Performance of the Week - Week 40

It’s Monday, which means it’s Performance of the Week time, Inside Left’s opportunity to give recognition to those teams, players and events in the week just passed that deserve a special mention for services rendered in the name of Scottish football. As always we have three nominations for you to choose from, so without further waffling, here are this weeks nominations, each one carefully hand-picked by the staff of Inside Left.

East Fife, for their continued good run in the second division. Undefeated in the league since the 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park five games ago, they beat league leaders Ayr 3-0 at the weekend. The Fifers have only lost three times in the league so far but their season has not been too bad. Their cracking form at the end of last season had them go 11 games undefeated and which led to eventual promotion to the Second division. Certainly, compared to their fellow promotees (Stranraer, currently second bottom and in financial crisis, and Arbroath, in bit of a free-fall at the minute are third bottom), East Fife are doing well thank you very much. In fifth spot, one behind the play-off places, we had East Fife doing well this season, and so far they've not let us down.

The Scottish Football authorities, for somehow keeping Rangers and Celtic apart for another League Cup  round, something they're actually quite good at. In another closed-door, non-televised draw, the powers that be have paired up Celtic with Kilmarnock, a team they've already beaten, while Rangers get a home game against Hamilton, another side whose form has taken somewhat of a dip. Not that we're implying anything of course, we know it makes sound financial sense to have the Old Firm in the final rather than say, Dundee, but really, you'd think that these two sides would meet more regularly in the Cup other than in the final. In the last few years (2007/08, 2006/07, 2003/04, 1999/00, 1996/97 and 1991/92) they've avoided each other at the Quarter Final stages of the competition. Alright, there have been some years when the teams met (2005/06 and 2004/05 they met with Celtic and Rangers winning one each) but it was only in 2002/03 that the league struck gold by having both halves of the Old Firm in the final. Occasionally it does go wrong mind you. We've had Hibs in the final twice in the last few years playing non Old Firm opposition (Livingston and Kilmarnock), but these finals are few and far between. Anyway, like we said, we're not implying anything, and calls from Donald Findlay QC on behalf of the Scottish Football League in relation to this article are not appreciated.

Inverness Caley, for finally getting a home win. It's taken a while but Caley are no longer a member of the 'zero home wins' league, leaving only St. Mirren and Aberdeen, along with powerhouses such as Clyde, Morton, Forfar and Elgin to keep the flame of home-game ineptitude burning. Their 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, their first home win since the 6-1 demolition of Gretna back in May pushed Thistle into fourth spot.

That’s it for this week. Leave a comment with your choice or, better yet, nominate your own. See you all next week!