The 23 year old boy from Bellaghy, Derry, the ninth of the 1981 hunger strikers to give their lives, my thoughts are with his family, friends and comrades.
On the Scottish football front Saturday saw week two of the SPL & SPFL seasons and with Celtic and Rangers both playing Sunday this gave us a chance to focus our attentions elsewhere.
Dundee V Aberdeen, and after an inauspicious start to the season for Dundee having lost out to a solitary goal at Celtic, and Aberdeen running out 2-1winners against last season's runners up Hearts, I expected better of the visitors. But they were poor, a very poor side and despite edging it on possession they did little with it the majority of the chances and shots on target from the home side the Dens Park men ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. A Westley flick past the Dons keeper in nine minutes, it took far longer than it should have for Dundee to extend their lead but finally it came when a powerful shot from Bevan in the fifty sixth minute put the game to bed.
On Saturday we also had the joy of the Saints derby when St Mirren faced St Johnstone at home. I say “joy” because I believe it’s the job of any author of any piece to hold the attention of the reader but it’s pure clickbait. This isn’t a game we will be looking back upon with fondness. The fact Sky Sports managed to find three minutes of highlights is credit to them. Yes there was incidents, a penalty each end. St Johnstone's effort saved by St Mirren's Chapman and St Mirren's scored by Phillips in the seventy third minute. Dreary, yes, but it must feel pretty good being a St Mirren fan with six points from six and sitting top of the table on Saturday evening.
In the Championship Partick continued their hundred percent record running out comfortable 2-0 winners against last season's Premier League relegated Livingston on Friday night. A crowd of almost four thousand turned up which isn’t bad for a Friday evening. The worry (for me at least having a soft spot for Livi) is Livingston only managed one shot on target in the entire match, and even playing three up front Glenn Whelan (Livingston manager) must be wondering what went wrong.
On the Scottish football front Saturday saw week two of the SPL & SPFL seasons and with Celtic and Rangers both playing Sunday this gave us a chance to focus our attentions elsewhere.
Dundee V Aberdeen, and after an inauspicious start to the season for Dundee having lost out to a solitary goal at Celtic, and Aberdeen running out 2-1winners against last season's runners up Hearts, I expected better of the visitors. But they were poor, a very poor side and despite edging it on possession they did little with it the majority of the chances and shots on target from the home side the Dens Park men ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. A Westley flick past the Dons keeper in nine minutes, it took far longer than it should have for Dundee to extend their lead but finally it came when a powerful shot from Bevan in the fifty sixth minute put the game to bed.
On Saturday we also had the joy of the Saints derby when St Mirren faced St Johnstone at home. I say “joy” because I believe it’s the job of any author of any piece to hold the attention of the reader but it’s pure clickbait. This isn’t a game we will be looking back upon with fondness. The fact Sky Sports managed to find three minutes of highlights is credit to them. Yes there was incidents, a penalty each end. St Johnstone's effort saved by St Mirren's Chapman and St Mirren's scored by Phillips in the seventy third minute. Dreary, yes, but it must feel pretty good being a St Mirren fan with six points from six and sitting top of the table on Saturday evening.
In the Championship Partick continued their hundred percent record running out comfortable 2-0 winners against last season's Premier League relegated Livingston on Friday night. A crowd of almost four thousand turned up which isn’t bad for a Friday evening. The worry (for me at least having a soft spot for Livi) is Livingston only managed one shot on target in the entire match, and even playing three up front Glenn Whelan (Livingston manager) must be wondering what went wrong.
League One, and Hamilton and Ross County have both collected maximum points so far with County leaving it late (a goal in the eighty sixth minute) to overcome a stubborn Montrose, who without their talismanic striker Taylor Sutherland who’s moved on to play for Hamilton, find themselves rooted to the foot of the table, but only on goal difference as Queen of the South are equally poor at this stage and remain only above Montrose by a single goal.
League Two and poor old Edinburgh City find themselves once again on a minus points start to the season having been docked five points for “suffering an insolvency event” (being broke I suppose) so bottom of the table minus four points it’s early enough for themselves to get out of trouble. But honestly it must be hard being a City fan as the SPFL seem determined to kick you out of the league. Last year they survived but only just. This year has already started difficultly for the men from Scotland's capital. I suppose it could be worse. I mean, your club could have spent a small fortune on decorating a bus for a victory parade only to see that victory ruthlessly ripped from your grasp by a pensioner and a mishmash of players that he somehow managed to bond as one. I’m not sure where that bus is now but I do hope it’s overcome its embarrassment.
And so to Sunday …
First up we have the glorious Glasgow Celtic facing the threat of Kilmarnock who have finally ripped up their artificial pitch and replaced it with grass.
Rugby Park isn’t always an easy venue to play at but with Martin O’Neill at home recuperating from minor surgery - sending regards and best wishes, Martin Shaun Maloney taking charge of the team I expected a tight nervy encounter but what we got instead was a master class from the hoops. New bhoy Kasper Høgh put on a performance that has Celtic fans excited again. A hat trick in 33 minutes and a statement of more to come, it was difficult not to get carried away in a wave of invincibility. Celtic were imperious. Kilmarnock weren’t awful, they were simply blown away by the men from Paradise. Goals from Nygren and Mcowan, a late consolation for Killie from Schjønning-Larsen - the day however belonged to the Viking that is Celtic's new number 9. Finally we have a proper striker at the club. Big things are expected this season.
On the other side of the country and Hearts faced Dundee Utd. Again a remarkably one sided affair which didn’t look obvious on paper, Hearts having capitulated the week before to Aberdeen, and Dundee Utd who took a point snatching a draw from the jaws of victory against Rangers. I expected much better from Jim Goodwins side. The match ended 4-0 to the Jambos and a performance that left the Arabs scratching their heads, shaking them in disbelief. Contrary to rumour, their defeat is not down to my prediction they’d win this game. They were just awful and if they had any decency they’d apologise to their fans, and the club would reimburse travel costs. Granted it’s only 60 odd miles (120 round trip) between the cities, it’s far enough on a Sunday to watch your side do bugger all.
Rangers v Hibs, and a chance to see the McInnes era at Ibrox take off. Having spent almost €17m euro (roughly £15m pounds) and bringing in Shankland and Devlin from Hearts it was the new boys time to shine. Hibs had other ideas though.
The opening penalty to be honest was a little harsh and if I’d been on the receiving end of the decision I’d have been “pure raging” but after Don Robertson was called to the monitor there was only ever likely to be one outcome and a spot kick awarded to Hibs. Taken with aplomb by Campbell the atmosphere inside Ibrox became hostile. Whilst chances came and went for Rangers, at half time the boos from the home fans could be heard across Scotland.
Second half and it has to be said Rangers were better but Hibs upped their defensive game and had chances themselves to extend their lead. It seemed on the cards as the clock ticked round to 80 minutes that Hibs would hold on for all three points. Then the sucker punch - a ball rifled in from Gassama deflected off the valiant Chaiwa and past his keeper, giving Rangers what looked like a lift and definitely a lifeline.
With commentators in full cry that “Rangers can still win this” Ian “I’m not a Rangers fan but …” Crocker led the cries. Tucked away in a quiet Scottish village one scribe wrote on Bluesky “c'mon Hibs there’s still time, c'mon you can still win this”, the prophetic words of this unassuming scribhneoir came to pass as in the last minute of stoppage time Hibs' Wright fired past the new Rangers keeper Pandur and sent the away fans into ecstasy. Three points secured, a victory over Rangers and a victory over Hearts' former manager and captain, rounded off the perfect afternoon for the Edinburgh men.
One note from the game was the what appeared to be a very serious injury to Rangers' Chermiti. Rivalry aside I wish him well in his recovery.
So that’s it for another weekend in the SPL/SPFL summed up as Celtic impressive, Hearts admirable, Rangers poor, and Dundee United rank rotten.
Enjoy your week
Til next time ……
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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