SPL weekend preview

RAB - P

VIP Member
VIP Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Messages
11,038
Reaction score
1,425
Location
The Penny Arcade
The Old firm derby between Rangers and Celtic takes centre stage in the SPL on Saturday.

Elsewhere Aberdeen welcome Hearts to Pittodrie with both sides battling to boost their European aspirations.

Dundee United will be aiming to cement their spot in third place when they entertain Falkirk to Tannadice.

Hamilton will be looking to climb off the bottom of the table when they travel to St Mirren.

Motherwell are in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory as they welcome fellow strugglers Inverness to Fir Park.

Hibernian will be seeking to keep pace with the leading pack Kilmarnock make the trip to Edinburgh.


Aberdeen v Hearts

Aberdeen midfielder Derek Young should be fit for Saturday's clash with Hearts after missing the win at Inverness through injury.

Jamie Smith and Bertrand Bossu are both pushing for places in the squad after recovering from calf strains.

The Dons, who have won their last four games at Pittodrie, will still be without long term absentees Tommy Wright (Achilles) and Stuart Duff (knee).

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is confident Andy Driver, Bruno Aguiar and Ruben Palazuelos will all be fit for the clash.

The trio all picked up knocks in the weekend's goalless draw with Dundee United, but they should be fit to play.

Uganda international David Obua faces at least four weeks on the sidelines with a groin problem, while strikers Juho Makela (ankle) and Mike Tullberg (thigh) are also out.

Dundee United v Falkirk

Falkirk manager John Hughes will welcome back defender Jackie McNamara from suspension for the trip to Dundee United on Saturday.

The former Scotland international has missed the last two defeats to his former clubs Aberdeen and Celtic.

Forward Michael Higdon should also return after a flu bug kept him out of the 3-0 loss to Celtic, while striker Carl Finnigan and left-back Tam Scobbie are pushing for starts following their returns to fitness.

But young defender Brian Allison remains absent (foot) despite being back in training.

Dundee United have a doubt over striker Francisco Sandaza for the clash at Tannadice.

The Spaniard has been plagued by a foot problem for the last month and, while his condition is improving, manager Craig Levein may opt to give him another week's rest.

With Irishman Jon Daly in good form and Warren Feeney also in the squad, Levein has options available to him.

Garry Kenneth will continue at the back alongside Lee Wilkie.

Hibernian v Kilmarnock

Hibernian could welcome back striker Derek Riordan and midfielder Dean Shiels for Saturday's game with Kilmarnock.

Riordan missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Rangers with a cut leg and Shiels has been absent for the last three games with an ankle injury.

Both have returned to first-team training and may come into contention for starting slots as the Easter Road side seek a boost ahead of the forthcoming league and cup double-header against arch-rivals Hearts.

Kilmarnock are hopeful of having four players back from injury for the clash.

Willie Gibson, Mehdi Taouil, Danny Invincibile and Simon Ford have all returned to training and their fitness will be assessed ahead of the game.

However, Frazer Wright (hamstring) has joined David Lilley, Ryan O'Leary and Allan Johnston on the sidelines.

Motherwell v Inverness

Ian Black and Russell Duncan are both doubts for Inverness' crunch basement battle at Motherwell.

The central midfield pair picked up knocks in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Aberdeen; Duncan has a slight groin strain, while Black is nursing a hamstring injury.

Rory McAllister remains on the sidelines after sustaining ankle ligament damage in training earlier this month.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee could be hit by more withdrawals for the clash.

Captain Stephen Craigan (groin) and striker David Clarkson (hand) remain sidelined.

McGhee is waiting on a doctor's report on Bob Malcolm, Steven McGarry, Jamie Murphy and Stephen Hughes, who have all missed training this week through sickness.

Rangers v Celtic

Rangers will be aiming to cut the gap on leaders Celtic when they welcome Gordon Strachan's side to Ibrox in the second Old Firm derby of the season.

Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra is facing a late fitness test ahead of the league encounter with Celtic.

Maurice Edu has recovered from an ankle injury, while Chris Burke has shaken off the flu and striker Kenny Miller is fine despite a slight knock.

Celtic trio Stephen McManus, Paul Hartley and Barry Robson are back in contention for the trip to Ibrox.

Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has also returned to training but will not be rushed back to action.


St Mirren v Hamilton

Hamilton boss Billy Reid is sweating over the fitness of Mark McLaughlin ahead of Saturday's trip to St Mirren.

Defender McLaughlin came off against Motherwell at the weekend with a back strain and is being monitored.

Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny has recovered after suffering concussion while skipper Alex Neil plays his last game before commencing a two-match ban for going through the points threshold.

St Mirren are hopeful Jim Hamilton will be fit for the clash.

The striker picked up a knock in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Stephen O'Donnell (knee), Will Haining (foot) and Steven Robb (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.
 
Dont really fancy our chances against a St Mirren team who are on a good run. I'd be well happy with a draw but think it will be a 2-0 loss.
 
The whole of Europe will be watching what is arguably the biggest game in Britain tomorrow...but personally speaking I don't think Killie will be an easy game, their playing not to bad just now...we'll see ho ho ho. :Laugh:


cheers
 
For the first time in a while I am more worried about the transfer market than the games on Saturday. I think the OF match is second to the Hearts V Aberdeen game, its outcome affects more teams, the OF game only affects those two. I read that Sandanza is fit for United on Saturday.
 
i am worried for celtic . i dont think we are going to even get a draw if im honest . our defence is bad our midfield rubbish and our strikers are nonexsistant . to be honest there is very few in our team fit to wear the hoops .
 
A Scott McDonald strike handed SPL leaders Celtic a vital victory over bitter rivals Rangers in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox.

Gers were on top for the majority of the first half but failed to break the deadlock, although they had appeals for a penalty waved away after Gary Caldwell handled in the area.

Striker Kris Boyd spurned a one-on-one with Hoops goalkeeper Artur Boruc in the second period as Walter Smith's side continued to enjoy the better of possession.

However, McDonald rifled home on 58 minutes, as Gordon Strachan's men opened up a seven-point advantage over their foes at the top of the table.
 
A bit of a smash and grab today but thats football for you. I think Celtic went to Ibrox to make sure they didnt get beat and anything better than that they would take.

A real peach of a goal decided it.
 
YASSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! John the hun your boys took a helluva beating!!!! ;-)
 
you been on the Chocolate Liqueurs how does one strike on goal add up to a helluva beating.

ok Celtic won but no way they were the better team.

I feel a right twat
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Aberdeen's fine form continued. Dundee United maintained their grip on third place in the table and Kilmarnock edged a six-goal thriller on their travels.

Elsewhere, Motherwell got back to winning ways and St Mirren continue to climb the table.

Aberdeen 1 Hearts 0

Aberdeen have now claimed four consecutive victories after they ground out a 1-0 win at home to in-form Hearts.

The Dons grabbed the only goal of the game on 36 minutes, with Lee Miller breaching the Jambos' defence.

Hearts' pursuit of an equaliser was hardly helped when Marius Zaliukas was shown a second yellow card on 73 minutes.

The capital club had been unbeaten in seven heading into the game and will be disappointed to see their European push suffer a setback.

Dundee Utd 1 Falkirk 0

Dundee United are the current occupants of third spot in the table and were narrow 1-0 victors over Falkirk on Saturday.

Scott Robertson's 21st minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides at Tannadice, although the visitors did see Darren Barr sent off eight minutes from time.

United are now unbeaten in six top-flight fixtures while the Bairns have lost four of their last five to keep them firmly embroiled in the battle at the bottom.

Hibernian 2 Kilmarnock 4

Hibernian slipped to back-to-back defeats as they were humbled 4-2 by 10-man Kilmarnock.

The visitors took the lead after only five minutes, with Danny Invincible breaking the deadlock.

That lead was then doubled seven minutes later when Allan Russell fired home.

Dean Shields pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 36 minutes, before Killie keeper Alan Combe was dismissed.

Shields again found the target from the resulting spot-kick, on 40 minutes, to ensure the two sides were level at the break.

The hosts were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority in the second half, though, with Invincible (47) and Garry Hay (76) silencing a shocked Easter Road.

Motherwell 3 Inverness CT 2

Two sides desperate for points met at Fir Park, with Motherwell claiming a 3-2 win over Inverness.

The hosts had lost their last five games heading into the contest, while their opponents had suffered four consecutive defeats.

Motherwell appeared to be in control after two goals from Chris Porter (8 & 39) handed them a commanding lead.

However, Ross Tokely handed Caley a lifeline moments before the interval.

Porter then completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes, before Adam Rooney set up a grandstand finish when he struck in second-half injury-time.

St Mirren 1 Hamilton 0

St Mirren continue to be upwardly mobile after they secured a fourth successive victory on Saturday.

The Saints overcame rock-bottom Hamilton 1-0 to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation places.

Craig Dargo proved to be the hero of the day, stepping off the bench to snatch a 78th minute winner.
 
yas finally we have won!!

we get 3 points and i get my tickets to go to the inverurie game!! what a day

Cheers
MFCGAVMFC
 
Back
Top