Talking points from the Premiership

Mixu already appears desperate
So Big Mixu has already described a performance as "rubbish" to the press, cancelled time off during the international break as punishment for poor results, and (as of Saturday) introduced a brand new tactical formation - a 3-4-1-2.  These are the sort of desperate actions that are often associated with a failing manager raging against the dying light (or at least the sack!)...but Paatelainen has only been at Dundee United for six weeks!

Those six weeks have, however, produced only one win, three points and two goals (one of which was a penalty).  United's position is a little bit worse than it was when he took over.  So no wonder there's a feeling of worry around Tannadice.  Accusing St. Johnstone of being a long ball team who play for set pieces was grossly unfair to the Perth Saints; frankly, the Finn would be far better off constructing his team in the image of Tommy Wright's.  The organization and heart displayed by the visitors is exactly what Dundee United lack.

The next five games will tell us how good (or bad) United's situation is.  Accies at home next weekend is followed by four matches against the teams immediately above the Terrors in the table.  And the squad should be reinforced by then, with the returning Gavin Gunning joined by yesterday's signing Guy Demel (announced by the press as a midfielder, but who has been used as a right-back for most of his recent career.  Ryan McGowan to move to centre-back?) and, work permit permitting, Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima.  The bottom line is that if Dundee United are still adrift at the end of December, then they are doomed. LS



Chapeau, Hamilton Accies
If we are being honest, the big talking point from this game was not the result but the decision Hamilton took off it to wear the French away kit as a one off for this fixture.

I have a lot of respect for Hamilton Accies as a football club.  On the park, their well earned draw on Sunday put them back in the top six in a season many predicted they would be struggling against relegation, and underneath the first team their youngsters once again sit atop the Development League.  Off the park, there seems to be a genuine community-focused approach, with the occasional nice gesture from time to time (facilitating Jay Beatty's Goal of the Season springs to mind).  So it should be no surprise that Accies once again thought outside the box and their innovation and opportunism should be applauded.

The motivations behind this decision were worthy enough.  Accies have two senior staff from France in Guillaume Beuzelin and Christian Nade, and in Nade's case it has emerged that his sister was in a restaurant next to one of those attacked by the gunmen in Paris.  Hamilton left the choice of playing up to him, and it was understandable that this ended up being the first league game he didn't participate in this season.

The footballing circumstances that provided this opportunity were less understandable.  Hamilton explained that the two clubs had a genuine kit issue for this fixture - whatever Aberdeen wore clashed with Hamilton's 1st kit.  Although perhaps beside the point, it does hammer home a particular bugbear of mine, which is the inability of top flight clubs to produce away kits that are fit for purpose - namely to be used against league opponents in the event of a clash of home kits. Hamilton's home colours are hardly a state secret, and both Aberdeen and the SPFL will have known that the Dons would be visiting the Accies at least once this season.  To be in a position that whatever combination of kits Aberdeen wore would have clashed with Hamilton's home kit is, frankly, ridiculous.  Both the clubs and the SPFL should be doing more to ensure such issues don't arise in future.  (Making the away team play in their pants as an alternative would be a good incentive on a cold November afternoon...)

Also, making a point of being able to accommodate their normal 1st choice kit sponsors on the shirts seemed a tad unnecessary, although it is also acknowledged that the kits will be going to Ligue 1 clubs after the match to be auctioned for charity.  In any event, chapeau to Hamilton Accies. MI

Dingwall impressing in, er, Dingwall
Tony Dingwall has, if nothing else, the perfect name for a Ross County player.  And at last, at 21, he has established himself as a first choice in the side.  Having not started a game till the end of October, he has now been in the first XI in four successive matches, and looked the part in each as he cuts in from the left flank.  Having scored the consolation against Celtic a fortnight ago, he was on target against Motherwell this weekend as well, finishing off a lovely passing move by keeping his composure and rounding the keeper before tapping in.

Not too many wide players would have the instinct to race into the centre forward position, but with 'Well's centre backs dragged wide by the County strikers, a bus-sized gap had opened up which Dingwall exploited...aided by a lovely through ball by the impressive Martin Woods.  Add in an assist - for Craig Curran's cracking strike on the turn - and it was a good afternoon in Dingwall for Dingwall (keeping up?).

To think that County's success last season came with Raffaele De Vita and Michael Gardyne in the wide midfield positions.  Neither started this game; the excellent performances of Dingwall and Jonathan Franks on the opposite side pay tribute to the depth Jim McIntyre has accrued and will serve him well in the months to come. LS

ICT need to play for the full 90

Another trip to Firhill, another defeat for Caley Thistle.  The Highlanders have an abysmal record against Partick with just a solitary win from their previous ten trips to Maryhill.  It all started so positively for the Inverness side though with Miles Storey finishing off a intricate passing move with a good finish from a tight angle bagging his sixth goal of his loan spell. The young striker continues to impress and, with Ryan Christie having returned to Celtic and looking increasingly unlikely to turn out for Inverness again, keeping Storey beyond his current January loan will become a top priority for John Hughes. 

Unfortunately for ICT, despite a relatively impressive opening twenty minutes, Partick came back into the game, equalising through Kris Doolan and deservedly winning it right at the death when Ryan Stevenson's cross evaded everyone and found its way into the net.  The scoreline would have been even more emphatic were it not for Owain Fon Williams who produced a number of superb stops to keep Thistle at bay, the pick of which was a terrific save from a Doolan header.  With a depressing one shot on target compared to Partick Thistle's eight it would be hard to justify ICT being worthy of anything more than a point at best. 

The apparent lack of creativity within the side is a cause for concern but a worrying pattern is also emerging at the other end of the pitch.  Stevenson's fluke goal came in the 90th minute and is the fourth time that ICT have given away a goal in the 90th minute or later which has cost them points. The concession of late goals against St. Johnstone (twice), Dundee and now Partick Thistle have seen the Highlanders throw away eight valuable points so far this season.  Hamilton and Ross County were also able to nab goals late on in games against ICT but ultimately they made no different to the final result.  

Is it a lack of concentration, or is it a lack of fitness?  Whatever the reason, this is hampering Inverness badly. With Celtic up next it is unlikely that a late goal will be decisive in that game but John Hughes will be hoping that Gary Warren's imminent return to the starting eleven will bring the resoluteness that this side seems to lack. AS

Celtic get away with dropping points
After the high of being part of Wick Academy’s historic first senior trophy success on Saturday (had to get this in somewhere), it was back to earth with a bump reviewing this stalemate.

Killie set out to frustrate Celtic from the off, and were successful in taking points from the Hoops for the second time this season.  After a fairly dismal start to their campaign, Killie have shown some mettle and at very least seem prepared for a relegation dogfight.

In a game of few chances, the best of them fell to Leigh Griffiths, but he failed to make a meaningful contact with a clipped through ball, barely testing Jamie MacDonald.  Misfiring days like this have been rare for Griffiths this season, but it was disconcerting that no-one else stepped up to the plate.  Ronny Deila’s men should have had a penalty when Kevin McHattie tripped Scott Brown in the box. With this tie being played at Parkhead, I must admit I am fairly surprised it wasn’t given – cue the conspiracy theorists out in force again.

Celtic will not be too disheartened though, given the failure of Aberdeen and Hearts to capitalise, and Killie will be happy with a point away from home any day of the week. ST

Neilson's tinkering cost Hearts a win
Someone needs to tell Robbie Neilson that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Hearts were one up and coasting when Billy King went off injured shortly before half-time, but with a natural wide player in Danny Swanson on the bench (plus Gavin Reilly, who can play that role), the Jambos boss instead turned to defensive midfielder Morgaro Gomis.  With Arnaud Djoum, Miguel Pallardo and Prince Buaben already on the park, one might say that Hearts were already oversubscribed in that area!

So the momentum was lost and Dundee dominated the second period; in fact they looked the most likely winners after Rory Loy's equalizer.  It was an opportunity missed for the home side - they could have closed to within four points of Celtic with a win, and could have gone three clear of Aberdeen.  It's not the first time that Neilson has overthought things; one wonders if this is one of the perils that come with having a relatively young coach. 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.

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