Phew. The games are coming thick and fast. We've only just recovered from Wednesday night and lo, here comes another batch of top-flight action. As I was saying to The Scottish Football Blog during their live-cast from the Motherwell-Rangers game on Wednesday, it was a strange evening altogether: Celtic picked up points, Rangers dropped them at time we didn't think they would, United got pounded by a team at the bottom of the league and Aberdeen scored two goals. In the same game.
It's really quite remarkable, as David Coleman used to say.But hey, we're not the backward looking types here: we look forward. Forward to another weekend of action, beginning with....
Aberdeen (6th » DLLWWL) v Celtic (2nd » WLWLWW)
Easily the game of the day, though not the weekend (unless you think new Falkirk guv'nor Steven "Elvis" Pressley's return to his former club Hearts is bigger news) in which Marc McGhee welcomes to Fortress Pittodrie the Tony Mowbray All-Stars. Celtic won at the weekend against a weakened Hearts team, while Aberdeen did the unbelievable (score), followed by the inevitable (throw away three points) in their 2-2 draw with Hibernian. If the Dons can revive their first half performance from Wednesday they might well be in with a shout; if it's that second-half performance, McGhee could well be looking at another thumping. Aberdeen usually raises their game for the Old Firm, but still: Celtic win.
Hamilton (11th » WLDLLL) v Motherwell (5th » DWWDWW)
No longer bottom of the league, thanks to that remarkable 2-0 win away at Dundee United, Hamilton must be brimming with confidence as they take on Motherwell, no doubt still reeling from their midweek game against Rangers where they felt a disallowed goal denied them a much needed victory. Two teams then, properly motivated (survival v righteous indignation) should make for an entertaining game, with Hamilton just edging it. Home win.
Hearts (7th » LLLDWD) v Falkirk (12th » LWLDLD)
Steven Pressley, a former Hearts player, takes his new side Falkirk back to Edinburgh for his first game in charge. Whether replacing the inexperienced Eddie May with the slightly less inexperienced Pressley was such a good idea remains to be seen, but we have our doubts. Falkirk are struggling and to be honest, we don’t see Elvis doing much to save them either. Hearts are still looking for their first League win under Jim Jefferies, and I think it may very well come tomorrow. Home win.
Kilmarnock (9th » WWDDLL) v St Johnstone (8th » DWDLWW)
Killie are finally starting to get going under their new manager. The 1-0 win against Falkirk on Wednesday (the one that caused Mr May to give up) was not pretty, but it's not a beauty contest: it's all about getting the ball in the back of the net. The win lifted Killie to the lofty heights of ninth place, from which they can build a solid foundation that will keep them in the SPL. St Johnstone, two points ahead of Killie are also safe we reckon - just keep on scoring more than the other teams and they'll be fine. On the road they've drawn their last two games and are unbeaten in last three, so they may be a tough cookie to crack for Calderwood. Both sides need a win to make safety a little more of a certainty, but I reckon a draw would make McInnes and Calderwood happy. A draw then.
St Mirren (10th » DLLLLW) v Dundee United (4th» LDDWWW)
Dundee United must be baffled as to how they managed to lose to the (then) bottom side in the league. A terrible game from all accounts, so United need to bounce back and start getting back to winning ways if they've any hope of catching Hibs and keeping distance from Motherwell, their nearest rivals for the fourth European place. St Mirren are four points off the bottom, not quite enough yet to breathe a sigh of relief. Having seen Accies demolish United, they might feel rightly confident of a repeat performance. The bad news is that United, with one exception (those back-to-back defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen), have always gotten points from the game immediately following a defeat, and I reckon they'll do it again tomorrow. Away win.
Rangers (1st » DWWDWD) v Hibernian (3rd » DWWWLD)
Rangers are not having the best of recent runs. Okay, they're unbeaten, but they've been finding their opponents are providing more resistance than they gave at the start of the season. Rangers went through a spell at the beginning of the season when they couldn't score for love or money, racking up three nil-nil's in a row. They soon re-found their form going on a twelve game streak where they picked up 32 points from a possible 36, so their explosion back to regular form should be due anytime soon. Hibernian had a game of two halves on Wednesday against Aberdeen, doing well to come back from 2-0 down to earn a point. It's a worry though that they conceded against one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, and with Miller and Boyd back from injury, it might be a long 90 minutes for John Hughes. Home win.
Dundee take on Ayr, hoping to put some more distance between themselves and Ross County, who have a tougher assignment tomorrow in the shape of Dunfermline. Partick Thistle take on bottom side Airdrie, who, should they pull of a win could overtake Ayr and move off the bottom of the table. Queen of the South have dropped off the pace slightly - they take on a Morton side whose First Division survival looks a lot more secure than it did before Christmas. Inverness Caley should look forward to another season in the First division, as it's hard to see them catching up with Dundee. But like Ross County above them, they have games in hand over the Dee, so who knows. Caley are away to Raith Rovers who still have a chance of Scottish Cup glory following that 1-1 draw with Aberdeen the other week.
Both Alloa and Cowdenbeath play teams from the lower reaches of the league (East Fife and Stenhousemuir respectively), so don't expect much to change at the top of the table. Arbroath take on bottom side Clyde, while Dumbarton have a tough game against Stirling Albion. In the final game of the day, Peterhead take on Brechin.
Livingston take on Annan Athletic, now in their second season in the senior leagues. Livi's automatic promotion spot doesn't look as safe as it did a while back, and life in Division Three is not proving the walk-over everyone predicted. They'll get promotion, but it certainly wont be as wide a gap as we'd have thought. Second placed East Stirling take on Albion Rovers, while Berwick play at home to Forfar. Montrose will be looking for only their second win of the season as they welcome Queens Park to the north-east. Finally, Elgin City make a long journey across the country to Stranraer.
Right, that’s us then. Agree with us? Are we talking rubbish? Let us know, we might just publish your comments.
Easily the game of the day, though not the weekend (unless you think new Falkirk guv'nor Steven "Elvis" Pressley's return to his former club Hearts is bigger news) in which Marc McGhee welcomes to Fortress Pittodrie the Tony Mowbray All-Stars. Celtic won at the weekend against a weakened Hearts team, while Aberdeen did the unbelievable (score), followed by the inevitable (throw away three points) in their 2-2 draw with Hibernian. If the Dons can revive their first half performance from Wednesday they might well be in with a shout; if it's that second-half performance, McGhee could well be looking at another thumping. Aberdeen usually raises their game for the Old Firm, but still: Celtic win.
Hamilton (11th » WLDLLL) v Motherwell (5th » DWWDWW)
No longer bottom of the league, thanks to that remarkable 2-0 win away at Dundee United, Hamilton must be brimming with confidence as they take on Motherwell, no doubt still reeling from their midweek game against Rangers where they felt a disallowed goal denied them a much needed victory. Two teams then, properly motivated (survival v righteous indignation) should make for an entertaining game, with Hamilton just edging it. Home win.
Hearts (7th » LLLDWD) v Falkirk (12th » LWLDLD)
Steven Pressley, a former Hearts player, takes his new side Falkirk back to Edinburgh for his first game in charge. Whether replacing the inexperienced Eddie May with the slightly less inexperienced Pressley was such a good idea remains to be seen, but we have our doubts. Falkirk are struggling and to be honest, we don’t see Elvis doing much to save them either. Hearts are still looking for their first League win under Jim Jefferies, and I think it may very well come tomorrow. Home win.
Kilmarnock (9th » WWDDLL) v St Johnstone (8th » DWDLWW)
Killie are finally starting to get going under their new manager. The 1-0 win against Falkirk on Wednesday (the one that caused Mr May to give up) was not pretty, but it's not a beauty contest: it's all about getting the ball in the back of the net. The win lifted Killie to the lofty heights of ninth place, from which they can build a solid foundation that will keep them in the SPL. St Johnstone, two points ahead of Killie are also safe we reckon - just keep on scoring more than the other teams and they'll be fine. On the road they've drawn their last two games and are unbeaten in last three, so they may be a tough cookie to crack for Calderwood. Both sides need a win to make safety a little more of a certainty, but I reckon a draw would make McInnes and Calderwood happy. A draw then.
St Mirren (10th » DLLLLW) v Dundee United (4th» LDDWWW)
Dundee United must be baffled as to how they managed to lose to the (then) bottom side in the league. A terrible game from all accounts, so United need to bounce back and start getting back to winning ways if they've any hope of catching Hibs and keeping distance from Motherwell, their nearest rivals for the fourth European place. St Mirren are four points off the bottom, not quite enough yet to breathe a sigh of relief. Having seen Accies demolish United, they might feel rightly confident of a repeat performance. The bad news is that United, with one exception (those back-to-back defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen), have always gotten points from the game immediately following a defeat, and I reckon they'll do it again tomorrow. Away win.
Rangers (1st » DWWDWD) v Hibernian (3rd » DWWWLD)
Rangers are not having the best of recent runs. Okay, they're unbeaten, but they've been finding their opponents are providing more resistance than they gave at the start of the season. Rangers went through a spell at the beginning of the season when they couldn't score for love or money, racking up three nil-nil's in a row. They soon re-found their form going on a twelve game streak where they picked up 32 points from a possible 36, so their explosion back to regular form should be due anytime soon. Hibernian had a game of two halves on Wednesday against Aberdeen, doing well to come back from 2-0 down to earn a point. It's a worry though that they conceded against one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, and with Miller and Boyd back from injury, it might be a long 90 minutes for John Hughes. Home win.
Scottish Division One
Dundee take on Ayr, hoping to put some more distance between themselves and Ross County, who have a tougher assignment tomorrow in the shape of Dunfermline. Partick Thistle take on bottom side Airdrie, who, should they pull of a win could overtake Ayr and move off the bottom of the table. Queen of the South have dropped off the pace slightly - they take on a Morton side whose First Division survival looks a lot more secure than it did before Christmas. Inverness Caley should look forward to another season in the First division, as it's hard to see them catching up with Dundee. But like Ross County above them, they have games in hand over the Dee, so who knows. Caley are away to Raith Rovers who still have a chance of Scottish Cup glory following that 1-1 draw with Aberdeen the other week.
Scottish Division Two
Both Alloa and Cowdenbeath play teams from the lower reaches of the league (East Fife and Stenhousemuir respectively), so don't expect much to change at the top of the table. Arbroath take on bottom side Clyde, while Dumbarton have a tough game against Stirling Albion. In the final game of the day, Peterhead take on Brechin.
Scottish Division Three
Livingston take on Annan Athletic, now in their second season in the senior leagues. Livi's automatic promotion spot doesn't look as safe as it did a while back, and life in Division Three is not proving the walk-over everyone predicted. They'll get promotion, but it certainly wont be as wide a gap as we'd have thought. Second placed East Stirling take on Albion Rovers, while Berwick play at home to Forfar. Montrose will be looking for only their second win of the season as they welcome Queens Park to the north-east. Finally, Elgin City make a long journey across the country to Stranraer.
Right, that’s us then. Agree with us? Are we talking rubbish? Let us know, we might just publish your comments.
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