SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
JAMES MADDISON HELPS ABERDEEN TICK
It’s not been a perfect start for the Dons. After a fruitful summer in the transfer market, some predicted Derek McInnes’ team to provide the strongest challenge to Celtic. But laboured performances and a pedestrian pace meant the Dons struggled to accumulate points as the Hoops demolished all their opponents – at least in domestic football. However, at Dens Park the travelling Dons supporters had the chance to see their latest loanee demonstrate his quite considerable talents.
James Maddison arrived on loan from Norwich City with a positive reputation as a creative outlet. Dundee found that reputation to be true. Maddison seemed to glide through the midfield at ease at times, drifting from one attacking situation to another. The Dundee defence found it difficult to rid the two-footed midfielder of the ball and he gave Aberdeen a real touch of class – and some much needed energy – in that area. He revealed all of those attributes in his goal.
A sudden pirouette left Tom Hateley stranded as Maddison turned back towards the Dees goal. He then circled the Dundee man and brought the ball across the edge of the D, moving the ball onto his left foot in the process. Having created space for himself, he picked out a spot in the bottom left corner of the net. A quick shot caught the Dundee defence out – and Scott Bain. The goalkeeper took too long falling to his side, letting the ball squirm underneath him. It was a classy goal. It should the first of many for the Aberdeen arrival.
MIDFIELD IS KEY FOR WARBURTON
It’s not been a fantastic couple of weeks for the man with the supposedly magic hat. How he must long for those heady days in the Championship, when things were much simpler, and Chris Sutton didn’t fire pot shots. The ex-Celtic striker confirmed that Rangers is not Brentford – at least he’s got a basic grasp of geography – and said Warburton isn’t up to the job. Ooft. Shots fired. Just six weeks ago Warburton looked untouchable, still on a high after the semi-final besting of the Hoops, the fans celebrating their long-awaited return to the Premiership. Then Hamilton put the first kink in his impenetrable armour.
Although the Gers claimed seven points from their first three games, the performances were nothing to celebrate. Rangers looked dismal. The midfield, in particular, appeared disjointed and bereft of pace, something there’d been an abundance of the season prior. Greg Kiltie highlighted that as Kilmarnock held Rangers, rounding a static Joey Barton more than a couple of times. The former Burnley midfield arrived in Scotland boasting a credible reputation as one of the English Championship’s best players, but it seems his mouth has written cheques his tired legs can’t cash. Nico Krancjar, albeit much quieter, has also struggled. While no one doubts his technical skill, he’s too hesitant in possession and lacks the pace needed to compete at this level. Scottish football, for all its flaws, is quick. The days of Gary Harkins and Alexei Eremenko are coming to a close north of the border. With a well-publicised – and well-timed – falling out leading to a suspension for Barton, neither he nor Krancjar featured against Ross County at Ibrox on Saturday.
Warburton had great success last season in Andy Halliday and Jason Holt, and so it must’ve been a little slap in the face for the pair to be side-lined in favour of Barton and Krancjar. Saturday afternoon offered them, and Josh Windass, the opportunity to highlight their talents. While the result didn’t do much to ease the pressure on Warburton, the trio certainly looked a more dangerous combination than any midfield line-up Rangers had used in their other league outings. Windass, in particular, looks like he could be a good player at this level. The Gers created far more chances than the visitors, and, if not for some dogged last-ditch defending, should’ve won. It could be a turning point for Rangers.
SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
AYR ARE GETTING POINTS ON THE BOARD
It appeared that Ayr United could be in for a rough season. The west coast side fell to Raith Rovers, Queen of the South, and Dundee United in successive weeks, conceding nine goals in the process. Any optimism gained by the arrival of Gary Harkins evaporated as the Honest Men suffered one humbling result after another. It could’ve been a long season for Ayr. But a couple of results can create a positive outlook, and victories over Greenock Morton and then Hibernian have done just that.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO
BERWICK COULD CHALLENGE FOR A PLAY-OFF SPOT
A quick glance at the League Two table offers no real surprises. Forfar are cruising at the top of the table, having claimed 18 points from their six games since dropping from League One; Clyde, after a strong summer recruitment drive, are leading the chasing pack; and Arbroath, under the experienced guidance of Dick Campbell, are also in the running. The one little surprise, however, is Berwick Rangers’ presence in the top four. But it shouldn’t be.
John Coughlin’s side ended the previous season in red-hot form; the Gers suffered just three defeats in their final 14 games of the campaign, claiming 27 points from those fixtures, and falling just short of reaching the play-offs. And, although the club lost top scorer Blair Henderson to stuttering Stirling Albion in the summer, Stephen Thomson, Jordan Sheerin, and Greg Hurst have stepped up to fill that void. I’ve been a fan of the latter for some time, having seen him feature for St Johnstone’s development side, and this loan has given him the chance to display his potential in a competitive environment. It was Thomson, though, whose goals sunk Cowdenbeath on Saturday.
It was a dreadfully dull affair; long ball enthusiasts would’ve had a field day at Central Park. The Blue Brazil’s hoof-ball tactics found stiff resistance in the form of Brian Martin – a behemoth of a defender. With Liam Fox resorting to using Hearts loanee Nikolay Todorov as a centre-half – he’s a striker – the host’s defence had a tougher afternoon keeping Berwick’s attacking talents quiet. Thomson made the most of his chances and put Fox’s team to the sword. Cowdenbeath fans, unsurprisingly, were departing long before the final whistle.
Next weekend the English outfit face a trip to Arbroath. The Lichties’ inexperienced defence should offer a different kind of test for Hurst and co, but if Berwick can claim another three points it would be a real boost to their hopes of finishing in the top four for the first time since 2013.
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