Inside Left.net

Despite the somewhat tepid performances of our teams in Europe this week which led to our total rant last night following the Hearts game against Dinamo, Scottish football, for all its faults, lives to play on another week.

It’s only really when Scottish teams play in Europe that Inside Left ends up hiding behind the sofa; when it comes to our domestic game, the thrill and excitement is still the same for us, whether or not we have TV rights, sponsorship or even a rosy future to look forward to.

There’s nothing to beat the feeling of walking down the road to the ground, sitting in the stands watching your team, and no amount of dodgy results against diddy teams from Europe (or even England) will change that.

So, with that said, let’s get on with our Four to Follow!

In the SPL, there’s a few games that stick out for various reasons. The fixture between champions Rangers and Hearts would probably have been the game of the weekend if Hearts had managed to not lose by quite so many goals. A 2-1 defeat for the Jambo’s would have set up a cracking tie, with two teams in good spirits going into this game. As it was, we all know what happened to Hearts, so I fear that this game is going to be another standard win for Rangers.

Another interesting fixture sees Celtic take on new boys St Johnstone at Parkhead. Celtic of course got off to that cracking start against a useless Aberdeen side, while the Saints more than acquitted themselves last week against Motherwell. Perhaps if they managed to hold on to their leads, then this might have been an interesting fixture.

Or there’s Aberdeen against Hamilton, two sides looking for their first win of the season following heavy defeats last week.

But the first of our Four to Follow matches is not one that would immediately grab your attention, but it’s made more interesting by the fact that both sides are under new management, and that both sides have a point to prove.

Falkirk v Hibernian

Falkirk are a bit of an oddity. A side that was noted for playing some excellent football, a side that reached the semi-final of the League Cup and the final of the Scottish Cup (losing to Rangers on both occasions), yet which only avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. Most of last season Falkirk struggled to make much of an impact in terms of their league position, but manager John Hughes somehow managed to pull the results out of the bag when the going got tough, not least that nerve racking win over Caley on the last day of the season, which kept the Bairns up and that relegated Caley.

Of course, Hughes jumped ship over the summer, instead taking up the reins at the team with which he’ll return to Falkirk with tomorrow, Hibernian.

Hibs missed out on European football this season, finishing sixth, bringing to an end another distinctly average campaign that saw early exists from Europe and domestic Cup competitions. It cost Mixu Paateleinen his job, and the Hibs fans will be expecting much from Hughes. He’s already brought over a few of his old team mates from Falkirk, including Patrick Cregg and Kevin McBride and also some of the old playing style. Hibs had to fight for the win against 10-man St. Mirren last week, but a win’s a win, so they’re full of confidence going into this game.

Eddie May, who had the pleasure of leading Falkirk into Europe had to suffer the shame of losing to a team from Liechtenstein. Not the best start to your tenure, but it’s early days yet. Despite losing to Rangers 4-1 on the opening day of the season, Falkirk actually didn’t have a bad game, with some encouraging spells which may well work against non-Old Firm teams, such as Hibernian.

So, two teams with something to prove: Falkirk for proving they’re better than most people give them credit for, and for sticking it up John Hughes; and Hibernian for continuing their winning start and John Hughes for sticking it up Falkirk. Expect a passionate, committed game. We go for a Hibs win.

Dundee v Inverness CT

Dundee are many bookies candidates for promotion to the SPL. They drew 2-2 with Raith Rovers at the weekend, having to come from behind in the process to earn that draw. The opening day win against Morton was also a little more troublesome than you’d want really. Progress through the Cup competitions is on track, with convincing wins against Cowdenbeath and Stranraer along the way, but then you’d expect them to win those anyway.

Inverness, like Dundee have won one and drawn one game so far, but they’ve probably got the best chance of going straight back up. For one, they’re playing First Division football with an SPL division squad. Not only that, in Terry Butcher they’ve got a manager who, while not having one of the more illustrious managerial track records, is a real fighter and campaigner, the sort to get the fire in the belly that Caley need to ensure a rapid return to the SPL.

So, this game is between two sides we feel will be challenging for the title all the way. Although it might have been better to have the first meeting between the later on in the season to judge how good both sides are (or not), we may get an early indication here of how this battle for promotion might pan out.

East Stirlingshire v Elgin

For some reason, and this is completely the fault of my keyboard and not some kind of subliminal thought process, I keep mistyping ‘Stirlingshire’ into ‘Stirlingshite’. A few years ago this may well have been more appropriate but The Shire have really matured and grown into a solid enough side of late. Gone are the days when they where the subject of a book and BBC news crews, all wanting to see the worst side in Britain.

The team that took over that crown last year was Elgin City. The Borough Briggs outfit finished bottom of the table on 26 points having won only seven games all season. East Stirlingshire, in contrast, nearly made it to the Second Division, the side losing out to Cowdenbeath in the play-offs. That play-off game was also the cause for Jim McInally receiving a 16 game touchline ban from the SFA for “excessive misconduct”, along with a £1,000 fine. You’d wonder what he did or said to deserve such a ban; McInally has started an appeal process.

Both sides have had encouraging starts to the season, which should make for an entertaining game. We’ll go with an East Stirlingshire win.

Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos

Our final game today is between two of the top sides in the Highland League. Deveronvale are currently top of the league, with Inverurie Locos not far behind. Neither of these two sides ventured from top 5 last season. Past meetings between the sides have been high scoring games (although that’s no indication – most Highland League games are high scoring!), with the Banff side winning the last encounter 3-2 back in April, revenge for their 5-2 defeat in the Scottish Cup at the start of last season. Because of home advantage, We’ll go with a Deveronvale win.

Scottish Football Fixture List, 22nd August 2009

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Celtic v St Johnstone
Falkirk v Hibernian
Hamilton v Aberdeen
Motherwell v Kilmarnock
St Mirren v Dundee Utd
Rangers v Hearts

The Irn-Bru First Division
Ayr v Morton
Dundee v Inverness CT
Dunfermline v Airdrie Utd
Queen of South v Partick Thistle
Ross County v Raith

The Irn-Bru Second Division
Cowdenbeath v Alloa
Dumbarton v Clyde
East Fife v Arbroath
Peterhead v Stenhousemuir
Stirling v Brechin

The Irn-Bru Third Division
Berwick v Livingston
East Stirling v Elgin
Montrose v Forfar
Queens Park v Albion
Stranraer v Annan Athletic

Highland League
Brora v Buckie Thistle
Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos
Formartine Utd v Fort William
Forres Mechanics v Wick Academy
Keith v Turriff United
Lossiemouth v Clachnacuddin
Nairn County v Fraserburgh
Rothes v Cove Rangers
Strathspey Thistle v Huntly