrie Utd vs Morton
Dunfermline vs Livingston
Partick Thistle vs Ross County
Queen of South vs Dundee
St Johnstone vs Clyde
Airdrie and Morton are the two sides which caused the upsets in midweek by knocking out SPL opposition. Both these sides are currently in the bottom half of the table, with neither team so far having won a league game, but at least Morton are scoring goals. Dunfermline take on Livingston at East End Park in the First Division game of the week. Livingston are going strong with only their opening day defeat to St. Johnstone to blot an otherwise excellent record so far. Dunfermline only managed a narrow win to Alloa in midweek and currently sit fourth in the table, 2 points behind Livingston. Manager Roberto Landi has been practically rebuilding his entire squad with 13 players in since the Italian consortium took over the club. Partick Thistle take on Ross County at the Firrhill Stadium tomorrow.
Ross County are struggling - bottom of the table with only a single point from the game against Clyde to show for their toils. It's early in the season but points mean prizes, or, in the case of Ross County, points mean survival. Dont expect those first three points to come against Partick Thistle however; The Jags lie 2nd in the table and have come off the back of a midweek Cup win against League leaders Dundee. Two teams that where dumped out of Cup competitions in mid-week meet in Dumfries as Dundee (eliminated from the CIS Cup by Partick Thistle) meet Queen of the South (eliminated from the Uefa Cup by FC Nordjaeslland). Will it be a case of midweek hangovers, or will both teams go all out to get over those Cup exit blues? Lastly, we think St. Johnstone might finally get some points on the board when Clyde come to town. The Saints have hit a bit of a slump, having suffered heavy defeats in recent games and a Cup exit at the hands of Livingston. Clyde continue to our expectations; if only every game was a Cup game, then Clyde would be a lot higher up in table. The Bully Wee's only wins so far have come in Cup competitions; in the league, they've yet to win a game. St. Johnstone are tough opposition, despite of, or perhaps because of their current form: expect The Saints to win this one.
Scottish Second Division
The Games
Alloa vs Stranraer
Arbroath vs Stirling
Ayr vs Queens Park
East Fife vs Brechin
Peterhead vs Raith
Alloa will be hoping to get another point on the board when Stranraer come to town. Alloa's only point (and only goal) came against Raith Rovers in the third game of the season. Since then it's been two back-to-back defeats against Peterhead in the league and Dunfermline in the Cup. Admittedly, the Wasps did well against the side from East End Park and perhaps that performance will carry them in this game. Stranraer are three points and three places above Alloa, having won one game this season, the one against Stirling Albion. Arbroath's form has taken a somewhat alarming dip, prompting manager John McGlashin to come out the other week proclaiming his fear of relegation. A bit early for that kind of talk we think, but nevertheless, there's no denying that Arbroath need to turn things around. They've beaten Stirling once already this season, back at the start of August when goals by McMullan, Wright and Bishop won the day for the Red Lichties in a 3:2 win. Stirling are second bottom of the league with no wins, two draws and two defeats.
Ayr where unlucky to get knocked out of the CIS Cup in midweek by Aberdeen but that's football for you. Tomorrow they take on Gardner Spiers' Queens Park, themselves untroubled by Cup action as they're out of every Cup going so far this season. The Spider's only win of the season came in an away game (against East Fife) so perhaps they'll be lucky again tomorrow. East Fife take on a Brechin side who last week lost their grip on the top of the table when they drew their second game in a row allowing Ayr to leapfrog them. East Fife, the Fifers, lie in 8th place having notched up their first win of the season against a lackluster Arbroath side last week. The last game of the weekend is up in Peterhead when Raith Rovers travel to the Balmoor Stadium. Neale Coopers side are second in the table and playing nice football, but there's still too many drawn games. They threw away a 2 goal lead against Brechin, something they'll want to stop doing if their plan to get out of the Second Division will come good. Raith lie in third spot on goal difference. Like Peterhead, two wins and too many draws are preventing Raith from pulling clear from the rest of the pack. Expect an all-out game between these two sides tomorrow as they try to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the league.
Scottish Third Division
The Games
Annan Athletic vs Albion
Berwick vs Forfar
Dumbarton vs East Stirling
Montrose vs Elgin
Stenhousemuir vs Cowdenbeath
In the Third Division, Annan Athletic will be hoping a victory over Albion Rovers will push the Galabankies back to the top of the table. A win, should it come will be Annan's fifth unbeaten league game since the start of the season. Albion got their first points of the campaign last week when they beat Berwick Rangers. Dumbarton will be wanting to put their Cup exit - and the seven goals they conceded - behind them as they travel to bottom side East Stirlingshire. There's another meeting of the north-east teams when Montrose welcome Elgin to the Links Park stadium. The Gable Endies threw away a three pointer last week as they allowed Annan back into the game while Elgin lost at home to Cowdenbeath. Forfar make the long trip south across the Border to Berwick, who are currently in seventh place and have Jim Lister, Tommy Lennox, Craig Anderson and John Dillon back in action for the game tomorrow. The Loons are in fourth place following their good win over East Stirling last week. The game may be a chance for young keeper John Gibson to make his first appearance following his loan move from Dundee United.
The game of the week in the Third though is the one at Ochilview when league leaders Cowdenbeath come to Stenhousemuir. The Blue Brazil, relegated from the Second Division last year will be concentrating on their league form following their exit from the CIS Cup in midweek. Their league form has been excellent with their only defeat so far against Annan Athletic on the opening day of the season. Stenhousemuir, are unbeaten so far in the league but have that one extra draw (also against Annan) that keeps that one point behind. The last season these two where in the same division was back in 2005/06 when the results went in Cowdenbeath's favour with two wins, a draw and one loss - the season before that one has Stenhousemuir the better side and which included a 6-0 win against a ten-man Cowdenbeath (and a hat-trick from Paul McGrillen).
Scot-Ads Highland League
The Games
Buckie Thistle vs Wick Academy
Clachnacuddin vs Lossiemouth
Deveronvale vs Brora Rangers
Fort William vs Huntly
Inverurie Loco vs Cove Rangers
Keith vs Forres Mechanics
Rothes vs Nairn County
We'll be hoping for more goals in this weeks fixture list! For a league that's as free-scoring as the Highland League, last week saw only 23 goals in total, barely 3 per game on average. Compared this to the 34 goals and 4.8 goals per game the week before. At least the number of red cards where down though, which is always nice.
Nearly every game is a derby for most of the teams in the league but this weekend there's one particularly tasty local derby's to get you along to the games. League champions Cove Rangers travel to Inverurie in what will be only their second game of the season. Elsewhere, there's a clash of the bottom sides as Buckie Thistle take on Wick Academy, Deveronvale welcome Brora Rangers to Princess Royal Park, Banff as they look to hold on to their lead at the top of the table. Fort William take on Huntly - could this be the week they book their first point?
Have a good time if you're going to the games. If you have the time, we'd love to read your match reports from the game you where at - just leave a comment, or send us your version of the game and we'll put it up on the site.
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