Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Talking Points from the Premiership

Motherwell were sensational
Some idiot (*whistles*) wrote on here last week that Celtic were going to coast to the title.  Admittedly, I wasn't the only one who didn't see this coming; Motherwell win at Celtic Park, for the first time in eight years?  That sounds more like an April fool than a Christmas cracker.

Criticism comes easier than praise, so it is incredibly tempting to focus on the many deficiencies of the home side's performance.  But by God Motherwell were brilliant.  Mark McGhee took a big gamble by starting with two forwards, and then another big one by bringing on Lionel Ainsworth at half-time for the ill Liam Grimshaw; both paid off, even if Ainsworth was only on the pitch for 36 minutes - he was subbed as part of the reorganization that followed the loss of Stephen McManus to a concussion.

Many a team would have wilted after falling behind so unluckily (Nir Bitton scoring with the aid of a huge deflection), but 'Well stuck at it and deserved their win.  Louis Moult was outstanding, with his two goals taking him to nine in the league.  If he scores another nine in the second half of the campaign, he will be safe.  The star, however, was Marvin Johnson - his pace caused havoc down the Celtic right, taking advantage of Mikel Lustig's advanced starting position.  It wouldn't be a surprise if other managers take note of the damage a quicksilver winger can do to the champions.

To be fair, there were great performances everywhere for the Steelmen, who finished the game with two teenagers (Ben Hall and Luke Watt) and the relatively youthful Louis Laing in their defence.  This result should keep Motherwell fans warm and fuzzy all the way to Christmas Day, and gives hope to the rest of us. LS


Kilmarnock are a shambles
It is hard to say whether we should be lauding Aberdeen for their wonderful attacking play or lambasting Kilmarnock for their woeful defending, and while the cliched response would be to say that it was a combination of both (which is, of course, true - they are cliches for a reason...) for at least a couple of the goals it would be charitable to claim that Killie were actually defending.

The first goal was a case in point.  Kenny McLean's left footed delivery may well have been into the 'corridor of uncertainty' (Geoffrey Boycott is probably receiving weekly royalties for that phrase...) but Niall McGinn's run was not tracked by young Ross Barbour, allowing him to nod home from inside the six yard box.  I didn't think the second goal was as bad from a defensive stand point - McGinn's decision to cross with the outside of his right boot clearly gave Adam Rooney that crucial half-step to time his run in front of Killie skipper Mark Connolly and power home his header - but judging from the boos that rang out from the home support they clearly were not impressed.

The third goal, however, was calamitous defending.  Straight from the restart, McLean got down the left flank and lofted a fairly regulation cross into the box, yet Jonny Hayes was able to prod the ball home in the middle of the box with literally no defender within 10 yards of him. Stuart Findlay, left back on the day although a centre back by trade, went to cover Rooney's run to the front post, but there was no-one behind him and Hayes is allowed to run through to nutmeg the keeper.

Having reviewed the highlights, it looks as if Greg Kiltie was first covering Hayes at kick off, although I would be surprised if the winger was expected to track him that far back.  Whomever was at fault, it was terrible defending, especially when you consider that Killie had managed to get that badly out of their defensive shape within seconds of kick off.  If the home fans weren't impressed with the last goal, they were certainly not amused at this one.

At least Aberdeen's fourth goal was a cracker.  With fresh legs on the park, Cammie Smith slipped a quality pass through to Peter Pawlett, and his back heel pass fell perfectly for the onrushing Shay Logan to wrap up the scoring.  For all the success that the Dons have had this season, this was the first time they managed to score four goals.  For Killie, this was the fourth time this season that they'd conceded at least four goals at Rugby Park.  They now tie Dundee United for having conceded the most goals in the Premiership this season, and if they want to keep ahead of them in the league standings then addressing those failings would be a good start. MI


Accies hand Dundee a mighty boost
Are Dundee United truly awful, or on a poor run of form that tends to happen to at least one team each season?  A similar question could be asked of Hamilton Accies after watching the first 25 minutes down the other end of Tannadice Street on Saturday afternoon. Any team can have an off day, but rarely have I seen a top flight team conceded four goals in such a short period of time and in such a shambolic manner.

Paul Hartley had recently bemoaned his team's slow starts; after this, he understandably praised the tempo of his team, and how they came flying out of the traps.  That said, if the opposition have a collective panic attack every time you hoof the ball forward, the chances are you’re going to have a relatively comfortable afternoon.

Each of Kane Hemmings’ three goals must rank among the easiest he’s scored, although he
does get some credit for calm finish to complete the hat-trick.  Greg Stewart's strike was one of those
satisfying curlers that looks even better when the camera is right behind the player, but Hamilton’s defenders were practically begging him to shoot there.

Lawrie questioned this week whether United’s travails were distracting from Dundee’s own
troubles given they hadn’t won in their previous 8 games. It was a legitimate point, but looking at
how congested the table is from 5th to 10th, and how generally poor those teams have been
this season, it’s likely that mediocrity will be more than sufficient to achieve a safe but boring
end to the season. IM



Hughes' stubbornness leaves Horner hanging
Having previously endured a run of just one win in their previous six league games the prospect of ICT facing the bottom two sides in the Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock and Dundee United, in back-to-back home games offered up a real chance to get their stuttering season back on track. Despite picking up four points out of six, ICT supporters were left frustrated with the perceived negative approach from John Hughes’ men, especially against Kilmarnock, and also scratching their heads as first team regulars have been left out of the starting lineup with little nor no obvious reason behind their absence.

On Saturday, right-back David Raven remained on the bench despite an injury to Josh Meekings. Instead of recalling Raven to the side Hughes chose to pick utility man Lewis Horner.  Horner had a torrid afternoon, caught out of position for both United goals and generally struggling all game. Despite it being the season of goodwill the home support were quick to let Horner know what they thought of his showing in a surprisingly hostile show of emotions and it seemed certain that he would be withdrawn at half time to shore up a porous Inverness defence which was breached when John Rankin lashed the ball into the net after Horner was beaten by Scott Fraser down the Inverness right. Rankin’s goal was the first scored by a United player other than Billy Mckay since August.

Hughes persisted with Horner after the break and the former Hibs man grabbed a vital equaliser in injury time; Liam Polworth had earlier scored for Inverness but Mckay put United ahead again after Despite grabbing the equaliser Horner himself admitted that it didn’t make up for his poor performance but he wasn’t helped by an apparent unwillingness from Hughes to adapt his tactics to counter the United threat down the left and offer the struggling right-back more protection.


Hughes is known to be stubborn and will rigorously stick to how he believes the game should be played. It’s hard to argue with given that he secured the Scottish Cup and European football last season, but on other occasions his refusal to alter his style causes problems for his team. One of the main reasons Horner was so often out of position was because of the way ICT set themselves up from goal kicks where both full-backs step up to or near the halfway line with one midfielder dropping slightly in front of the centre-backs. The second United goal came from such an instance.  An aimless goal kick from Fon Williams was won in the air by United and quickly fed out wide to Erskine who had cleverly positioned himself in the gap vacated by Horner moving up the pitch and the cross was eventually bundled in by Mckay after some calamitous defending. 

Horner didn’t cover himself in glory but he wasn’t helped by his manager's reluctance to provide him with some help. ICT fans will be hoping that Yogi's stubbornness subsides because Inverness are not in a position where they can afford not to be playing their best defenders each week. AS



Four in a row for Partick Thistle
1977 was the year the original ‘ Star Wars' opened in cinemas. It was also the last time Partick Thistle had won four top-flight games in a row. They were confident of matching this heading into this one against a Ross County side who have faltered in recent weeks, following their early season promise.

 The Staggies has the best of the early chances. Skipper Andrew Davies found himself in acres of space to latch onto Martin Woods whipped in free kick 6 yards out, however he failed to a make a decent connection and Tomas Cerny made a smart stop with his left leg.  Cerny was less impressive when Jonathan Franks latched onto a loose ball across the Jags back four, initially coming out and then scrambling back as the former Middlesbrough man burst down the right. However his cross was eventually swept clear – danger averted.  Franks was again causing problems down the right flank, and his lofted cross found Michael Gardyne at the edge of the box, who then volleyed just over.

Despite the Dingwall men having the best of the first half, it was Partick Thistle who fortuitously opened the scoring. Stuart Bannigan delivered from the left and Davies, from almost exactly the same spot as his missed first half chance, made a better connection and thumped past his own keeper.  Oops.

If that was one for the bloopers reel, Kris Doolan came up with a reel of his own.  Firstly, he looped a header onto the crossbar and proceeded to rattle the bar again with the follow-up, although admittedly Scott Fox had a big part to play in the second effort with an excellent reflex save on his return to Firhill.  Doolan desperately stretched to try and nod in at the third attempt but only managed to knock the ball to safety.

Referred (I think this is meant to be 'referee' but I like to believe it is a Freudian slip - Ed) Andrew Dallas waved away claims from Jackson Irvine for a penalty late on as the Aussie burst into the box and appeared to be tugged back by Abdul Osman. Although it would’ve been soft, I’ve seen them given.  Matias Pogba then showed why he plys his trade in the SPL and not at the same elite level as his brother Paul, when he ballooned a header over from 6 yards in the dying embers.

But Partick hung on for that fourth straight win - for them, The Force has indeed awakened in the last couple of months.  ST



Saints and Hearts justify their lofty league positions
How does one come up with any new insight on the St. Johnstone-Hearts game?  We all know Juanma was a moron for headbutting David Wotherspoon.  We all know St. Johnstone created enough chances to win three games.  And we all suspect that Steven Maclean's skied penalty may have narrowly missed Tim Peake in the International Space Station.

If there is one thing to take away from this match, it's that it will be a huge surprise if these two teams don't finish third and fourth in the table (in which order, I'm not sure).  Both are good value for their current elevated positions, and there is plenty to like about both of them.  And that's really all I've got! LS


Martin Ingram (MI) is our Aberdeen Correspondent.  Legend has it that he is the tallest man in the Red Army.  He writes regularly for Aberdeen fanzine The Red Final.

Iain Meredith (IM) is technically a Rangers fan, but these days he tends to support them ironically.  He agreed to help with this blog because now he can tell his wife that he's "only watching the game to help a friend out".

Lawrie Spence (LS) has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007.  He has a life outside this blog.  Honestly.

Andrew Sutherland (AS) occasionally writes for When Saturday Comes.  He would never miss an ICT match unless he was offered a date with the lead singer of CHVRCHES...who he would then take to said ICT match.

Stuart Taylor (ST) is Wick Academy's team doctor. He is an Aberdeen fan, especially now they're doing well again.

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