Another weekend of anguished scanning of the Sky Sports website while I'm pushing the kids around IKEA. At the risk of going on about it, can Aberdeen get back to winning ways? The omens don't look good as Falkirk, their opponents tomorrow are - if not already, then certainly come May - a lower division side, meaning it's going to be another afternoon of clenched buttocks for all associated with the Granite City.
Another team with problems all their own are Celtic who, in keeping with the tradition of these previews starts off our tour of the Scottish football fixtures across all four divisions. Alphabet-tastic!
Celtic (2nd » DWLWLW) v Dundee United (4th» WLDDWW)
Given Hib's collapse in their recent games and Celtic's indifferent form, this game may well be a key fixture in deciding the race for second place. United are in pole position to take advantage of both Hibs' and Celtic's slip-ups. A win tomorrow and a Hibs defeat will see them leapfrog the Hibees into second spot, only three points behind Celtic. The defensive problems where cruelly exposed at Pittodrie last week and Mowbray needs to tighten up the back to avoid conceding goals. A minor blip aside (the shock defeat at home to Hamilton), United have been keeping up the chase, 16 goals in their last nine games, so finding the net is not an issue for Peter Houston's men. The question is whether the Celtic defence have learned from their shortcomings. I'm tempted to go for an upset here, so I'll back United to win this one. Narrowly.
Motherwell (5th » DDWWDW) v Hibernian (3rd » LLDWWW)
Two games ago, all the talk was about Hibs beating Celtic to second place. Now, after two heavy defeats to Rangers and St Johnstone, Hibs are five points adrift and can only hope they can keep up with Celtic, let alone overtake them. On the tattie-field at Fir Park, Hibs will need to get their confidence back up to get a result here. The Steelmen have gotten points from their last three home games (including a 1-1 against Rangers), so expect Motherwell to score. Hibs need a win to keep their season interesting - given recent games I reckon they'll be fired up for this one. The pitch won’t allow for flowing passing football, so they're be a lot of hoofin' tomorrow. I'm not sure who it'll suit better, but I'm tempted to go for Hibs to take the points. Away win.
Hearts (6th » WLLLDW) v Hamilton (11th » DWLDLL)
Jim Jefferies finally got his first league win in an exciting 3-2 win over Falkirk, ending a three game losing streak. Accies are starting to turn the corner, finally picking up some points (notably those three points away at Dundee United) and giving themselves some breathing space. They're not out of the woods quite yet though, but with Falkirk not showing any signs of improvement the Accies should look forward to another season of SPL football. Hearts' biggest problem right now is their indiscipline. Stories have emerged in recent days about dressing room stramashes, prompting Jefferies to introduce harsher measures to deal with the ever escalating red and yellow card count at Tynecastle. A draw in this one is how we see it going.
Falkirk (12th » LLWLDL) v Aberdeen (7th » DDLLWW)
I'm not going to say too much about this game, other than that Falkirk are one of the legion of teams to have beaten the Dons this season, and that Aberdeen are having a lot of problems against teams from the nether regions of the Scottish round ball game. For those travelling to the game tomorrow, the phrase "caveat emptor" should go through their minds as they pass through the turnstiles at the Falkirk Stadium. For the Falkirk fans, they must fancy their chances in this game - the possibility of three easy points against a hurting and damaged side will go some way to keeping the gap between 12th and 11th manageable. Falkirk have only won one home game all season (against Hamilton), but I'm going to stick my neck out and predict their second home win in this campaign to come tomorrow. Home win.
Kilmarnock (9th » WWWDDL) v St Mirren (10th » LDLLLL)
Kilmarnock are a rejuvenated side since Jimmy Calderwood took over at Rugby Park. When Jefferies left Kilmarnock, he left them second bottom of the table, with most punters seriously considering revising their Falkirk-to-go-down prediction in favour of the managerless, debt-ridden Ayrshire club. Now, three wins in a row (including a 1-0 defeat of Celtic) later, SPL survival looks a lot more certain. St Mirren lost out to Rangers in the midweek Scottish Cup game (a dress rehearsal for the League Cup later on this season) so they'll be up for a return to winning ways and going some way towards ensuring that there won't be a repeat of last season's final day Great Escape. I think Killie will win this one, but not by much. Home win.
St Johnstone (8th » WLDWDL) v Rangers (1st » WDWWDW)
St Johnstone must be buzzing after that 5-1 demolition of Hibs in midweek- it was certainly not the result most pundits would have predicted. What better time to play Rangers - a team who are getting the results (they also beat Hibs in their last outing, 3-0), but who are not really playing to their potential. They've been made to work hard to get the points in some of their recent games, so it's only a matter of time before they slip up. It's quite possible for a shock result here tomorrow if St Johnstone can keep the momentum going from the Hibs game. The stats are not in their favour though: Derek McInnes' side are the third most prolific scoring team in the league, averaging 1.61 goals per game; Rangers, on average score more than twice that per game. So we should get goals, but I think Rangers will do just enough to get themselves the three points. Away win.
Can we interest you in ...?
The First Division continues to fascinate. With four reasonably strong teams now in the hunt for promotion, every game can have drastic effects on the outcome of the league. Dundee continue to lead, though with three teams behind them with games in hand, Jocky Scott knows the only way up comes through keeping the wins coming. Dundee take on Partick Thistle, a team on the periphery of the title chase. Ross County, currently in second place have possibly the easiest fixture of the weekend - they're away at Morton. Inverness Caley's recovery continues. Butchers' men are two points behind Ross County, but they face another pretender to the crown in the shape of early Division One leaders Queen of the South. Elsewhere, Dunfermline take on Ayr, and Raith Rovers hope to round of a good week for them, footballing wise, against bottom side Airdrie.
There's lots of excitement in Division Two this weekend, as the top four teams all play each other. League leaders Alloa kick things off with a home game against Cowdenbeath, the team that sat at the top of the table for most of the season. Stirling have put that 9-0 mauling by Ross County behind them and continue their good league form with a convincing 4-2 win over Dumbarton in mid-week - they take on Brechin City. At the other end of the table, East Fife take on Arbroath and bottom side Clyde travel to Dumbarton.
In Division Three, Livingston have the chance to increase their lead at the top of the table when they take on second placed East Stirling. Third placed Forfar get a trip to Hampden as they play Queens Park. Berwick Rangers are at home to Annan Athletic, while Elgin and Montrose do battle at the bottom of the league.
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