30.11// The Week in Scottish Football

Inside Left previews another busy week ahead in Scottish football. Celtic are in European action, while closer to home, it could be all-change in the First division. There's also action in the Second and Third division, and hopefully there'll be no fog this time in the match between Clyde and Livingston.

Tuesday

Clyde against Livingston - the Scottish Cup Third Round match that never was thanks to some heavy fog - is to be replayed on Tuesday night. John McCormack, in temporary charge of the troubled Bully Wee, faces the team that will probably replace them in the Second Division, Livingston. Livi are constantly improving, and after a patchy start to their season in the lowest tier in senior football are beginning to reap the rewards that a Third division side with a First division squad should do.

Also on Tuesday in the Cup, we'll have the replay between Peterhead and Raith. The game ended 0-0 on Saturday with Blue Toon keeper Paul Jarvie keeping Neale Cooper's side in the competition.

The Scottish First Division are also in action on Tuesday night.  Division leaders Queen of the South take on 7th placed Dunfermline. The competitive nature of the First division is evidenced by the Pars' league position; seventh, part of a crop of teams on a nearly similar point total. Dunfermline have not lost a game in the division since September. Somewhat worryingly, that defeat came against Queen of the South, when they Doonhamers ran out 4-1 winners.

Fourth placed Ross County welcome second-placed Dundee to Dingwall on the same night. Dundee picked up valuable silverware last week when they beat division rivals Inverness Caley in the Alba Challenge Cup. Ross County where early leaders in the division, but recent results have seen them slipping down the table, although they're still only 2 points behind Dundee. A win tonight for either could see them going top if Dunfermline overcome Queen of the South.

In the Third Division bottom side Montrose take on Berwick Rangers. Both sides had mixed fortunes on Saturday in the Scottish Cup: Montrose overcame East Fife (2-1), while Berwick crashed out 5-1 away at Ross County.

Wednesday

Celtic, fresh from reclaiming top spot in the SPL following their win over St Mirren on Saturday will be hoping to keep the Scottish flag flying in Europe when they take on Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv in their Europa League Group C match. Celtic are currently bottom of the group with 2 points from four games and have yet to win a match in this phase of the competition. Against surprise group leaders Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Tony Mowbray faces a tough task.

Also on Wednesday night, Second division Arbroath are in action against Alloa. Arbroath's fortunes appear to be turning around following the appointment of former Hearts, Hamilton and St Johnstone player Jim Weir as the new manager at the Gayfield. A credible 0-0 draw against local rivals Brechin City was followed by a 2-1 win away at Peterhead. Alloa, currently in fourth spot lost out heavily to Stenhousemuir in their last league game, but did well to hold out for a 0-0 draw with division leaders Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. That game will be replayed on Tuesday, 8th December.