Talking Points from Scottish Football

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.

 

Talking Points from Scottish Football

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

KRIS BOYD IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL FOR KILLIE

It’s been a summer of upheaval at Rugby Park. One energised performance against a tired Falkirk separated Kilmarnock and the Championship, and Lee Clark is keen on avoiding being put in the same situation again. 15 of those involved in the previous campaign have departed; 14 fresh faces have arrived. It’s a giant risk. As Killie fans are discovering, not all of those signings are going to succeed, and Clark still has to find his preferred line-up and formation. It was also a risk introducing so much youth – the eldest of the 14 signings is just 22-years-old. There’s a complete lack of experience in the squad. It’s up to Jamie MacDonald, Stevie Smith and Gary Dicker to help guide this untested team. It’s also up to Kris Boyd.

It looked like the veteran striker’s best performances might’ve been behind him. It’s been a couple of seasons since Boyd last enjoyed a fruitful campaign; when he notched 22 goals in 36 appearances in 2013-14. He laboured during a torrid spell at Rangers, and then returned to Killie to little success. He’d lost that golden touch. He looked lethargic, off the pace, devoid of confidence, and, though he’d never been the most active attacker, he had that clinical finish. Without that there was little reason in him starting games. But in the tail end of last season he began to make more telling contributions, even grabbing the final goal in Killie’s second-leg evisceration of Falkirk. That small return to form has carried over the summer, and it could be more important than ever.

Against his former club he started ahead of three teenagers, spearheading an attack consisting of himself, Adam Frizzell, Dean Hawkshaw, and Greg Kiltie. A couple of decent chances went amiss before he punished a lax Rangers defence. Kiltie fed him as he ran between Clint Hill and Rob Kiernan. The duo let him find space, and he selected a spot in the bottom right corner to place his shot. A simple fist pump celebrated the goal – his 250^th in British football. Later in the game, as the Bears chased three points, he provided a different sort of threat. He found himself increasingly isolated and relied upon to hold up the ball. He did so, until his legs let him down. A deserved standing ovation greeted his substitution in the 93^rd minute.

If Kilmarnock are to survive, Kris Boyd will need to produce a lot more performances like that.

 

BROPHY CAN BE THE GOALSCORER ACCIES NEED

It was one of the memorable scenes of the 15-16 season: Eamonn Brophy speeding past Nir Bitton before placing a cool effort through the legs of Craig Gordon. Parkhead grumbled as he charged off in delirium. One cannot fault the 20-year-old striker for celebrating such a goal – it wasn’t his fault his team were 8-1 down at the time. The strike marked his first goal for the Accies since making his debut in 2013. Since then he’d spent a productive spell on loan at Queen’s Park and a less successful one at Dumbarton. But the question remained: would he be another prodigy who shone at development level but failed to make the grade? This is the perfect time to find out.

Hamilton are in desperate need of goals. A late surge saved them from the threat of relegation for the second season running, and it’s likely they’ll be facing a similar battle at the end of this campaign. Accies notched just 42 goals in 38 games – less than Dundee United. Their top scorer, Carlton Morris, celebrated on just eight occasions, and his loan spell came to an end in the summer. It means Martin Canning has turned to Alexandre D’Acol to lead the line, even though the Brazilian failed to open his account despite making 16 appearances in the red and white stripes. Although he offers a physical presence up front and can hold up the ball for the likes of Ali Crawford and Dougie Imrie, D’Acol lacks the technical skills of a predatory striker. He’s not going to grab ten – or maybe even five – goals. Brophy might.

The young striker looked sharp when he came on against Ross County. Three times he got on the end of chances and threatened to give Hamilton a comfortable lead. Unfortunately, all three times he rushed his shots. There is the potential to be a good striker, though. Brophy looks quick and dangerous running into space, which is good for a team that won’t enjoy a majority of possession and might need to hit on the counter. If he can just keep cool under pressure, he could be a big success for Hamilton.

 

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

HIBS CAN CHANGE IT UP

A common criticism of Alan Stubbs during his tenure at Easter Road was his stubborn resistance to alter his tactics despite teams learning to counteract them. Hibs became predictable. The diamond midfield, the pass orientated build up, the lack of crosses – there were no surprises on match day, and no second options. Stubbs didn’t have a back-up plan. That’s an issue Neil Lennon has sought to address.

Hibs are ruthless at the moment. That’s something that’s not been said about a Hibs team for years. But Lennon has instilled a refreshed sense of confidence in his side, and you can see the effects already. Jason Cummings, for example, looks back to his arrogant best – he’s a striker who’s fuelled on overconfidence. Lennon has also made Hibs a better-rounded team. There’s more than one way of playing; more than one route to penetrate an opposition box. Saturday’s performance exemplified this change.

All four goals came from headers. Fraser Fyvie delivered a tempting cross to the far post that evaded a host of opposition defenders to find Andrew Shinnie. The club’s summer acquisition made the slightest of touches to push it across the line. John McGinn assisted the second. His floated cross seemed destined for the hands of Derek Gaston but Grant Holt battled him for the ball and came out the stronger. Shinnie turned provider for the third. His sudden cross seemed to rebound off the head of Cummings. The potent striker then wrapped up proceedings with a stunning cross of his own. A 30-yard curling left-footed effort found the head of Brian Graham, who got above the defender to snatch a fourth. Note that all four crosses came from either strikers or central midfielders, and not the full-backs. Another positive change Lennon has made.

 

SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO

FORFAR GOING FOR GOALS

15 months ago Forfar Athletic stood on the brink of the Championship. One horrible second-leg and a miserable campaign later and the Loons are in the fourth tier of Scottish football. However, that run of form has come to an end at the beginning of this season. Forfar are top of League 2, four points ahead of second place Arbroath – Dick Campbell’s Arbroath to be specific, and are on course to fight for automatic promotion. And they’re doing it in exciting fashion.

Those fortunate to have seen Forfar’s four league games so far will have witnessed a 3-2 victory against debutants Edinburgh City, a comeback in a 4-3 thriller with Cowdenbeath, a 2-1 win over Berwick Rangers, and a 3-2 defeat of Elgin City. Needless to say, goals haven’t been an issue. 19-year-old Josh Peters looks a revelation at this level. His three goals, spread out over three games, have proven to be crucial. His double against Aberdeen U20 also helped the Angus club into the next round of the Challenge Cup. Against Elgin, however, it was Thomas O’Brien’s double that sunk the club from Borough Briggs. It will come as no surprise, though, that Bollan sees fit to improve their defensive record. Forfar can’t count on late surges forever, and with Clyde and Arbroath among those chasing, it’s going to be a tight title fight this season. At least, at this rate, it’ll be an entertaining one.

Talking Points from Scottish Football

PREMIERSHIP

Consistency is key for Crawford

It wasn’t quite the return to the Premiership that Rangers supporters expected. A packed-out Ibrox turned out to witness a ‘welcome home’ party, but instead found that Hamilton had turned up the lights, kicked out the guests, and popped the balloons. And no one did quite as much popping as Ali Crawford.

The erratic attacking midfielder tore a stagnant Rangers’ midfield to shreds, hassling and pressing them out of possession one minute, dribbling around them the next. He even had time to nutmeg Joey Barton. He looked at his electric best, and capped his brilliant performance off with a stunning goal. Being edged towards the corner of the Rangers’ box, Nico Krancjar inexplicably dived in, missing the ball completely, and giving Crawford the chance to cut back inside. The Hamilton attacker obliged, dragging the ball back, before curling a sudden shot past Wes Foderingham. The stunned Ibrox fell silent.

At his best, Crawford can be unplayable. His creativity and drive is crucial to Hamilton – it’s no surprise their form dropped off whenever he did. Unfortunately, his form comes in patches; patches that last months. He had a stunning start to last season but tailed off after three or four months. He has the talent to be among the best attackers in the division, now it’s time to prove it.

 

Could Rory Loy be the one to fill Hemmings’ boots?

The departure of Kane Hemmings hit Dundee fans hard. The Dees had been preparing themselves for the exit of Greg Stewart; he’s been at Dens for two full campaigns and picked up two Player of the Year nominations. But it felt like Hemmings, for all his goal-scoring exploits, had just arrived. Then Oxford United – a move which should help indicate the level of the Scottish Premiership – swooped in and matched Hemmings’ small buy-out clause – a mere £250,000. That was a gut punch.

The feeling of despair eased slightly last week when it was announced that the club had signed Faissal El Bakhtaoui. The former Dunfermline Athletic striker had a trial at Blackburn Rovers, but the Lancastrian club opted not to sign him and the Dees swooped in to land their man. The Moroccan scored 30 goals in League One last season, and, although it’s yet to be seen whether he’ll make the step up, Dundee fans were understandably excited about his arrival. But he didn’t start against Ross County; Rory Loy did.

The former Falkirk striker endured an injury hit campaign last season. After scoring a brace on his league debut in the memorable 4-0 thrashing of Kilmarnock, he spent a spell on the side-lines and then returned only to be pushed out to the left-flank as he watched Hemmings shine in his favoured position. With Hemmings now departed, this is Loy’s opportunity to make the starting striker position his. He didn’t disappoint against the Staggies.

On 13 minutes the industrious Mark O’Hara put a driven cross into the six-yard-box, which Loy, sliding in, thumped in off his left boot. The Dundee support erupted behind the goal. Then just before half-time, James McEveley pushed O’Hara to the ground as a corner came in. Loy stepped up and coolly placed it down the centre of Scott Fox’s goal.

Loy will be desperate for his season to not be defined by injuries again. He’s proven that he’s capable of being a reliable goal-scorer, but only if his body doesn’t let him down. This is going to be a huge season for him.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

Individual mistakes cost Dumbarton

On paper, Dumbarton’s 4-3 defeat at East End Park doesn’t look like a terrible result for the Sons. However, it would’ve been 4-1 had it not been for two late mistakes from Dunfermline. Michael Paton tripped David Smith as both reached for the ball, and, minutes later, Lee Ashcroft dragged Robert Thompson to the ground, both resulting in penalties that Mark Docherty put beyond David Hutton. If not for these errors, it would’ve been a far more humbling afternoon for the visitors. It could be a long season for them. Especially if an under pressure Stevie Aitken doesn’t address their defensive frailties.

Craig Pettigrew had a debut to forget for Dumbarton at right-back. He was constantly found out of position and did little to help the Sons in attack. And there will be questions about Frazer Wright after he made a mistake for Dunfermline’s third. Alan Martin passed the ball out to Wright, who hesitated and lost possession. Moffat got the ball, pushed it out to an unmarked Joe Cardle, and the winger placed it past a dejected Martin to complete his hat-trick. While poor Daniel Harvie, just 18-years-old, had a torrid time against an in-form Kallum Higginbotham. The inexperienced left-back looked nervous throughout and contributed to Dumbarton’s downfall. Under pressure he shifted the ball to Docherty, like a shit version of pass the parcel, and he conceded possession inside the box, left frustrated as David Hopkirk rounded off the scoring for the hosts. Not all of Dunfermline’s goals can be attributed to individual mistakes, but a team like Dumbarton, who’re expected to struggle, can’t afford to gift their opponents so many opportunities. Not if they want to stay in the Championship.

 

LEAGUE TWO

Easton could be the difference for Clyde

This is going to be a huge season for Barry Ferguson. The Clyde manager has spent two full seasons in charge of the Bully Wee, with little to show for it. This summer he completed another squad revamp, edging out many of the OAPs of Scottish football he’d remembered from his playing days, and bringing in some of the most exciting talents in League Two. He cherry-picked younger talents like the attacking-minded left-back Jordan Lowdon – although his defensive deficiencies contributed to Montrose’s equaliser, former Annan midfielder Matt Flynn, and the promising Dylan Easton. The latter, in particular, could be a crucial acquisition for Clyde.

Easton earned a Player of the Year nomination for his performances up in Elgin last season – even if his diving exploits provoked a furious reaction from the normally chill Jim Chapman – and therefore his arrival created quite a buzz amongst the Clyde support. On Saturday he lived up to his substantial promise.

His first goal at the club was the perfect introduction. He weaved through the Montrose midfield with ease, the ball glued to his foot. As he began moving towards the box he produced a thunderbolt directed straight at the top right corner of Jordan Millar’s goal. A moment of genius that encapsulated almost everything he brings to the club. He completed his highlight reel later on, helping create the winner. Again dribbling through the Montrose midfield, he put a perfectly weighted ball to Peter MacDonald. A deft touch from the striker squeezed the ball through the defence, leaving Flynn with all the time to slot it past Millar.

Matches to watch out for this weekend

CHAMPIONSHIP: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH V RAITH ROVERS

This could be the match that decides the team that finishes fourth in the Championship. Should Raith Rovers escape Palmerston Park with anything more than a loss and they will be guaranteed a place in the play-offs. It could cap off what’s been an astonishing run for the Kirkcaldy club. Raith have collected 24 points from their last eleven games, lost just once – a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox, and scalped Hibernian when Alan Stubbs’ side visited Stark’s Park a couple of weeks ago. And just last weekend Rangers had to settle for a point. The boisterous travelling support, 3-2 up in added time, the title in their grasp, were silenced as Harry Panayiotou rifled in a late equaliser. What’s more amazing is the sudden goal rush. In this 11 game spell Raith have notched 22 goals; it had taken them all 21 games of the campaign prior to this run to accumulate the same amount. It’s this threat that Queen of the South will have to combat on Saturday.

The Doonhamers themselves haven’t been short of a goal in recent weeks, but, unlike Raith, there’s been little reward for their efforts. James Fowler’s team have scored 17 in their last ten – a rate not dissimilar to Raith’s – but collected just ten points from those outings. Their last couple of games have highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. Against both Rangers and Falkirk the Doonhamers found themselves behind. The Gers took what looked like an unassailable lead, going 4-1 up in the 55^th minute. But Queen of the South battled back and reduced the lead to one; unfortunately time ran out on them before they could snatch a point. Last weekend goals from Blair Alston and John Baird put Falkirk two up, before Derek Lyle and Iain Russell struck back to grab a point against the travelling Bairns.

With just a point needed for Raith to guarantee a top-four finish, both teams are going to be pushing for three points. It should be a thrilling match.

 

 

LEAGUE ONE: COWDENBEATH V BRECHIN CITY

Imagine being Darren Dods last weekend. The Brechin manager watched his side scratch-and-claw to their fifth win in six matches, a 1-0 win over struggling Stenhousemuir, and he must have at least entertained the idea that the result will have lifted his team off the bottom of the table. Not so, I’m afraid. As Brechin claimed a crucial three points against the Warriors, their relegation rivals were also celebrating important wins. Apparently wins are like London buses to League One relegation candidates. Forfar Athletic strolled to a 2-0 win against second-place Peterhead and Cowdenbeath bested third-place Ayr United at Central Park. What were the odds that all three teams would win?

Forfar face the toughest tie of the weekend: a trip to East End Park to visit the champions, Dunfermline. It helps make this tie the most interesting of the round. Should Cowdenbeath claim three points, the Blue Brazil will create a five-point lead over Brechin; if the Hedgemen win they’ll move above Cowdenbeath. Stenhousemuir have been dragged into this relegation scrap as well. The Warriors are in terrible form and are just one point ahead of Cowdenbeath. If they lose at the Excelsior, and either Brechin or Cowdenbeath win, they’ll be edging towards the drop-zone. This is not the time to drop points.

One would imagine that, unlike the Queen of the South v Raith Rovers tie, this will be a tight affair. Neither team can afford to drop points and gift them to their relegation rivals; expect both to defend in numbers and try to sneak three points.

 

 

LEAGUE TWO: BERWICK RANGERS V CLYDE

Speaking of must win games. Clyde have been doing their upmost to hand East Fife the League Two title, losing at home to Arbroath and then letting Montrose score three before snatching a 90^th minute equaliser from the spot. Results last weekend gave the Fifers a four point lead heading into the final four rounds of fixtures. The Bully Wee entertain East Fife at Broadwood next weekend and thus can’t afford to drop points against Berwick Rangers if they still have ambitions of lifting the title. But this is going to be a tough match.

Berwick have the third strongest form in the league. After collecting just 22 points from their opening 22 games of the season, the English club have picked up 18 from their last ten matches. In that time they’ve lost just two games – a 2-1 defeat at Broadwood and a 1-0 loss against Annan Athletic. More impressive is their home form. The Black and Gold are undefeated in their last seven at Shielfield Park. In their last four home games they’ve beaten Elgin City, Stirling Albion, Arbroath and Montrose; it’s as tough a ground to visit as any at the moment.

If East Fife defeat Montrose in Methil and Clyde lose, it will create a seven point gap, with just three games to go. Essentially, any hopes of attaining automatic promotion to League One is over.

Weekend Betting Tips

ELGIN CITY V ANNAN ATHLETIC

With five rounds of matches remaining, it looks as though the race for the League Two title is going to come down to the wire. Last weekend threw up some surprising results. East Fife’s 1-1 draw with Queen’s Park actually widened the Fifers’ lead at the top of the table, as both Clyde and Elgin City fell to defeats to Arbroath and Berwick Rangers respectively. Now just six points separate the top five. No one can afford to slip up.

Annan Athletic looked like they had left it late for a comeback, but last weekend’s results tossed them a lifeline, and the Galabankies stormed to a 5-0 thrashing of Montrose. Elgin, on the other hand, dropped to third after the loss at Shielfield Park. Jim Weir’s team are struggling for form: they’ve won just three of their last ten and lost three-on-the-bounce coming into this crucial game. Both teams need three points.

 

Bet: both teams to score

These games have often been thrilling contests. This match pits the joint-third highest scoring team against the top scoring team – something that’s been reflected in their past meetings. All three of their matches against each other this season have ended with both teams scoring, and two have finished with over 2.5 goals. One would expect that not to change on Saturday, and for the result to be a high-scoring one.

 

Take a chance: both teams to score and Annan to win

Elgin might have lost just one home game this season – against East Fife at the start of March – but Annan are more than capable of becoming the second team to win at Borough Briggs. Jim Chapman’s side ran rampant at Links Park, running out 5-0 victors, as things started clicking back into place for them. If Annan can recreate such a performance this weekend, the points are there’s for the taking.

 

STRANRAER V AIRDRIEONIANS

It’s the fight no one wants to win. Who will finish fourth and grab the third play-off spot? Stranraer have turned their form around since Christmas, when they sat rooted to the bottom of the table, and are currently in prime position to snatch the chance of promotion. However, Airdrieonians and Albion Rovers are still in the chase. The rivals drew last weekend, a result which might’ve left them miles behind, but Stranraer lost out at Somerset Park and the gap remains at three points – and both the Diamonds and Rovers have a game-in-hand. A win for either team at Stair Park on Saturday could play a huge part in deciding who’ll be facing Peterhead, Ayr United and a Championship team – probably Livingston or Dumbarton – for a chance to be in the second tier next season.

 

Bet: Stranraer to win

Ignoring the defeat to Ayr, Stranraer are a team in form. Prior to that loss the Blues had gone undefeated in four, and picked up wins over Stenhousemuir, Albion Rovers and Forfar Athletic. Airdrieonians, meanwhile, are winless in four. Danny Lennon’s team were held by Rovers and Forfar, and were defeated by Peterhead and Brechin City – these results coming after Eddie Wolecki Black suffered a stroke during the 3-1 win over Cowdenbeath at the beginning of March.

 

Take a chance: under 2.5 goals

This is more a reflection on Airdrieonians than Stranraer. Five of their last six games have finished with under 2.5 goals; for Stranraer that figure is three in six. Neither team are high scorers. That should make for a tight contest.

 

RAITH ROVERS V RANGERS

Bet: both teams to score

Normally you’d predict Rangers to steamroll Raith on the path to another three points. But against Falkirk and St Mirren the Gers’ defence conceded three goals in each game, which accounts for 25% of their goals against this season. It’s an astonishing statistic. What’s happening? In both matches Rangers held comfortable leads, and perhaps that’s part of the problem; is the team going to sleep, letting errors slip into their game, because their concentration goes? Can Raith take advantage of this?

The Rovers are one of the in-form teams in Scotland. Ray McKinnon’s side have lost one in their last ten – a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox – and have picked up seven wins. It’s a run of form that’s lifted them into fourth and created a 13 point gap over Greenock Morton. This all began when Raith started scoring goals again. They’ve scored 19 goals in those past ten games; eight in the ten before it.

 

Take a chance: Raith to win

This is about a big a chance one can take betting on Scottish football. It’s a risk betting against either of the Old Firm clubs, but I believe that Rangers’ current defensive woes and Raith’s sparkling form could cause an upset at Stark’s Park. It’s an outside chance, but one worth taking.

Scottish Lower Leagues: Talking Points

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP: RANGERS ARE GOING TO SLEEP

Rangers are champions in all but name. The Govan giants are 14 points ahead of second place Falkirk and 20 in front of supposed title-rivals Hibernian. Unless there’s another financial mishap, Rangers should be a Premiership club next season. The challenge is over for them. It’s therefore understandable that perhaps the team might suffer from a lack of hunger and focus. It must be hard getting enthusiastic and geed up about a game that has little impact on the league. The one thing on the minds of Rangers supporters at the moment is the impending Scottish Cup semi-final clash against Celtic – you might’ve not heard about it since it’s rarely mentioned. But it’s not just the fans who are focusing on something else. So are Rangers’ defence.

For the second straight game Rangers conceded three goals. Against Falkirk that proved decisive. The Gers opened up Falkirk in the first ten minutes, scoring twice in quick succession as the Bairns struggled to handle the pace and movement of James Tavernier and Lee Wallace. A third goal was wrongly ruled offside, although at the time it appeared to be a decision of little consequence. However, second-half substitutions changed the game, and Falkirk struck back late on to snatch three points. It was an exciting game, even if it did nothing to hinder Rangers’ title ambitions. But this is a period during which Mark Warburton will be assessing his squad.

Wes Foderingham was criticised at the beginning of the season, his uncomfortableness on the ball clashing with Rangers’ passing game and the occasional error creeping into his game. Since then, though, he’s become more confident in the team and should be guaranteed a place in the starting eleven come next season. It should be the same for Lee Wallace and James Tavernier. Although the latter needs to work on his defensive positioning, he offers so much attacking threat that he’s become a crucial part of the system; the former is a much more complete full-back and un-droppable. The concerns are about the centre-back positions. Those concerns, although quietened during Rangers better periods, were raised again against Queen of the South.

Rangers were leading 4-1 after 55 minutes. Harry Forrester turned on the afterburners to burst through the Queens’ defence after Andy Halliday’s slick back-heel and slammed the ball past Robbie Thomson; the visitors then equalised from the spot after Wallace seemingly slipped while chasing Iain Russell and caught the striker; and then three goals in nine minutes looked to have put the game to bed. Lewis Kidd mistimed his clearance to gift Michael O’Halloran space and time to slot in Rangers’ second; a third came from a Halliday over-head kick; and Tavernier capitalised on some poor marking to add a fourth. Then the concentrations levels dropped.

Rangers supporters were still singing ‘we are going up’ as the Doonhamers reduced the lead. An angled cross found Russell in space at the far post, and he drove the ball across the six-yard-box. Tavernier, close to the line, couldn’t touch the ball for fear of knocking it in but Foderingham chose to chase the ball. Wallace tried to keep up with Gary Oliver as Danny Wilson looked on – if only he spent as much time tracking opponents as he does ball-watching – but the attacker had the better of the Rangers left-back and nudged the ball into the net.

Rangers dominated possession and created numerous chances for a fifth but the score remained unchanged till the 90^th minute. Kyle Hutton pushed the ball into the path of Mark Millar, who evaded the challenge of Halliday with a feint, switched to his left-foot, and fired the ball into the bottom-right corner. The amount of space he had after the feint was ludicrous. He was just outside the box yet possessed enough time and space to move and shoot. Not one blue shirt had reacted until after Halliday’s failed sliding challenge.

One can have few criticisms of Rangers from an attacking perspective. There are constantly players making runs behind the defence, little chips and through balls being put into space, and their pace on the flanks in blinding. But if Rangers are to challenge for a top three or four place in the Premiership, or beat Celtic in the semi-finals, these defensive issues need to be addressed.

 

 

SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE: KEEPING EL BAKHTAOUI THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR ALLAN JOHNSTON

It was a moment three years in the making. In 2013 the Pars entered administration and dropped out of the Championship; in 2014 they reached the play-off final but suffered a 3-0 hammering at the hands of rivals Cowdenbeath at East End Park; and in 2015 the team finished seventh after a tumultuous campaign. But all of that disappointment and frustration evaporated upon the sound of the referee’s whistle on Saturday. Dunfermline had secured their return in fashion – with five games to spare. It wasn’t expected. Peterhead hadn’t lost a game since the end of October; the Blue Brazil were at the bottom of the table. Most Dunfermline supporters were preparing for a title-party through at Cliftonhill. Instead they got it at East End Park.

Now all eyes are on next season. What can Dunfermline hope to achieve? It’s going to be a tight and competitive division but there’s no reason this team can’t compete for a spot in the top-four. But if that’s going to be achieved, the club need to retain the services of Faissal El Bakhtaoui. He showed why on Saturday.

Eight minutes in he charged to meet Michael Moffat’s driven cross and poked the ball past Graeme Smith. 16 minutes later Gary Fusco offered him far too much space. It looked like El Bakhtaoui had left his sprint too late to meet Jason Talbot’s magnificent cross, but his outstretched right-foot caught the ball and turned it back across the goal into the bottom-left corner. Smith was left stranded as it rolled in. The hat-trick was completed in added time. Paul Joseph Crossan’s cross found El Bakhtaoui in the box, and the Moroccan pulled off a neat volley to secure the title.

El Bakhtaoui has admitted that he doesn’t know where he’ll be next season. Will the Championship be enough to keep the Moroccan at the club? Will a lower-end Premiership side, or even a higher-end Championship outfit, swoop in to lure the 23-year-old.

 

 

SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO: ANOTHER UNPREDICTABLE WEEKEND

Saturday should have marked the end of East Fife’s brief spell at the top of the table. Queen’s Park put in a solid performance at Bayview, limiting the recently free-scoring Fifers to a handful of chances, and fully deserved at least a point – perhaps even three. Although East Fife could be pleased with a point against a team they’ve often struggled against, it was thought that the draw would have seen them slip down the table. Both Clyde and Elgin City had a chance to usurp the Methil outfit. Instead that lead’s been increased to two points. Both teams lost.

The Bully Wee took a quick one-nil lead at Broadwood. Scott McLaughlin danced around an onrushing Allan Fleming and pulled the ball back to Jordan Kirkpatrick, the Dumbarton loanee, for the debutant to fire in from close-range. However, a quick-fire double quashed any hopes of grabbing first place. Bobby Linn converted from the spot after Scott Durie’s poor challenge, and Ricky Little rifled in a second two minutes later.

Elgin, on the other hand, were the latest victims of Blair Henderson and Berwick Rangers. The Black and Gold have won four of their last six, with their lanky striker notching six goals in those matches. The Moray club are in a poor run themselves at the moment. It’s just one win in six, as the slide down the table continues.

With five rounds of games remaining, and all teams on the same number of matches, it means all of the remaining games are crucial and possible title-deciders. It’s also increasingly difficult to predict who will win. East Fife’s trip to Arbroath would have been a foregone conclusion a month ago, but the Angus club are putting in the odd performance since Dick Campbell replaced Todd Lumsden as manager. Clyde should win at home to Montrose. Annan’s trip to Elgin should be an exciting affair; Stirling’s visit to Hampden Park less so. Both those ties are impossible to predict.

Can East Fife win the League Two title?

The race for the League Two title – and automatic promotion – is coming to a conclusion. It could be a photo-finish. As the remaining games are whittled down, one team-after-another is eliminated from the race. Stirling Albion pulled up after three defeats on the bounce. Annan Athletic might have left it too late for a surge. With six hurdles remaining, four teams are still in the race: Queen’s Park, Elgin City, Clyde, and East Fife. And it’s the Methil club who are on the brink of a return to League One.

It’s not been smooth sailing for Gary Naysmith. The East Fife manager – and left-back – has suffered his fair share of disappointments during his tenure; experiences which should stand him in good stead when he’s offered a chance at a bigger club – something most supporters expect to happen soon.

When he arrived at the club in late October 2013, he was initially signed up as player-assistant manager to Willie Aitchison. He lasted less than a month in that role. Aitchison resigned as the Fifers floundered at the bottom of League One, and Naysmith was given temporary charge. Less than a month later he was offered the job. Despite his best efforts the club were relegated from League One after losing out to Stirling Albion in the play-offs, with two late goals giving the Binos a 3-2 aggregate win. He had to oversee a complete overhaul of the squad. One year later he was doing the same thing again. Defeat to Stenhousemuir in the play-offs meant East Fife would be spending a second season in League Two, and he again had to replace most of his first-team. During this short-spell he’d overseen one relegation, two play-offs disappointments, and two team overhauls. He hadn’t been the luckiest manager.

But that luck might be changing – although it didn’t for the first-half of the campaign. The problem with a complete squad overhaul is that it takes time for the team to gel. It’s something that hindered East Fife’s progress for the first-half of the season. The Fifers had a decent start in both the league and the cups. Falkirk needed two 90^th minute goals to beat East Fife in Challenge Cup; Dumbarton lost out on penalties in the first round of the League Cup; and tiredness cost them in the second round as Motherwell came from a goal behind to eliminate them in extra-time. But after a positive start their form started to dip. Between the beginning of October and Christmas East Fife won one of eleven games, including a 1-0 defeat at Stirling Albion that sent them crashing out of the Scottish Cup. After 17 league games East Fife sat 6^th in the table, nine points off league leaders Annan Athletic. Just like 12 months before, Naysmith was coming under a little bit of pressure. He needed results.

For some teams there’s a change in formation or ideology, or a new player or manager coming in, that coincides with a sudden upturn in form. That wasn’t the case at East Fife. There was no defining moment. Something just clicked. Since Christmas the Fifers have won ten of their 13 league matches, and, thanks to the inconsistent form of the sides around them, have gone top. And it feels like they keep improving. Since stumbling and losing 3-0 at Queen’s Park the Methil side recorded a 3-1 win at Borough Briggs – the first team to beat Elgin at their ground this season – a 4-2 thrashing of Annan Athletic, and a 6-0 humping of Stirling Albion last Saturday. These last two results were achieved without Nathan Austin starting, who’s probably first choice for League Two Player of the Season.

There are parallels between Austin and Naysmith. Austin didn’t convince at first. He signed from Leven United in 2013 and made his debut in a substitute appearance against Forfar Athletic. There was untapped potential but he needed time to develop. He had pace but looked clumsy and could drift out of games. His finishing instincts also didn’t come until much later. It took him till his 17^th league appearance to open his account for the 2014-15 season before racking up ten in his remaining 18 games. Four of those came in a breakthrough match at Borough Briggs. Austin pounced on a rebounded save to break the deadlock; two minutes later he tapped in from close-range; and soon after that his headed effort left Ross Laidlaw glued to his line – he’d completed the perfect hat-trick in 35 minutes. He then added a fourth in the second-half. That was a glimpse of what was to come the following season.

He highlighted that talent against Motherwell in the League Cup second round. Austin ran Louis Laing ragged that evening, tormenting the ‘Well centre-back. Then in the 60^th minute he gave East Fife a deserved lead. Kyle Wilkie snatched the ball off Laing and passed to Austin, who curled it into the bottom corner. When the striker was taken-off the travelling Motherwell support gave him a standing ovation and shouted ‘sign him up’ at Ian Baraclough. Austin had earned the attention of the bigger clubs.

In January it was announced Austin would be joining Falkirk. The news came as no surprise to East Fife fans – it had been a matter of when he’d be leaving, not if, for some time. For some players that might be the beginning of a downward turn. Although he’d be loaned to East Fife for the remainder of the season he could have easily been distracted by his impending move. But he’s remained focused and improved. His goal-tally continues to rise. And he’s not just one who scores in gluts. He’s scored in half of his 28 appearances, and 21 in total. Some of those have been crucial – 16 points can be attributed to his goals. His contribution to East Fife’s promotion ambitions is immeasurable. Had he not been loaned back to Bayview, the Fifers wouldn’t be in prime position to secure automatic promotion. But by no means is he the only one making a contribution.

If not for Austin’s blistering form, Kyle Wilkie would be regarded as the stand-out player for East Fife this season. The attacking midfielder has been important in the striker’s goal-scoring form. He’s one of the most technically skilled players in the division; his first-touch, movement and vision make him a constant frustration for defences. He can dance past a defender, slip a through ball into space, or just hold possession in the final third, but most importantly, he’s consistent. There’s rarely a game he’s not making an impact on. He’s scored nine goals and assisted many more.

Another reason that East Fife aren’t struggling for goals is the fact that they have options up-front in Kevin Smith and Jamie Insall. The latter, on loan from Hibs, is incredibly hard-working and a tireless runner, attributes that don’t go unappreciated at this level. He’s also lethal when he’s on-form and confident. He stepped up against Annan when Austin missed the game due to injury, scoring a double, including a thunderous half-volley. Smith is a different type of striker. The East Fife captain is more of a centre-forward, working around Austin and Insall, creating chances. While Austin is more effective against higher-lines, sitting on the shoulder and looking for a through ball to run on to, Smith is more dangerous on the counter. Numerous times I’ve seen him kick-start a counter-attack from an opposition corner, receiving the ball from a defender, turning, and running up to the byline. His movements on the ball often leave defenders for dead.

It’s therefore unfortunate that Naysmith might have to replace a majority of this attack in the summer. Austin is headed to Falkirk; Insall will return to Easter Road after his loan ends; and Wilkie has is yet to sign a contract extension. One positive for Naysmith is that most of his first-time have signed contract extensions. Although he faces the difficult task of replacing Austin, at least he won’t have to rebuild his squad from scratch for a third year running.

But for now all of East Fife’s attention is on the league. Today Queen’s Park visit Bayview, in what is likely to be one of the toughest remaining fixtures for Naysmith’s side. After that, the one game that stands out is a visit to Broadwood to face Clyde. The Bully Wee are one point behind the league leaders heading into this weekend’s run of fixtures, and Barry Ferguson’s side are also in-form. It’s a match that could decide the league.

Weekend Betting Tips

Greenock Morton v Raith Rovers

Bet: Over 2.5 goals

Raith have created a significant gap between them and their rivals for fourth. The Kirkcaldy club have won six of their last eight, and scored 16 goals in the process. They now have a ten point cushion over fifth place Greenock Morton. This game could all-but-guarantee their play-off status.

For this match I’m focusing on goals. While just four of those last eight matches have finished with over 2.5 goals, their last game against Morton ended 3-2, as Ryan Hardie capitalised on a goal-mouth scramble to give Raith three points in the 89^th minute. It’s also been a strange spell for Morton. Jim Duffy’s side have been quite tough operators this season; difficult to break down but not the most consistent scorers. However, five of their last six games have ended with over 2.5 goals. Both teams seem to be involved in high-scoring matches at the moment. This could be a thrilling contest.

 

Take a chance: Raith Rovers to win and both teams to score

As their last match ended 3-2, and neither team seems capable of keeping a clean sheet at the moment, I’m going to say that there’s a good chance both teams will score. On top of that I’m predicting Raith to leave Cappielow with three points. While both teams are in good form, Ray McKinnon’s side are high on confidence after besting Hibernian – although at the moment I’m not sure how difficult that is.

 

 

Stenhousemuir v Forfar Athletic

Bet: Forfar to win

The battle to avoid the drop is on. It looked like a three-way scrap between Cowdenbeath, who currently occupy the bottom spot, Brechin City, a team in form, and Forfar Athletic. That three could soon become four, though. Stenhousemuir are in danger of being dragged into this dogfight. The Warriors were in contention for a promotion play-off place earlier in the season but five defeats in their last six matches has left them stranded as the catching relegation-threatened teams catch up. Just three points separate them and Forfar and Brechin. Although the Hedgemen have been in fine form in the past few weeks, a trip to title-chasing Dunfermline makes it unlikely they’ll be collecting any points on Saturday. Forfar, on the other hand, have the chance to go seventh if they beat Stenhousemuir. This could be a crucial game for both clubs.

 

Take a chance: Ryan to score

Andy Ryan’s been both brilliant and productive for Forfar since his arrival. The 21-year-old has added some much needed pace and mobility to their ageing team and he’s been a consistent goal-scorer. He’s scored in six of his 11 appearances, including a double against Ayr United last Saturday and one against Cowdenbeath the week before that. Against the weakest defence in the division – Stenny have shipped 69 goals – Ryan’s got an excellent chance of getting on the score-sheet.

 

 

Clyde v Arbroath

Bet: Clyde to win

Clyde are finding form at just the right time. The Cumbernauld club have stuttered a couple of times this season but are on a great run of results at the moment. Four straight victories have lifted them to second in the table, one point behind league leaders East Fife. With Elgin City going through an inconsistent spell it could come down to Barry Ferguson’s men and the Fifers in the race for the title and automatic promotion. With East Fife in tremendous form, Clyde can’t afford to slip.

Arbroath, on the other hand, have little to fight for. The Angus club are in abysmal form, having picked up just five points from their last nine matches, and if not for East Stirlingshire’s dismal form they’d be fighting off possible relegation.

 

Take a chance: Both teams to score

This one is the most unlikely of the six bets, but there is reasoning behind it. Clyde, although in good form, don’t look unbeatable. While East Fife are dominating teams, the Bully Wee are scraping wins. One goal or fewer has separated them and their opponents in eight of their last ten matches. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that Arbroath will score, it could mean a tighter game than some might predict.

Scottish Lower Leagues: Talking Points

East Fife’s form is down to more than just Nathan Austin

Nathan Austin’s pre-contract agreement came as no surprise to East Fife supporters after it was announced he’d be joining Falkirk at the end of the season. Travelling Motherwell fans had shouted ‘sign him up’ at Ian Baraclough and given him a standing ovation after he gave Louis Laing a torrid time in the second round of the League Cup – bigger clubs had started to take notice of the talents of the Fifers’ lanky striker. Scouts were starting to appear more regularly at Bayview. Back then he was a standout player in a dysfunctional team.

But East Fife’s form has improved drastically in the second-half of the season. For the second straight summer Gary Naysmith rebuilt his team from scratch and that’s been reflected in East Fife’s poor form at the start of the 14-15 and 15-16 campaigns. But around Christmas the team started to gel. Before then the Methil club had won just six of 17 games; they’ve been victorious in all but three of their 13 league matches since then. Austin has scored 11 in those 13 games. He’s undoubtedly one of the most effective players in the league. It would be fair to say that Naysmith will have a tough challenge on his hands in replacing Austin. And yet in their last two games, neither of which Austin has started due to injury, the Fifers have looked formidable going forward.

Jamie Insall has been excellent – if a little inconsistent – during his loan spell from Hibs. He’s a hard worker and has bags of pace, and if he can just be a little more productive in front of goal he’ll be a well-rounded striker. He grabbed a brace against Annan Athletic in Austin’s absence, including a thunderous half-volley, and on-form looks a real danger. There’s no doubt that Naysmith would love to get him back at Bayview next season if he can.

Kevin Smith has also started to rediscover his best form since his return from injury. The East Fife captain is at his best alongside a more lethal striker like Austin or Insall. He’s excellent at holding up the ball and springing a quick counter-attack, and his movement on the ball in-and-around-the-box can cause havoc. He’s an excellent strike partner to have.

There’s also Kyle Wilkie, and the contribution he’s made this season. The attacking midfield is a technically gifted wizard – one of the most skilled players in League 2. I’d even go as far as to say he’s been East Fife’s best player this season. His creativity and invention has helped Austin reach those lofty figures, and he’s also chipped in with nine goals of his own. Unfortunately, ignoring loanees and Austin, he’s the one first-team regular who’s not signed up for next season. It would be a huge blow for East Fife to lose him.

East Fife can get by without Austin – they’ve proven that in their last two games – but replacing Wilkie and Insall, if neither returns next season, would be almost impossible for Naysmith. But for now the Fifers can only focus on their promotion push. Next weekend Queen’s Park, who beat them 3-0 at Hampden Park just a few weeks ago, visit Bayview, as East Fife look to break away from Elgin City, Clyde, Annan and the Glasgow club.

 

Stenhousemuir could be dragged into a relegation battle

It’s tight at the bottom of League One. Brechin City’s fourth win on the bounce lifted them off the bottom of the table for the first time since Boxing Day, meaning Cowdenbeath, who lost out to rivals Dunfermline, replaced them. The Blue Brazil are on 29 points, and both Brechin and Forfar Athletic, who claimed a 3-1 win over a stuttering Ayr United, are on 30. For a long time it seemed that Brechin were destined for League Two, and Forfar and Cowdenbeath would fight it out to avoid the play-offs. However, with Brechin’s excellent run and Forfar picking up the odd point in recent weeks, it could turn into a four-horse race.

Stenhousemuir’s form is collapsing at just the wrong time. 26 points from the first 19 matches of the season had put them in contention for the promotion play-offs, especially as Albion Rovers, Stranraer and Airdrieonians also struggled for consistency. However, since the turn of the year the Warriors have picked up eight points from 11 games. It’s left them drifting from the promotion chasing pack, and instead put them within reach of the relegation threatened teams. Brown Ferguson will also be concerned about their current run of results – one point from six matches. His side are now just three points above the play-off relegation place.

Stenhousemuir welcome Forfar to Ochilview next weekend, before a trip to Glebe Park seven days later. If the Angus clubs beat the Warriors, Stenhousemuir could find themselves in a lot of trouble.

 

Stephen Aitken is starting to come under pressure

The Dumbarton job is one of the toughest in Scottish football. The Sons proud themselves on being the best part-time team in Scotland, achieving over the odds in a division mostly made up of full-time clubs. For the most part Dumbarton supporters are a reasonable bunch. They understand the limitations placed on the manager. He has a restricted budget and can only attract players who are willing to drop to part-time. All Dumbarton fans ask for is decent football and not to be relegated. Ian Murray did the latter, if not quite the former, and Dumbarton fans weren’t over fussed about his departure for St. Mirren last summer. Stephen Aitken had done a magnificent job at Stranraer, taking one of the smallest sides in League One to the brink of promotion – the Stair Park club finished two points behind title winners Greenock Morton and crashed out of the play-offs. It looked like a positive appointment.

But things haven’t quite worked out this season. Performances haven’t improved and Dumbarton find themselves creeping ever closer to the relegation play-off place. Livingston sit five points behind the Sons with seven games remaining. Although Aitken is five points behind the 34 that Murray’s side reached last season, he’s beginning to come under increasing pressure from the Dumbarton supporters, and after last weekend’s performance it’s no wonder.

It’s often hard to judge the flow of the game going by highlights. That wasn’t the case for Dumbarton’s trip to Palmerston Park to visit Queen of the South. I wouldn’t implore any Dumbarton fans to watch the highlights unless they count sadomasochism as a hobby. It’s one goal after another. The same music being blasted out time-and-time again as the Doonhamers hammer Dumbarton into submission. It ended 6-0. It’s been five years since Dumbarton last lost by six to a team not called Rangers – to Brechin City by the way. The calls for Aitken to go in the summer increased dramatically after that result.

Scottish Lower Leagues: Talking Points

League Two: Annan’s defence is leaking in the race for promotion

League Two is the tightest and most unpredictable division in Scottish football. But as the season reaches its climax, the pretenders are starting to slip in the race for the title. Stirling Albion are the latest to drift out of contention. The Binos’ recent losses at Shielfield Park and Borough Briggs have left them 11 points off East Fife, both having played 29 matches. Five hopeful teams remain: the Fifers, Elgin City, Clyde, Queen’s Park and Annan Athletic. Ten points separate East Fife and fifth-place Annan – although the latter have a couple of games-in-hand on the league leaders – after doubles from Jamie Insall and centre-back Jonathan Page gave Gary Naysmith’s side a 4-2 win on Saturday. If Annan are going to make the most of their opportunities and close the gap, something needs to change.

After sixteen matches the Galabankies sat atop of the league. That success had been built on a balanced team. 29 scored and 19 conceded. However, since then Annan have stuttered. Jim Chapman’s side have tasted defeat in six of their last eleven and slipped from first to fifth. The balance is no longer there. Annan scored 20 goals in those eleven games – a similar goal-scoring ratio to their in-form spell. For comparison, East Fife scored 22 in the same amount of games. Yet the Fifers have won eight of those eleven; Annan just two. The issue is that Annan are shipping goals. In those same matches, they’ve picked the ball out of their net 27 times. In the eleven matches before this run, they’d conceded 13 – four of those in one match.

Chapman only lost one defender since the drop in form – Ryan Finnie, the right-back, who joined Alloa Athletic after six-months at Galabank – so it can’t be a change in personnel. He might point the finger at himself. One problem is the constant changing of formations. One week it’s a 3-5-2, next it’s a basic back four. Such switching makes it impossible to create a settled defence. For the most part Chapman’s using the same defenders. Martin McNiff and Peter Watson are still at left and centre-back respectively, although at the weekend Watson featured alongside the experienced Kevin Nicoll. This caused them problems against East Fife. Neither one has much pace, and Insall – in for the injured Nathan Austin – had a fun time getting in behind the duo. Whatever the problem is, Chapman needs to fix it fast.

 

League One: The survival fight goes on for Brechin City

Could Brechin City do the impossible? The Hedgemen were dead and buried and relegation to League Two looked unavoidable. But could the team that sat seven points behind 9^th place Forfar Athletic at the end of February retain their status as a League One outfit? It’s taken three consecutive victories – something they’ve not done since April 2015 – but Darren Dods’ side are back in contention to do just that.

First came a 4-0 thrashing of their Angus rivals Forfar, with Airdrieonians loanee Liam Watt grabbing a brace. Then Robert Thomson’s goal dinted Ayr United’s stuttering title bid as Brechin ran out 1-0 winners. And at the weekend goals from Andy Jackson and Lewis Spence secured three points at the Excelsior Stadium. Meanwhile, Cowdenbeath and Forfar couldn’t be separated and both had to settle for a point. It means Brechin are level with the Loons, on 29 points, and two off the Blue Brazil. They could even end up avoiding the play-offs.

The addition of Watt has made a difference in midfield. The loan came as a surprise – especially to Airdrie supporters – and while fans of the Diamonds lamented the move – it might have been made because of Watt agreeing to join Livingston in the summer – he’s added some much needed directness from the centre. Another change is the sudden improvement in defence. In those three wins Brechin have conceded no goals. That’s the first time Brechin have had three clean sheets in-a-row in the league since 2010.

Brechin could be off the bottom for the first time since Boxing Day if they can beat an inconsistent Albion Rovers at Glebe Park. Although a tough visit to Dunfermline follows, games against Stenhousemuir, Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Forfar make up four of their final five matches.

 

Championship: Raith find form at the right time

For Raith Rovers, form comes in patches. At the beginning of the season the club enjoyed seven wins in their opening ten games, including a five-match winning streak, before a twelve-game stretch during which they collected just eight points interrupted their chase for fourth. However, that good run of form at the start paid dividends as the club found themselves still just two points behind 4^th place Queen of the South at things started to turn around.

The Kirkcaldy side are the second most in-form team in the Championship after Rangers. In their last six matches Raith have picked up 13 points, in the process defeating challengers Queen of the South, Greenock Morton and St. Mirren – the one loss came at Ibrox. The run has created an eight point gap between them and the chasing Doonhamers – although James Fowler’s side do have a game-in-hand – with eight matches remaining of the normal season.

A big part for this upturn in form has been a couple of fresh faces. Aidan Connolly, arriving after his departure from Dundee United, and Ryan Hardie, on loan from Rangers, have added some much needed pace and directness to Raith’s attack. Hardie’s form has also benefited Mark Stewart, who isn’t known for being the most pacey striker on the planet.

Although Raith laboured to a 1-1 draw at Alloa Athletic at the weekend, Ray McKinnon’s men are still on course for the play-offs. Up next is an out-of-sorts Hibernian.