10.02// The Scottish Fitba Mid-Week Preview

There's another full card of SPL action tonight as the League tries to ease the pressure on the fixture list following a somewhat harrowing winter. We preview the games, try our hand at predicting some scores and look forward to another evening of top-drawer football in the Highlands, as two teams who between them have conceded 112 goals all season meet up to send another generation of  Highland children straight to their nearest shinty club.

We begin, as ever, in the SPL and in perfect alphabetical order. Step forward Messrs Mowbray and Jefferies.

Celtic (2nd » LWLWWD) v Hearts (6th » LLDWDW)

Celtic finally got themselves some good news at the weekend with their 4-2 win over chance-yer-arm Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup. It took a second half recovery to seal advancement to the next round, but most of the new bhoys scored: Keane, Kamara and Rasmussen all got in on the act, while Callum Woods (who else, the instigator of the whole Stennie-Dunfermline replay kerfuffle) put through is own net to send Celtic through to the next round. Nice! It made up for that disappointing defeat away at Kilmarnock earlier on and should be the catalyst that sees them to victory against a Hearts side that's not really got going since the return of Jim Jefferies to Edinburgh. Prediction: like every game for Celtic, it's a must-win fixture. Anything less than three points and a Rangers win in Motherwell would really put the pressure on Mowbray. For Jefferies, remaining in top six is a priority, but I just can't see them get anything here. Celtic win.

Dundee United (4th» DDWWWL) v Hamilton (12th » LDLLLL)

Alas poor Hamilton, without a win since December 12 and with only one point from their last seven games. The future looks bleak, especially now that Falkirk and Kilmarnock seem to be finding their feet. The good news that those two teams play each other tonight and a victory for Hamilton would see them back up to 10th place - assuming they get past Dundee United of course. United are unbeaten in their last 5 games, though they've made hard work of their last two opponents, somehow escaping with two high-scoring draws. They also only managed to record a slender 1-0 win over the Accies earlier on in the season to go with a 1-1 draw, so perhaps they're United's bogey team? It's hard to see Accies getting anything other than another pasting here, so we'll go for a United win.

Falkirk (11th » WLDLDL) v Kilmarnock (10th » WDDLLL)

In his pre-match comments, Jimmy Calderwood mentioned that he'd always had a good record against Falkirk during his time at Aberdeen. And he's not wrong either, recording only 2 defeats in the 14 games the two sides played while he was in charge. Hopefully that sort of luck will be put to good use tonight, because a win here would see them put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the league. Most teams suffer through relegation, but according to reports, Kilmarnock will suffer more than most, possibly even being forced out of business altogether. Survival is won by beating your nearest rivals, so nothing short of a win will do for Kilmarnock. Likewise Falkirk could really use the points here and will be hoping Dundee United do them a favour by beating Dundee United. Falkirk won the last league encounter, but Killie got revenge by knocking the Bairns out of the Scottish Cup just after the New Year. It certainly won't be a pretty game, but we'll go with a Kilmarnock win.

Hibernian (3rd » WWWLDL) v Aberdeen (7th » LLWWLW)

There is great expectation amongst Hibs fans, and dare I say even non Old Firm following fans, that Hibs will do the next best thing to winning the league - split the Old Firm. They're only two points behind Celtic, and should they beat Aberdeen tonight and Celtic lose to Hearts, Hibs will leapfrog Celtic into second place. The irony is surely not lost on Mowbray, himself a former Hibs manager. Hibs are one of the tightest teams in the league today, rarely conceding goals at home which makes the task for Aberdeen tonight all the harder: for a long time, the Dons were the leagues lowest scoring team. They've lost that dubious honour to Hamilton Accies, but they're still level on total goals scored this season with Kilmarnock and Falkirk -17. Most Aberdeen performances lately have started out brightly, but once the goal goes in at the wrong end, things tend to fall apart, so McGhee must get his strike force into gear. The good news is that the Aberdeen defence is at least limiting the damage. With only 8 goals conceded away from home in 10 games - including five clean sheets - there is at least some glimmer of hope for Aberdeen fans this season. I think this one has draw all over it.

Motherwell (5th » WWDWWL) v Rangers (1st » WWDWDW)

"Make hay while the sun shines" seems to be Walter Smith's message these days. Like an albatross, a sign of doom for sailors, Smith has been fairly ladling on the misery of being associated with Rangers, warning of cataclysmic financial collapse, fire sales and declining fortunes. Thank goodness for the result on the park then, because if it wasn't for the ongoing success of Rangers FC in this years league, then it sure would be miserable down in Govan. Rangers continue to run away with the league but must be slightly unsettled by the fact that their nearest and dearest rivals Celtic have strengthened their team, while Smith will be stuck with the same faces between now and May. Still, they have the advantage of a 10-point lead, so as long as they keep winning, Celtic could win 90-0 every weekend, with Keane scoring 10 hat tricks, and it wouldn't make an ounce of difference. With the memory of the 6-1 demolition in mind from just before Chrimbo, Smith must be quietly confident of a win (if not the same shoreline). That defeat was all before Craig Brown arrived on the scene following the sacking of Jim Gannon, and since his appointment he's done well to keep the Steelmen on an even keel. At the time of that defeat to Rangers, Motherwell where in the same place in the league as they are now, 5th. Unbeaten in their last five games, Motherwell are in form, and should give Rangers a run for their money. Nevertheless, I'll go with a Rangers win here.

St Mirren (9th » LLLLWW) v St Johnstone (8th » WDLWWL)

To complete tonight’s offering, we have the battle of the Saints: St Johnstone and St Mirren. Given the relative tightness of the bottom half of the league this season, for most of the teams near the bottom of the table, you're only ever one defeat away from trouble. While St Johnstone are possibly on the periphery of this trouble zone, for St Mirren things are a little bit different. Three points separates them from Hamilton which is not a huge buffer, but there is time for Gus McPherson to turn it around beginning tonight with a team they ought to be able to beat. St Johnstone are relatively safe this season and should expect to see another year in the money-rich top division of Scottish football. They must be smarting however after being knocked out of both domestic Cup competitions in the space of three days by Rangers (League Cup) and Dundee United (Scottish Cup), failing to score in both games. It's hard to predict a winner in this game - the two sides are quite evenly matched. I'm going to sit on the fence and go for a draw here.

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Also playing tonight are East Stirling and Elgin, down in the Third Division. East Stirling are cruising towards promotion while Elgin are second bottom of the table. Expect a home win here for The Shire in this one.

Also tonight, the Highland League has an ambitious program given the weather lately, but so far only one game has been called off. Table-topping Buckie Thistle take on third-placed Huntly. Defending champions Cove Rangers welcome Turriff United. Fort William and Rothes, with one win, 16 goals for and 112 goals against between them all season do battle in Lochaber.

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Buckie Thistle v Huntly
Cove Rangers v Turriff United
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Fort William v Rothes
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Nairn County v Wick Academy
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