Contrasting fortunes for the Glasgow sides

Although it certainly wasn’t pretty for Rangers at Rugby Park, Walter Smith and everyone else involved with the club will consider this to be a very good day’s work. Yet again this season, Rangers battled back from going a goal down to take the lead and then bounced back from being drawn level to grab all three points in Ayrshire.

Kenny Miller, once again, was the Rangers hero with a hat-trick, just edging out Connor Sammon who grabbed two for the home side.

Kilmarnock, as they were at home against Celtic, were their own worst enemy at against Rangers. They were 1-0 up, in control of the game and heading towards half-time. One stupid penalty later and it was 1-1 at half-time with Rangers in the ascendency.

As if that wasn’t enough, Killie then handed Rangers another penalty and a one man advantage as Miller tucked his second of the match. Sammon levelled the score but Rangers pulled another goal out of the bag to increase their lead to 4 points.

At Celtic Park, the home side weathered an early sitter by David Goodwillie before grabbing control of the game. Celtic absolutely dominated Dundee United for the first half, with the only surprise being how it was just the 1-0, thanks to Gary Hooper’s goal.

The second half started in the same fashion with Celtic well on top but around 65 minutes, Celtic started retreating and United pushed forward with more intent.

The game still looked like petering but a strange decision from ref Mike Tumilty allowed United one last chance to swing the ball into the Celtic box and Sean Dillon was able to stick the ball behind Forster in the Celtic goal.

United will think they were owed that after Celtic’s late winner at Tannadice earlier in this season. Rangers go into this midweek’s Champions League clash with Manchester United three points clear at the top of the SPL and facing a trip to Tannadice next weekend.

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Three points and off the bottom for the Accies

Tannadice is a tricky place to visit, especially with United’s recent form but Hamilton Academicals have given United a tough test in virtually all of their matches since the Lanarkshire team got back into the top flight.

Hamilton knew with Killie and Falkirk playing, something would give in that match and anything picked up on Tayside would give them a great boost.

The game was done and dusted in the first 45 minutes with a Paixao grabbing a goal apiece.

The opener was nabbed by Flavio, who rifled his shot into the top corner midway through the first half. Goals change games and this would have flooded the Hamilton team with confidence but no doubt, Billy Reid would have been happy to get to half-time with a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t remain at 1-0.

The lead was doubled and it was the other Paixao, Marco tucking away a rebound after Pernis saved his original header.

2-0 is no longer a lead that is insurmountable for any team but Hamilton kept United at bay in the second half and with Kilmarnock defeating Falkirk, the Accies were no longer on the bottom of the league.

Falkirk are now three points adrift at the foot of the table whilst Hamilton are currently just the one point behind St Mirren.

There are bound to be many more twists and turns in the fight against relegation to come but the Accies should take a great deal of confidence from this result.

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The last 8 of the Scottish Cup

After much Freddy Adu since the weekend, the draw for the Active Nation Scottish Cup 6th Round has taken place.

With just the four matches on offer, every game will have an element of excitement and interest but it is only natural some will offer more for punters and of course, the paying television companies.

There will be definite interest in the Kilmarnock v Celtic clash with the thought of Killie defeating Celtic yet again…or Tony Mowbray’s men gunning for revenge. However, there is the potential for Rangers to host Dundee United and it is difficult to see the TV companies avoiding that one.

As we predicted, Hibs are being given every opportunity to end their Scottish Cup drought and they must fancy themselves to be in the semi-final with their home tie versus Ross County.

The remaining match could be an all SFL affair..if Aberdeen fail to take care of Raith Rovers in the replay. If the Dandy Dons can win that Pittodrie tie, they will be facing Dundee at Dens, the ground where they were defeated in the League Cup.

The ties in full are:
Rangers or St.Mirren v Dundee United
Hibs v Ross County
Kilmarnock v Celtic
Dundee v Aberdeen or Raith Rovers

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STV focus on the money aspect of the first SPL season

It is the fourth episode of STV’s Football Years programme and it appears to be focussing on money. It certainly talks…but it don’t sing and dance…and it don’t walk!

1998/99 was the year when the SPL started, bringing with it the glorious era that Scottish football is now enjoying. Err, thats not quite right is it?

The 1997/98 was one of the most pivotal seasons in Scottish football history and will forever be remembered by Celtic, Rangers and Hearts fans. This was to be the season when Rangers overtook their rivals 9 in a row league titles but somehow, on a final day of drama, Celtic came out on top of a thrilling season when Walter Smith walked away from Ibrox with nothing – something he has since rectified.

Rangers were in need of a re-tune and Dutch boss Dick Advocaat was the man to do it.

The man to front the Celtic challenge never arrived until much later on in the close season, dampening his ability to impact on the club but the work of Dr Jo Venglos has been long hailed by Celtic fans, even if the media treated him disgracefully.

Still, that is unlikely to be the story of the show, it was the year of Advocaat and a massive expenditure.

Artur Numan, Giovanni van Bronckhurst, Gabriel Amato, Lionel Charbonier and Andrei Kanchelskis were amongst the summer signings. These were added to as the season progressed with names like Stefan Klos and Neil McCann coming on board.

The expenditure was seen as being worth it by the Rangers fans as they clinched the domestic treble and looked set to build the foundations for a serious assault on Europe.

History will judge Dick Advocaat in a chequered manner and his expenditure has been a major part of the current Rangers financial difficulties but Rangers fans loved the Little General in his pomp and prime.

It is easy to criticise Rangers for their expenditure but some of the purchases around Scotland were just as crazy and given the other clubs had less of a turnover from Rangers, possibly even more damaging for the health of they clubs.

Motherwell and Dundee were two clubs who spent, spent, spent in chasing the glory and in Dundee’s case, you have to think they haven’t learned a thing.

Not only did they have another financial blowout in the 2000s but currently the club is buying their way to the Scottish First Division title and they look intent on outbidding SPL clubs for players. You would have to hope that Dundee’s backer is sure of his money because there are only so many times a club can go to the well before they find out is dry.

The show is set to look into the discussion about whether Dundee should have only one club but is there really much debate? Fans of both clubs will say no, never…whereas many outsiders who don’t care for either club will see the benefits of the move.

Jim McLean, involved with both clubs and never short of opinion, is set to feature in this part of the show.

A season of new beginnings and money madness.

Who was your worst buy of the early SPL seasons?

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Weaver ready to wave goodbye to Tannadice

“He’s agreed to join us until January when Dusan Pernis arrives because he wants to put himself in the shop window.”

Craig Levein said as much on the day of his arrival but the clock is starting to tick on Nicky Weaver’s time with Dundee United. The fact that United’s new Slovakian goalkeeper Dusan Pernis has arrived earlier than planned should see him ready for a first team spot when his move is finalised during the January transfer window.

Dundee United boss Craig Levein told the Tangerines website;

“Dusan began training with the lads this week after signing the release forms with his old club. It’s good to be able to bring him in a bit earlier than January so he can get his family settled and become acclimatised.”

The United boss has developed a reputation of unearthing decent goalkeepers at Tannadice. Lukasz Zaluska is now at Celtic whilst Grzegorz Szamotulski was another big hit with the Tangerine faithful.

Nicky Weaver has had a roller coaster career down south but he has rarely put a hand wrong for Dundee United. The move up North may have allowed the keeper to revitalise his career and it will be interesting to see where he ends up next.

That is not the concern of United fans though, who will be keen to see how Pernis settles in.

With United pushing hard at the top of the table, there will be no room for error and the Slovakian will need to be on top of his game right away.

United fans, where does Weaver rank alongside your recent goalkeepers?

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