County crushed by ruthless Aberdeen
On a weekend where the majority of Scottish fitba's supporters rightly turn their attention the the Scottish Cup, Aberdeen quietly went about the business of securing a further three points in the league against Ross County. On recent form, this looked as if it may be a tighter game than others may have anticipated. The Dons had failed to win in their last three outings, while I was stunned to learn that the Staggies had only lost one of their last eight away Premiership fixtures.
Fortunately for Aberdeen, County, or more specifically Antonio Reguero, gifted them the opener by fumbling Jonny Hayes low cross and allowing Adam Rooney to pounce. Aberdeen's second goal, early in the second half, was rather more beautifully crafted; an elegant through ball from Rooney releasing Peter Pawlett to round the hapless Requero and tap in. Shay Logan made it three with a superb finish from outside the box into the top corner (a left pegger too!) and David Goodwillie completed a good and proper thumping.
Aberdeen, move level on points with Celtic. (The further eleven goals they needed to go top on goal difference failed to materialise...) For Ross County, who remain six points adrift at the bottom of the table, there must now be growing concerns amongst the Staggies faithful that if they can't turn results around soon they will be in danger of being set adrift. In recent weeks, they have at least looked like a side who can defend stoutly; if that trait has now escaped them, there is no hope for the Highlanders. MI
Accies and Killie both have their problems
Both these teams are currently playing like relegation fodder - Accies are still winless in six attempts under Martin Canning, while Killie have two wins in fifteen. This one really should have gone the way of the home side, who spurned several first half chances and should have had a penalty right at the end when Manuel Pascali cleaned out Nathan Redmond, only for the referee to inexplicably wave play on.
Accies at least have plenty of points on the board already. They remain fifth, eight points ahead of seventh placed Dundee. They will surely still be in the top six at the split, although they are making heavy weather of it. There's plenty for Canning to ponder ahead of next season though; while he might be able to replace left-back Stephen Hendrie via the youth academy, up front is a different matter. Letting Mickael Antoine-Curier go might have been for the greater good given his apparent effect on dressing room harmony, but they have to muddle their way through the rest of the season with only Jason Scotland. And as for the rather huge Tony Andreu-shaped gap? Well, Hamilton appear to be a patient high at risk of contracting second season syndrome.
Killie's problems are the more pressing, though. It was no surprise that caretaker Gary Locke chose not to depart from Allan Johnston's blueprint, and the board now have to decide whether the ex-Hearts boss is the man to lead them to the summer. Their current position (eighth) and points tally wouldn't normally be cause for worry, but for the way Hibs collapsed last season. Killie probably only need another couple of wins to avoid a relegation playoff, but just how confident would one be that they will pull that off? LS
Dundee United v Celtic will be a cracking quarter final
Stranraer away has 'banana-skin' written all over it, so Dundee United deserve credit for taking their League One opponents seriously - at least for the first half-hour, by which point they were three up and could take their foot off the gas. Even Nadir Ciftci;s attitude was perfect - his through ball for Ryan Dow's second goal would have sliced through far better defences than this one.
Celtic were lucky to leave Dens Park with a draw in August; on Saturday, Dundee were lucky to escape with a moderate defeat. Plenty has happened since then; for a start, Celtic don't have Jo Inge Berget stinking up the left flank. What they do have is Leigh Griffiths bang in form, and far more coherence in attack. Not for the first time in the last few months, they were denied a cricket score by a heroic goalkeeping performance (Scott Bain in this case), which makes one wonder how much of that is down to poor finishing.
The meeting in the quarters between these two sides will be unmissable, not least because it's the dress rehearsal for the League Cup Final the following weekend. And then they meet at Celtic Park on league duty the week after. With only one other Premiership side in the last eight, the winner of this game will heavily fancy their chances of lifting this trophy. LS
Reilly belongs at a higher level
St. Johnstone's defence of the Scottish Cup ended meekly in Dumfries, although it wasn't as much of an upset as it might have appeared to the uninformed. The Perth Saints toil up front without Steven Maclean and Michael O'Halloran, while Queen of the South have been holding their own in the Championship against sides with far more resources. Next up for them in the Quarter Finals are Falkirk, who have to travel to Dumfries after beating Brechin City. There's very little between the two sides in the league, and both will fancy their chances of making the final four.
The first time this writer saw Doonhamers striker Gavin Reilly, he was a gangly seventeen year old thrown on as a late sub in Dingwall by Gus MacPherson. I assumed he would just be a battering ram and target man, but while Reilly has put on plenty of bulk and muscle in the subsequent four years, he has that cliched 'good touch for a big man'. It's not often a striker like that is found at this level, and it's safe to assume he won't be at that level for much longer.
Reilly is out of contract in the summer, and surely won't be short of suitors. Queens' will be entitled to a development fee for him - will it be high enough to put off Premiership clubs, or will see him harassing top flight defenders next season? LS
Rangers defeat wasn't that much of a surprise
I'm not sure there will have been all that much dancing in the streets of Raith last night, not just for the obvious reason but because, well, how much of a shock was their victory at Ibrox? It's the seventh time this season Rangers have lost to a Championship team either in the league or a cup competition, after all.
I must admit that, when Kenny McDowall claimed that he wasn't picking the team, my first thought was "lucky for Rangers." Unfortunately, he only had three Newcastle loanees to fit in, and inexplicably he chose to replace Darren McGregor with Remi Streete and keep Lee McCulloch in the team.
McCulloch's misdemeanours have already been addressed in this excellent blog by Iain Meredith today. But his inclusion is not just outrageous because of his use of the Dark Arts. His complete lack of pace forces the Gers to play such a deep backline that they can't press at all. He might be okay at heading a ball, but he's also so vulnerable against an opponent running at him. McGregor is a vastly superior player, and so too, dare I say it, is Bilel Mohsni. A better, and stronger, manager than McDowall would have dumped McElbows long ago but, like so many fellow underperformers in this side, he appears to have a guaranteed place in the lineup - even when Mike Ashley decrees that half the team have to be Newcastle reserves. As for Ashley, what Rangers needed on deadline day was not five new players on loan, but a vaguely competent coach for the ones they already have. LS
And the rest...
Not much to say about the other cup games - most of it will be covered far better elsewhere. What I would point out is that Hibernian are a real threat in this competition. That starting lineup is certainly of top-flight quality, even if they play like it only intermittently. As an ICT fan, I wouldn't fancy meeting them in the last four (assuming we get past Raith, which is not a given). It's nice to see Spartans clinging on for a bit longer, but the winner of their replay with Berwick won't get beyond the trip to Easter Road in the quarters. 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.
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