Inside Left.net

The weekends action in the SPL pretty much followed the form guide. Rangers missed the chance to go clear at the top of the league when they could only manage a goalless draw at Pittodrie. For all the pre-match billing and the importance put on this fixture, it was a dire game.  Rangers rarely threatened the Aberdeen defence with a lackluster display that baffled as well as disappointed. Kenny Miller was partnered up front with the impressive John Fleck, but neither had much to do for most of the game, the only real clear-cut chance for Rangers coming when Langfield failed to hold on to a Lee McCulloch shot – Miller was unable to convert the rebound but had it gone in, it would have been ruled offside anyway. Mackie and Mulgrew all had chances for the Reds, but where not able to convert. The only moment of excitement came when Langfield was injured in the second-half, to be replaced by Bertrand Bossu, whose performances in goal for the Reds – admittedly few and far between – have been less than impressive. But the big Frenchman did well, keeping the scores level on several occasions. So, a point gained or a two points dropped? Well, from an Aberdeen perspective, we’d have to say two points dropped. Let’s be honest, Rangers where not very good and there was always the feeling that if Mulgrew could convert a set piece, or if Mackie had not put his header inches wide of the goal in the second-half, Aberdeen might just have sneaked a win out of this.

For Rangers, we’d have to say the same thing – two points dropped. Leaving Scotland’s top scorer Kris Boyd, on the bench in a game that could have seen Rangers take pole position in the league was strange, as was the lack of any obvious desire on the part of Rangers to win the game.

With Rangers dropping points, Celtic wasted no time in putting last weekends defeat at Pittodrie behind them by getting stuck into Hibernian. Two goals in the opening 10 minutes effectively killing off the game right from the start before Hibs had even managed to cross the half-way line. Dundee United twice had to come back from behind before clinching all three points against a dogged St. Mirren side, while there was little on show for potential Inverness Caley managers Archie Knox and Terry Butcher as the bottom club remained bottom; they went down 3-2 to Hearts. Motherwell and Falkirk fought out a 1-1 draw on a fierce bumpy pitch that keeps both sides as-you-where. The grumpy old man of Scottish football had more to complain about as Jim Jefferies‘ Kilmarnock lose yet another game, this time at home to Hamilton Accies who seems to be doing their chances of survival no harm at all.

Maybe it’s just us, but Kilmarnock seem to be losing a hell of a lot of games these days. When we where doing the weekend preview on Friday, we couldn’t help but notice that there’s quite a few teams that broke a losing run of games when they came up against Kilmarnock.  Considering that Killie actually started the season quite well, the slump in their form is quite dramatic.  Only three wins in their last fourteen games (not counting the two Cup wins), with one drawn game, Jim Jefferies has been on the receiving end of a defeat on no less than 10 times in the last three months.  Regular readers will know of our Kilmarnock ‘Boom-Bust’ hypothesis, which states that for every gash season, Killie have a stormer the season after. At the minute though, a quick glance at the table seems to put pay to that theory. Unless they somehow manage to pull together a series of wins that has them getting – roughly – anywhere from 34 to 27 points from their remaining fixtures, then for the first time in quite a while, Killie will have back to back ‘bust’  seasons.

Looking at the SPL table, we can also see the table splitting roughly into four distinct groups. Celtic and Rangers lead the way (as normal), with a second batch of teams (United, Hearts and Aberdeen) making up a chasing pack for those elusive European spots. From sixth down to tenth, seven points behind the chasing pack we have five teams separated by five points before we finally get down to the sticky end of the league where we find Falkirk and Inverness Caley. Only two points separate these teams – rather worryingly for both, they’re also six points from safety…

Scottish First Division

The St Johnstone games against Dunfermline was called off due to a frozen pitch, but none of the teams chasing the Perth side managed to take advantage. Partick Thistle could only manage a 2-2 draw with Queen of the South while Morton threw away a two goal lead to Livingston (2-2).  Airdrie United finally get a win as they beat Dundee at home (1-0) and Clyde’s Willie McLaren steals the show as the Bully Wee win 2-0 at home to Ross County

Scottish Second Division

The result of the weekend is of course that tremendous win by Stirling Albion. We’d love to say things like ‘ten goal thriller’, but the 2-8 win over Stranraer hints at a very one-sided affair. A good win for Stirling, but for Stranraer the humiliating defeat cements their place at the foot of the table and was also the catalyst for manager Derek Ferguson to depart the club.  In the rest of the games there where wins for East Fife (4-2 over Queens Park) and Ayr United (2-1 against Arbroath), while Raith Rovers slip up away at Alloa (1-0). Brechin and Peterhead played out a 1-1 draw.

Scottish Third Division

In a much reduced card (thanks to postponed games),the terrible run of form suffered by East Stirling continues ever since we gave them our ‘Performance of the Week’ award. Jim McInally’s side have not won a game since, a run which continued as they where pummeled 4-0 at home to Annan Athletic. Cowdenbeath remain top of the league following their 2-1 win over Albion Rovers, Stenhousemuir suffer a surprise defeat at home to Montrose (3-1).  Get a complete roundup of the games thanks to the Scotsman.

Highland Football League

We where hoping that Fort William might win a game at last and get themselves off the foot of the table for the first time since, like, 1972 or something. This weekend they tried their best against Buckie Thistle, perhaps finally getting the rub of the green to record a historic victory. Well, the good news is that Fort William did manage to score, but sadly the seven goals they conceded meant the points where not to be; Buckie’s Craic MacMillan was on hand to score five of the seven goals. Inverurie Locos prepared for their Scottish Cup showdown with Motherwell on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against a tough Fraserburgh side, while Wick Academy, the most remote football team in the UK, record a 3-0 win over Rothes.