Opening weekend sees the SPL hit the ground running
Paul Hartley topping the scoring charts!
17 goals
14 bookings
1 sending off
5 scored penalties and
1 hat-trick
Not a bad state of affairs for the opening day of the SPL in the 2010/11 season.
The league tables don’t really mean anything until a few games have been played but try telling that to Aberdeen fans. A 4-0 victory at home over Hamilton sees the Dons on top of the pile after the first game and it has to be said, new captain Paul Hartley led by experience.
We don’t usually get things right but on Friday night, we tipped the midfielder as a key man for Aberdeen this season but we’d never have predicted he would be the opening day hat-trick hero. Some will point to the fact that all of his goals came from the penalty spot but it still takes a level of bottle and skill to put one away, let alone three.
With Hartley waltzing in and picking up the captains armband there may have been concerns over how some of the overlooked players would react but Zander Diamond notched a goal, adding to the benefit offered by the Dons experienced players.
Hibs are currently in second place with their 3-2 win at Fir Park containing a dash of excitement, an element of controversy and Derek Riordan again showing how important he is for the Easter Road club.
There has been talk of Blackpool being interested in Deeks but with the Seasiders involved in a two-horse at the top of the English Premier League, they may not need the maverick Hibs player. Riordan had a hand in all three goals with Liam Miller notching what proved to be the winner.
The controversy was highlighted by Well boss Craig Brown who had a problem with Hibs second goal and who felt that his side did not receive as many penalties as they deserved.
Champions Rangers got their season started with all three points but there was to be no debut goal for striker James Beattie. Kenny Miller and Steven Naismith nabbed the goals that made the difference but Killie pushed all the way after Jamie Hamill halfed the deficit by stroking home a penalty. Rangers opening goal had an element of farce about it, with the ball striking Kenny Miller on the ball from a clearance but they all count.
Rangers rivals Celtic were involved in the opening game of the SPL, travelling to newly promoted Inverness Caley. The opening 20 minutes suggested that Caley could take something, even all three points, from the game but as the match wore on, Celtic got stronger and stronger.
A string of missed hoops chances and good stops from Ryan Esson meant that the only goal of the game came from Celtic’s Paddy McCourt. The winger then disappeared after suffering an injury during the goal celebrations! You can see why the phrase Part-time player, Full-time genius is being bandied used to describe McCourt.
Two games finished 1-1 with St Mirren being held at home by Dundee United, thanks to a late John Daly strike whilst 10 man St Johnstone escaped Tynecastle with a point.
It’s far too early to take anything from the results or performances but football is definitely back in the top flight in Scotland. Next weekend sees just the two SPL games on Saturday as the Europa League and television coverage sees four games being played on the Sunday.
How was the opening weekend for you?
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