Ho ho ho and all that.
The Xmas decorations have gone up at Inside Left Towers, signalling the start of the festive season. Or the expensive season, depending which side of the parent-child fence you stand on. It’s all Wii this, Nintendo that; the outgoings are pure murder polis so they are. Back in the day we where happy with a football and a packet of Panini stickers (the ones missing from your collection that season) but now the kids want all sorts of electronic crappery, most of which involve preliminary meetings with the bank manager.
Anyway, where are we going with all this? Nowhere really, but the cost of Xmas – no, the cost of life generally – has seen the good people of Scotland make some hard decisions about where to spend their hard earned Pesos. While prices at football grounds in the top division are not quite up to EPL levels, attendances around this time of year tend to drop anyway as money goes to the toy shops and not the football grounds. We wonder how this years credit crisis will affect the clubs, but having seen the highlights of some of the games during the last week you could fire a canon down the main stands of most club grounds safe in the knowledge you wont hit anyone. So, going into the festive period our message to you is this: Wii’s are for Xmas, your football club is for life. Support your team and get along to the grounds!
Right, end of that party political broadcast on behalf of the “Scottish Football Party” – on with the action!
The SPL
It’s game 18 of the season and Celtic still lead the way but only by four points, that defeat last week at Hibernian cutting into their seemingly unassailable lead. This weekend they face a tricky home tie against Hearts, the team currently in fourth spot. Celtic of course had that symbolic but superb win against Villareal on Wednesday and their confidence is no doubt high. Hearts had their game against Motherwell called off last weekend so possibly lack a bit of sharpness, but there’s no denying they’re playing well and should put up a spirited fight. We expect Celtic to win this one because they are on form (as indeed are Hearts) but they have that added sharpness of a good midweek win.
Aberdeen look to continue the recent return of their home form when they look to make it four-in-a-row against Falkirk. Sone Aluko was named Young Player of the Month for his recent performances, but the Dons will have to do without the young Englishman as he shakes off the injury incurred against Motherwell. Falkirk lost their last game against St. Mirren and John Hughes will no doubt be hoping to get back to winning ways and avenge the 1-0 defeat the Dons inflicted earlier on in the season. Another side who had their game called off – controversially – last weekend, the Dons are probably grateful it’s Falkirk they’re playing and not one of the Old Firm. Falkirk wont lie down and roll over, but we fancy Aberdeen to win this one, given their home form.
If we get another repeat of the last meeting between Dundee United and Rangers back at the start of November, there wont be too many a neutral complaining. A pulsating 3-3 draw was how it ended, with Kevin Thomson saving Rangers in front of their own crowd with an injury time equaliser. Games between these two are generally full of goals (we had a 3-3 and a 2-2 last season) so expect more of the same – we hope.
Hamilton found themselves at the wrong end of a 7-1 scoreline last week against Rangers and, thanks to a St. Mirren win at Falkirk, back at the bottom of the table. The Accies are struggling a wee bit and will no doubt still be feeling the bruises from that trashing. They’ve a lot to prove to their fans, so we expect them to come out guns blazing against tomorrows opponents Hibernian, looking for a win to get them out of that danger zone. Hibs had that good win against Celtic to keep them going during the week and should carry that form through to win tomorrows game. It was a narrow victory in the last meeting – thanks to a Derek Riordan strike on his debut game since returning to the club from Celtic – but we expect more goals for Hibs this time around.
St. Mirren against Inverness is the last game of the weekend. The Saints are staying close to the bottom of the table, always just doing enough to stay out of real trouble. They’d do well to get some distance between themselves and Hamilton, and this game against Inverness might just be the ticket. Billy Mehmet scored in the 2-1 win over the highlanders in the first meeting of the sides and his 8 goals so far this season are coming in handy. Caley are just above them in the league – a defeat could see them slip to bottom if Hamilton somehow beat Hibs and Motherwell overcome Kilmarnock on Monday.
The First Division
It was a quiet week in the First Division – indeed all of the SFL last week – due to frozen pitches everywhere. The only game to go ahead was the game at McDiarmid Park between St. Johnstone and Queen of the South which ended goalless. Weather permitting, we should have a few more games to enjoy this Saturday.
We kick-off at the Broadwood Stadium where Clyde meet Dundee. Clyde’s season has taken a bit of a turn for the better following good wins over Montrose (Scottish Cup) and Queen of the South and that 2-2 draw with St. Johnstone, while Dundee’s honeymoon with new manager Jocky Scott still looks very much on track – the Dee have not lost since Scott returned to Dens Park. Airdrie United are propping up the league, while tomorrows opponents Partick are one of six teams that currently make up the middle of the table, all separated by just five points. Queen of the South have hit a rocky patch, losing to Dundee, Clyde and Morton lately and their opponents tomorrow, Dunfermline, are tough opposition for anyone. The Pars, second in the league have won their last two games. Ross County are now in fourth after spending most of the season in the lower half of the league. The disappointment of losing that Alba Challenge Cup against Airdrie has been avenged, and against Livingston, for whom Paul Hegarty makes his managerial debut they should win – Livingston have not won a game since the start of November. League leaders St. Johnstone welcome Morton to Perth. It should be an easy win for the Saints – they’re playing well while Morton are still not winning with enough regularity. Ok, so they beat Queen of the South, but looking back over this review, who hasn’t?
The Second Division
There’s a bit of a gulf appearing in the Second division. The top three teams, Raith, Brechin and Ayr are separated by just one point, yet there’s a full 9 points between third and fourth. Remarkable. Arbroath will be glad with the 15k they’re getting from Hearts following the long protracted discussions around the sale of Andy Webster and must boost morale as they take on another team from up the coast, Peterhead. Two of the top three teams play at home this weekend: Ayr welcome second bottom Alloa while Brechin take on bottom side Stranraer. Raith Rovers face an away trip to Hampden to play Queens Park. The only other fixture taking place is the middle of the table clash between fifth-placed East Fife and sixth-placed Stirling.
The Third Division
It’s all pretty tight in the Third division also. Stenhousemuir still lead the chasing pack by four points and will make sure that stays that way when they take on Albion Rovers. Cowdenbeath take on Montrose in the Third Division Game of The Day. Level on 25 points, something has to give between these two sides. Elgin City, who survived the Malin-gate scandal and will get a chance to replay their Scottish Cup fixture against Spartans, take on fifth placed East Stirling. Berwick face a short journey by their standards when they travel to Annan, while in the final game of the day, Dumbarton welcome Forfar Athletic to the west of Scotland.
The Highland League
This time of year is always a bit of a risky time to be playing football in the Highlands, but at the time of writing, all the games are still on. The derby game of the day is between Keith and Huntly, two teams separated by only a 10 mile stretch of the A96 and five league points. Fraserburgh, who scored three goals against Cove Rangers last week and still lost 6-3 take on second-from-bottom Brora Rangers. Leaders Deveronvale welcome Lossiemouth to Princess Royal Park and Wick Academy make another long, long, long journey south to Inverurie for their match against Locos.
The final fixture is between Fort William (good for some 15 goals against in 9 games at home this season) against defending champions Cove Rangers, who despite banging in 33 at home this season have only scored 6 on the road. Cove Rangers won 6-3 last weekend and are one of the many teams to have given Fort William a pounding last season, so expect more of the same. We keep saying it: one day, and one day soon the Fort will win a game. But not this week though.
OK, that’s it for this weekends roundup. As always, if you’re going to the games, drop us a note when you get back to let us know how you got on.
