SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
RANGERS ARE YEARS FROM CHALLENGING CELTIC
Ten-in-a-row: it’s the distant dream which could become a reality for Celtic. It’s the achievement that both Old Firm clubs aim for. It’s the one that would separate them; a defining moment in their historic rivalry. It would be the most important domestic season in a lifetime. Nine is not enough. Jock Stein guided the Hoops to nine consecutive titles during his golden tenure, and David Murray’s millions built Rangers into an unstoppable juggernaut from the late-80s to the mid-90s, a period during which Gers matched that momentous accomplishment. But neither made it to ten. That remains the ‘Promised Land’. But Celtic might be on course to reach it.
The Hoops side that Mark Warburton’s outfit met on Saturday lunchtime was a far different proposition from the anxious and disjointed team that they defeated in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Brendan Rodgers has instilled a refreshed sense of confidence in the side – exemplified by the return to form of Scott Brown and James Forrest – and made some much needed acquisitions to complete Celtic’s team. Kolo Toure looks an assured presence in Celtic’s defence – although it’s not like Efe Ambrose set a high bar – and Scott Sinclair has helped stretch their threat. With Forrest and Sinclair supporting Leigh Griffiths or Moussa Dembele, Celtic are dangerous on all fronts. There are no clear flaws in this team. The same cannot be said for their rivals.
Rangers were lacklustre all over the pitch. Joe Garner continues to look like a waste of £1.5 million, the pedestrian Niko Krancjar couldn’t handle the pace of the game – he was hooked at half-time, and Joey Barton just can’t seem to recapture his best form. Celtic fans also had the pleasure of witnessing the stunningly inept debut performance of Phillipe Senderos. The former Arsenal centre-back spent the game looking second best – even falling on his backside as Moussa Dembele rounded him for his second – and made the senseless decision to commit a blatant handball despite being booked earlier in the game. Mark Warburton had already lost one centre-back, after Rob Kiernan sustained a knock while committing a foul. Rangers hadn’t looked this dismal since the play-off defeat to Motherwell. Any talk of a potential title bid was shushed at Parkhead.
Celtic’s win was so complete that it’s difficult to choose how high a figure Rangers will need to spend just to build a squad capable of challenging. And with the Hoops in the Champions League, and thus collecting all that added revenue, Celtic are miles ahead in terms of finances as well. It could be years before Gers are in a position to battle them for the Premiership. It might just be long enough for Celtic to celebrate ten-in-a-row.
IS THERE PRESSURE ON DEREK MCINNES?
Aberdeen’s title ambitions evaporated before the end of August. The Dons laboured in goalless – and dull – draws against St Johnstone and Hearts, and fell to a humbling 4-1 defeat at Parkhead which served as a firm reminder that things had changed at Celtic. While it looked like Derek McInnes had done excellent business in the summer – signing a solid centre-back and goalkeeper, and giving himself options in the three attacking positions – that has failed to translate into on-field success. The Dons aren’t clicking, and the pressure might be building on McInnes.
Aberdeen supporters might look at the recent form of Hearts and their bid to finish second and question their failure to build upon another good season. That’s the downfall of success. Derek McInnes transformed Aberdeen from a side that threatened to sink into anonymity – or at least the Championship – into a title-challenging outfit. For two consecutive seasons the Dons filled the Rangers-shaped void and challenged Celtic. Perhaps McInnes has been too successful. Maybe he’ll be punished for not living up to the expectations that he set.
SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
FALKIRK MIDFIELD IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE
There was understandable concern among Falkirk fans at the beginning of the season. The Bairns had lost Blair Alston to St Johnstone and Will Vaulks to Rotherham United – arguably their two best players. Having come so close to reaching the Premiership – exhaustion coming into effect in a second leg thumping at the hands of Kilmarnock – there was the feeling that they may have missed their best chance of promotion.
One point from three games seemed to confirm those doubts. When a confidence-oozing Queen of the South bested them thanks to a Stephen Dobbie double, Falkirk fans prepared themselves for a season of mid-table mediocrity. However, back-to-back victories, including a 2-0 win over Raith at Stark’s Park, has renewed hope that Falkirk can challenge for the play-offs. The Bairns did an excellent job at stifling Raith and the keeping the attacking duo of Lewis Vaughan and Declan McManus quiet. Craig Sibbald put in a great performance and put through a delightful through ball for the first goal. This could be a big season for him.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO
INSALL COULD BE CRUCIAL TO EAST FIFE SURVIVAL
For once, Gary Naysmith didn’t have to spend the summer rebuilding his depleted squad. Promotion from League 2 had offered him respite from overhauling his team for a third straight summer, giving him the chance to bolster, rather than restructure. And it had been a positive start to East Fife’s League One campaign. A point against Albion Rovers and a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Peterhead put them in a good position, and although the club then suffered losses to both Alloa and Brechin, both of those sides are expected to challenge for the title and possess stronger squads than the Methil outfit. One thing, though, was clearly missing from their team: a League One class striker.
Of the 62 goals East Fife scored in their promotion campaign, 30 belonged to Nathan Austin and Jamie Insall. Both loans came to an end in the summer, leaving a void in Naysmith’s side. Paul McManus did a respectable job in the opening games, but he lacks the legs to lead a line as the lone striker, Kevin O’Hara, on loan from Falkirk, has yet to impress, and Chris Duggan, a recruit from Queen’s Park, has been plagued by injuries. Kevin Smith, meanwhile, is more of a left-sided winger than a striker at this stage. East Fife needed the pace and movement of Insall. The striker, though, had made it clear he didn’t seek a return to the club; he wanted to impress Neil Lennon at Hibs. However, the signings of Grant Holt and Brian Graham stunted that aspiration. On deadline day, he returned to Bayview.
His first league appearance back highlighted why East Fife had missed him. With Kevin Smith, Mark Lamont, Kyle Wilkie and Scott Robinson, who operated in a slighter more advanced position than usual, feeding balls in to Insall, he proved to be a constant source of frustration for the centre-back partnership of Steven Bell and Frank McKeown. He continually made blistering runs behind the defence, seeking to beat the offside trap – the one criticism of his performance would be that he was caught out too often. If not for the adventurous Cameron Belford rushing out to challenge Insall on a number of occasions, the score-line would’ve been even larger. Insall’s sheer pace and movement had made an immediate impact. A couple of goals – the second a nonchalant chip over Belford after another defence-splitting run – earned him a deserved Man of the Match nod. If that performance was an indicator of things to come, East Fife will be more than safe come the end of the campaign.
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