I imagine Sunday's game went about as well as the police could have hoped for. There was little controversy, and the second half was so subdued that surely no-one in the stands or the pubs could have felt riled enough to pick a fight with anyone afterwards...right?
The trouble is that this match has been lauded by Scottish football authorities and the press as our game's showcase. So TV viewers got to see a pitch in such a bad state that watching farmers will have felt a huge urge to put a scarecrow on it. Every Celtic attack was stifled by the need to dribble around potholes along with Rangers defenders. Hampden is our national stadium, and that was only the fourth match on the surface since it was relaid. That's the best we can do?
And, of course, the world and his dog got to hear plenty of the rather more sinister songs as well. Some showcase.
The SPFL and the SFA need to decide whether this football lark is an actual business, which is run professionally and for profit, or just a leisure activity and a bit of a lark. If it is the latter, then all this pissing about and frank amateurism is justifiable, but Neil Doncaster's £200,000 salary is not. If it is a business, then the emphasis must be on the product, especially when it is on show on television. If the pitch is farcical, then someone must take responsibility. If it is marred by sectarian singing then something - at last (I don't know what, but the Scottish government's farcical law is not the answer, as was clear yesterday) - must be done about it. Anything that harms the product is a bad thing. That philosophy is why other leagues are thriving, and we are stagnating, despite some great games this season. LS
Dundee United are still on for the treble
For two sides that haven't been involved in a 0-0 draw since the start of the domestic season, perhaps the biggest talking point at half time was that this match remained scoreless. United were perhaps the better of the two sides in the opening 45 minutes - and a deflected Stuart Armstrong shot that hit the crossbar perhaps the best chance the fall to either side - although the Dons happily dominated the ensuing 'Football Fans In Training' shoot-out. (4-0 to the Aberdeen!)
Dons new-boy Don Daniels had a good first half (for those who are interested, his name is spelled 'Donervorn' on his birth certificate but he chooses to be called 'Donervon' - let's just agree to call him 'Don') and his debut got even better when he put the Dons in front. From a long Andy Considine throw-in, Daniels outmuscled Dundee United debutant Ryan McGowan to flick a looping header over the flailing arms of Radoslaw Cierzniack for a goal that Tony Pulis would have been proud of.
An excellent spell of pressure followed for the Aberdeen, with first David Goodwillie and then Ryan Jack having shots blocked, before the Dons were made to pay for their profligacy. An inswinging Garry Mackay-Steven corner was powerfully met at the back post by Callum Morris to equalise for the Arabs on the hour mark.
Back came Aberdeen, and from a Niall McGinn corner Adam Rooney appear to head the Dons back in front, only for the whistle to be blown and the goal not to count. Referee Steven McLean gestured that Rooney, who had been running in to meet the cross, had pushed Calum Butcher. In my (admittedly one-eyed) view, the decision was very harsh. -especially coming, from the same ref who hadn't pinged John Sutton for pushing Jamie Langfield in the build up to Motherwell's winner at Pittodrie at the very end of last season.
The chances continued to open up for both sides. Fair play to both teams for making a game of it on a Hampden pitch that was cutting up pretty badly and looked as if it needed the services of a good gardener by the end of it. Anyone got Ally McCoist's number? But the winner came for the Arabs, through Nadir Ciftci's glanced header. Ciftci may have been offside, but it was an absolute nightmare from Scott Brown, who should have done much better. If that had been Jamie Langfield, he would be slaughtered. If that had been Steve Simonsen, he would be investigated.
And so the treble-chasing Terrors move on to the Scottish League Cup final, while the Dons will now be fully focused on the remainder of their league campaign. The five-hour journey home was a long one, although after learning the heartbreaking news that a young Dons fan took ill at the match and tragically passed away, it rather puts the fitba' into perspective and makes you appreciate simply being able to come home. MI
Pre-contract makes Shinnie an easy scapegoat
A lot of eyes were on Graeme Shinnie during the course of the 90 minutes of the Highland Derby on Saturday with the left back playing his first game since Aberdeen announced they had secured Caley Thistle's captain on a pre contact agreement which will see Shinnie move to Pittodrie in the summer.
The timing of the announcement was an interesting one. Inverness had closed to within 1 point of Aberdeen in second place and some of the more cynical supporters pondered whether this was a ruse by Aberdeen to upset the apple cart and force ICT into accepting a cut price deal for a player who has committed to a 'rival' side. Shinnie of course still needs to lead out his side at Pittodrie in April against his future employers.
Despite all the conspiracy theories Shinnie, for the time being, remains an ICT player and his commitment to the side remains, we are told, steadfast. But with this deal now out in the open he finds himself under real scrutiny by some of the Caley Thistle support. The acid test will likely be Aberdeen in April but a Highland Derby was a good place to see if Shinnie was still wiling to give his all for the side.
In dreadful conditions and on a soggy pitch Inverness and Ross County battled to a 1 - 1 draw meaning John Hughes has still to claim victory over the Dingwall side in Inverness despite having a 100% record against County in Dingwall.
Shinnie received a lukewarm welcome from the home support with a few boos mixed in from fans who are understandably disappointed to see the club captain and one of the best performers of the last two seasons move to a league rival. Any misplaced pass or shirked challenge were quickly pointed out to the home captain however he looked just as frustrated as any of the Inverness supporters when Ross County bundled in an equaliser.
It's unlikely that Shinnie will remain anything other than professional as he winds down his Inverness career however he is now an easy target for supporters should anything go wrong whether that is deserved or not. AS
Can St. Mirren cope without Kenny Mclean?
Out of the bottom three, who would you put your money on avoiding either relegation or a playoff? As of last night, mine would have been firmly on St. Mirren, who moved up into the dizzy heights of tenth after winning on Friday night at Firhill, in yet another game marred by a horrendous playing surface. To be honest, Partick Thistle's pitch has struggled to cope with the winter for years, which is a huge handicap for a home side who prefer to keep the ball on the deck. Alan Archibald's team tried to play to the conditions, but sticking cross-balls into the box for wee Kris Doolan was never going to be a successful gameplan. Even in my sleep that night, I could still hear Derek Rae's voice saying "headed away by McAusland...headed away by McAusland..."
Whilst I laid into Gary Teale last week for his silly comments to the press, this week he deserves some lauding for simply making St. Mirren difficult to beat. This was their first clean sheet of the entire season, and it was unquestionably their best defensive performance. Further forward, the signing of James Dayton - whose goal won this match - looks like a smart one from an attacking point of view. However, that is now more than offset by Kenny Mclean's impending move to Aberdeen. Mclean has been playing the best football of his career in the last month after Teale moved him into a more advanced role. It could not be a worse time for the Buddies to lose their best player, even if they are getting more than £250,000 for him. Will it derail their fight against the drop? LS
Motherwell can't rely on good fortune
John Sutton's late equalizer was proper daylight robbery from Motherwell, nicking a point with ten men after St. Johnstone missed enough chances to win three games. This was undoubtedly a point gained for the Steelmen, but I'm reminded of a comment a 'Well fan made to me a few weeks ago - "even in the games we've won, we were second best".
It was an inauspicious debut for Louis Laing, sent off less than half an hour into his debut on loan from Nottingham Forest. Bringing in an inexperienced central defender from the Championship is a risky way to try and solve your defensive problems, even more so when that strategy has already failed this season with Derby loanee Mark O'Brien. Laing and his defensive partner Craig Reid were run ragged in the early stages of this one; Motherwell at least looked more solid when Simon Ramsden dropped into the back four.
The main problem remains a lack of support and service for Sutton up front. Whether two other temporary signings, Stephen Pearson and Anthony Straker, are the answers is open to question; it's worth noting that substitute winger Dominic Thomas produced a wonderful assist for Sutton. Young Thomas has impressed in flashes since Ian Baraclough took over, and expect him to see more action in the coming months. I can't help feeling he might make more of a positive impact than all these guys brought in on loan.
The main problem remains a lack of support and service for Sutton up front. Whether two other temporary signings, Stephen Pearson and Anthony Straker, are the answers is open to question; it's worth noting that substitute winger Dominic Thomas produced a wonderful assist for Sutton. Young Thomas has impressed in flashes since Ian Baraclough took over, and expect him to see more action in the coming months. I can't help feeling he might make more of a positive impact than all these guys brought in on loan.
Well now drop below St. Mirren on goal difference; next up for them are Ross County at Fir Park in a fortnight. Talk about a must-win game... LS
Greg Stewart for top scorer?
It's remarkable to think that the Scottish Premiership's joint top scorers were both playing in this game; Tony Andreu for Accies, Greg Stewart for Dundee. And, even more remarkably, neither play as natural centre-forwards. The trouble was that most of the chances in these games fell to the out and out strikers - Jason Scotland, whose spirit is still willing but whose legs are not quite as up to it, and David Clarkson, who is going through a heck of a lean spell.
Stewart's goal was absolutely terrific, shifted onto his left foot and curled across the keeper into the top corner. A free transfer from Cowdenbeath in the summer, has there been a better signing in the league this season? Dundee's move to extend his contract last month was shrewd, and the 24 year old hasn't rested on his laurels. One feels there is still a lot of room for improvement in his game too. Just how good could he be?
Even though the visitors took the lead in this game, it felt like a better point for them, stopping a run of defeats since Martin Canning took over from Alex Neil. It also keeps Dundee seven points behind them in the battle for those last two top six positions. If the Dark Blues are to scrape into the top half, it's going to have to be at the expense of St. Johnstone. 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..
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.
Iain Meredith (IM) is on holiday this week, the lucky git.
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