Welcome to another weekend of football in Scotland. As always there’s a few cracking fixtures on the cards right across the country, but we pick out the best four for you to keep your eye on.
St Johnstone v Hearts
(Sunday)
An exciting game between two sides looking to get their season on track.
While Hearts still have to put points on the board, St Johnstone at least have that one point thanks to the draw against Motherwell on the opening day. A good start, but they where brought back to earth with a bump the next week when Celtic, still smarting from the first leg Champions League defeat against Arsenal stung the Saints 5-2.
Heart’s season continues to disappoint. The team that finished third last year is struggling to get their season started. Glimpses of the Hearts of last season where on show last night in the 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. A good score by any means, but unfortunately the four goals Dinamo scored in the first leg put the tie beyond salvation. In the league, Hearts lost out to Dundee United on the opening day but where unlucky – very unlucky – to not salvage a point against Rangers last week. Kris Boyd’s contentious injury time penalty after Naismith was fouled, seemingly, outside the area meant maximum points for Rangers and another poor return for Hearts’ efforts.
We said before that one of the reasons why Hearts did so well last season was that majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov kept his mucky fingers out of running the club’s affairs. Manager Csaba Laszlo was left to do the things that most of his predecesors where not allowed to do, namely pick the team. The difference was there to be seen as Hearts ran a cracking season last year, finishing third and qualifying for Europe.
Unfortunately, things this season have not been that easy. A poor start caused Laszlo to voice his frustration at not being able to bring on more players, saying that it was up to Romanov to provide the funds. He went on further to suggest he may well leave the club if those additional funds where not made available. Statements like that will of course only infuriate your owners, particularly one as volatile as Vladimir Romanov.
Today, the Lithuanian banker lashed out, saying that it is not the lack of funds which are the problem, rather it’s his manager Csaba Laszlo who is to blame for Hearts’ failure to sign more than one striker for the new season.
All this does not bode well for anyone involved at Hearts. Csaba has been courted by German Bundesliga side Hannover lately, and may well chose to jump ship if things come to a head. For the fans it means another potentially chaotic season lies in store – a pity considering the progress made last season.
It remains to be seen how both these sides react to the situation in which they find themselves. St Johnstone banged 6 past a hapless Arbroath in the Scottish League Cup in midweek; the question is whether they can put that superb win to good use against a Hearts side looking to get over the disappointment of midweek. We think that Hearts are just a bit too strong for them, but we expect The Saints to give them a close game.
A win for Hearts.
Inverness CT v Ross County
Two former Highland League sides meet up again in the league for the first time since 2004, when Caley won 1-0 thanks to a goal by former Ross County player Barry Wilson. Caley are adjusting to life in the First Division, with a sluggish start to the season. An opening day win over Dunfermline was followed by two drawn games against Ayr and Dundee, though they got their scoring touch back with a 4-0 win in the League Cup over Albion Rovers in midweek.
Ross County claimed an SPL scalp in the League Cup when they beat Hamilton Accies 2-1 up in Dingwall. That win should put them in good stead going into this fixture, while three points on Saturday will put their league campaign back on track. The Staggies have only one win this season, that coming against relegated, and then repromoted Airdrie United.
The win against Hamilton will fill Ross County with confidence, but we tip Caley to win this game.
East Fife v Cowdenbeath
Methil versus Cowdenbeath. The Fife Derby. East Fife are no doubt surprised to be playing this fixture at all. Cowdenbeath lost out in the Division Two play-off final last season to Stenhousemuir, but the Blue Brazil won an unlikely promotion when Livingston where relegated to the Third Division. These two sides have not played in the same division since 2006, when two wins each out of four games played in the Third Division against each other was how it ended.
This season, Cowdenbeath are taking their time getting started. Knocked out of the League Cup by Dundee in midweek, they’ve yet to win a league game this season, their only points so far coming from a 1-1 draw with Alloa. East Fife have fared a little better: undefeated so far, but only one win in three games to show for their efforts.
We’ve always had a soft spot for Cowdenbeath, the team being one of our regular Football Manager sides. For that ill-researched and totally baseless bias, we go for a Cowdenbeath win.
Albion v Livingston
It’s the second week we feature Livingston in our four-to-follow selection. By all rights, Livi should be cruising their way to promotion. In the Third Division with a First Division squad, you’d think that getting out of the division would be a walk in the park. When the team finally agreed to play a fixture (they’d refused to play their first game against East Stirlingshire until their appeal against their demotion was heard by the SFA), they won 2-0 against Montrose.
But last week the wheels came of the wagon, if only temporarily. The side went down 1-0 to Berwick Rangers, having been outplayed for most of the game until Allan Brazil scored – at the second time of asking – with 30 minutes left to play. It’s a wake-up call for Livi, one which will no doubt make them take this Division more seriously.
Against Albion Rovers we expect Livi to get their season back on track.
The full weekend fixture list is as follows
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Aberdeen v Motherwell
Dundee Utd v Falkirk
Kilmarnock v St Mirren
Rangers v Hamilton
Hibernian v Celtic (Sunday)
St Johnstone v Hearts (Sunday)
The Scottish First Division
Airdrie Utd v Dundee
Dunfermline v Raith
Inverness CT v Ross County
Partick Thistle v Morton
Queen of South v Ayr
The Scottish Second Division
Brechin v Dumbarton
Clyde v Alloa
East Fife v Cowdenbeath
Stenhousemuir v Arbroath
Stirling v Peterhead
The Scottish Third Division
Albion v Livingston
Berwick v Queens Park
Elgin v Annan Athletic
Forfar v East Stirling
Stranraer v Montrose
Scot-Ads Highland Football League
Buckie Thistle v Rothes
Clachnacuddin v Deveronvale
Fort William v Brora
Fraserburgh v Strathspey Thistle
Huntly v Lossiemouth
Inverurie Locos v Forres Mechanics
Keith v Nairn County
Turriff United v Cove Rangers
Wick Academy v Formartine Utd
