It seems like ages since we've done one of these match previews.
Despite all the excitement and talking points that the international break has brought, league football is really what we're into here at Inside Left, so where glad to be talking about the action taking place across the country. There's not that many games on this weekend that stand out particularly - there's three 'basement battles' on this weekend, starting in the SPL as Falkirk and Aberdeen meet, Morton and Clyde play in the First division while down in the Second division, bottom club Alloa take on 9th places Arbroath. We have the first Edinburgh derby of the season on Sunday, but other than that, much barrel scraping to find something worthy of note failed to turn up anything at Inside Left HQ.
Oh, some housekeeping first: the game between Dundee United and Rangers has been called off following the death of United chairman Eddie Thompson on Wednesday. No date has been announced so far, but we hope we're not going to hear Rangers bleating on about fixture congestion come the end of the season. So, where to start ...
Falkirk v Aberdeen
Two sides struggling with form. One that can only win at home (Falkirk) and one that can only win away from home (Aberdeen). Manager Jimmy Calderwood travels south without influential left-back Charlie Mulgrew, suspended following his sending off against Hibs last match-weekend and reserve keeper Bertrand Bossu, who has a calf strain: third-choice keeper Johnathan Bateman has been added to the squad. No Falkirk omissions have been reported so far. Last season's encounters had the Dons coming out on top twice, with two draws.
The Bairns lost their last league game (to Motherwell), before which they recorded a cracking win against Hamilton while Aberdeen have not won a game since the end of August, so the pressure is on. In a week of 'must win' games, here we have another one. Falkirk could do with some more points to lift them out of the basement and Aberdeen have to win, or at least not lose, to keep the season on track. It's not beyond them and three points and good results elsewhere could see the Dons up as high as 8th place. Remember Dundee United where bottom of the league only a few weeks ago - a few good results, and look at them now.
Check out our more in-depth preview of this game over at The Offside!
Hamilton Accies v St Mirren
The Accies' season seems to be coming apart a wee bit. Three back-to-back defeats, including two heavy thumpings against Falkirk and Celtic, means the SPL new boys are heading down the table. Topping the table in the first two weeks their current position, 7th, is their lowest this season. St. Mirren recorded a famous win against Rangers in their last game, a win that took them off the bottom of the table into 10th place. Richard Offiong returns for Hamilton meaning manager Billy Reid has pretty much a full strength squad to chose from. St. Mirren, they'll have to do without striker Jim Hamilton. It's the first time the sides have met since they where both in the First division, in season 2005-06, when two wins and two defeats each (and one 0-0 draw) was the sum total of their efforts. Done expect too much from this game we reckon, but we could be wrong.
Inverness CT v Celtic
A chance for Celtic to extend their lead at the top of the SPL, as Rangers are not playing this weekend. The 12th meeting between these two sides in the league has Celtic winning nine so far, with Caley's only win so far against the Hoops coming in the second match-up last season, notable for the fact that Caley came from two Vennegoor of Hesselink goals behind to win 3-2 ...
Caley are back in mid-table following a short period (well, one week) at the top of the table following their opening day win against the Dons. Celtic, aside from the 2-4 defeat at home to Rangers have been cruising the league so far, and Strachan should take solace from the fact that Caley's only have one home win this season.
Kilmarnock v Motherwell
Killie have had a reasonably good start to their season, keeping under the radar as they put together some steady form to push them into the top half of the table. Good wins against last seasons league split teams Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen where offset by heavy-ish defeats to Celtic, Rangers and Caley. Motherwell are another side from whom you'd expect better. Pretty much the same team that finished 3rd last year, results have been harder to come by than a bus on a rainy day. Only three league wins so far and seemingly finding it hard to keep the ball out of their own net, Mark McGhee has work to do. Motherwell narrowly beat Killie at Rugby Park last year - the goal scored by the late Phill O'Donnell.
Scottish Football League
Down in the First division, league leaders Queen of the South take on Airdrie United, one half of this years Alba Challenge Cup finalists. The Doonhamers are undefeated since they lost to Dumbarton on the second game of the season. Before the international break, Gordon Chisholm's men thumped Livingston 6-1, so he'll be hoping his charges can carry on that form.
Dundee, no longer subject of a take-over face the other half of the Challenge Cup final, Ross County. The Dingwall side are slowly climbing up the table and living up to expectations following a series of solid results against Airdrie and Morton. It's 3rd against 4th when Dunfermline take on Partick Thistle, Livingston will be hoping to put that heavy defeat against Queen of the South behind them to force a result against a stuttering St Johnstone, while at the bottom of the table, Morton will try to close the gap between them and their opponents, 9th placed Clyde, when the two sides meet in Greenock.
Second division basement boys Alloa take on Arbroath, high flying Peterhead take on Third Division champions East Fife (who've already knocked Ayr off the top of the table). League leaders Brechin travel south to take on Stirling Albion. The Glebe Park outfit are one of only two teams in Scotland yet to lose a game (Third division Stenhousemuir being the other). Cash-strapped Stranraer take on the team above them in the league, Queens Park, while third placed Raith Rovers welcome second placed Ayr to Kircaldy.
Third division's top team Stenhousemuir face an easy trip to bottom placed Elgin, hoping the teams directly below them, Dumbarton and managerless Montrose share the points. East Stirling take on Berwick, Forfar welcome Albion Rovers to Station Park while in the final game, it's back to where it all started for Annan Athletic.
The SFL new-boys, elected to the league before the start of the season welcome the team they played in their first ever senior league game, Cowdenbeath. The Galabankies won 4-1 on that day, but since then the form has taken a dip and the team now find themselves in mid-table.
The Highland League
The game of the weekend in the Highland League is the SFA North Region Challenge Cup Final between Cove Rangers and Inverurie Locos. The game will be played at Deveronvale's Princess Royal Park in Banff. A bit of a local derby this one and should be a cracking game - the two teams lie in third and second place respectively, some distance behind the team at whose ground they're playing the final tomorrow!
Elsewhere, Buckie Thistle take on Keith, mid-table rivals Forres and Lossiemouth lock horns while Fraserburgh against Nairn County, Huntly against Brora and Wick versus Clachnacuddin complete the activities up north. Remember to get yourself down to Fort William for the friendly against a Skye select and a chance to meet the 'America's Team', ehm, team who will be in and around the town. Get along and ask the questions, meet the team and to find out more about the exciting times ahead for the Fort.
Right, that's the round-up of the weekends action for you. We'll be back tomorrow with the Edinburgh Derby update, as well as bring you the score from the final up in Banff.
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