Mark Atkinson and Matthew Elder discuss the weekend's football in Scotland.
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00:00A long welcome to the Scotsman football show, my name is Matthew Elder and I'm joined by
00:07our sports editor Mark Atkinson to preview the return of club football this weekend after
00:12the international break. Disappointing one for Scotland, losing their Nations League
00:17play-off to Greece over the two legs. But looking ahead now to the run-in to the Scottish
00:25Premiership split which takes place in three fixture rounds time. Mark, so we'll start
00:31by looking at this weekend's fixtures though and we've got a full card with one match taking
00:38place on Sunday. Looking at the fixtures tomorrow, Celtic v Hearts, obviously that's a big game
00:46there at Parkhead and Celtic looking to bounce back from their own firm disappointment and
00:50Hearts obviously on a good run now in the top six, looking to maybe cause an upset there.
00:56Yeah, important game for both teams. I imagine it's been quite a long 13 days for Brendan
01:01Rodgers since that defeat by Rangers. Normally when you have such a sore one you want to play
01:05a few days afterwards to get out of your system but Celtic have been left inactive, a lot of players
01:10away on international duty and you'd often say that actually a good time to play Celtic
01:14is on the back of international break given that so many of their players have been away
01:18from Celtic Park but I suspect this time around Celtic will be looking to get back on the horse
01:26and get a strong performance in. There is of course a major doubt over their goalkeeper
01:30Kasper Schmeichel. He got injured for Denmark and the suggestion is that he will miss
01:35at least that game against Hearts and if so Vinicius Sala who only played once will come in
01:41for him. That could disrupt Celtic a little bit although some would argue Schmeichel hasn't been
01:45playing that well in the last couple of games. Tough one for Hearts, they really could do the
01:51three points given that they are only a point ahead of Motherwell in the race for the top six.
01:57Hearts did win at Celtic Park last year but under Neil Critchley they're yet to put in what I would
02:02call a statement result against one of the big teams. It's difficult to go to Celtic Park at
02:07the best of times so I think Hearts could be buoyed by a strong performance there. You never
02:12know but Celtic will want to sprint through the finish line with the title wrapped up and with that
02:17that pain of the old firm game lingering I can imagine Brendan will have his team pretty fired
02:22up for this one. On the flip side Rangers have obviously wanted to make sure that they do
02:28build on that result. They've been so inconsistent in the league shown by the fact that they're
02:34still 13 points behind Celtic even though they've won the last two old firms.
02:38But Barry Ferguson's side will be looking to certainly kick on from that
02:44that little further and try to at least win the remaining league games
02:49and maybe give Ferguson himself a shot at the manager's job.
02:54That's why the game at Dundee which is the late game, the 5.30 game on Saturday,
02:59is so important because we've seen Rangers go from one extreme to the other this season
03:05and I think if Barry Ferguson can get this team playing with consistency in the league for the
03:11rest of the season it does give him a chance of being in the conversation for the new manager
03:16or even just being in a conversation to remain at the club in some capacity him and his coaching team.
03:21Dundee away is a difficult match. Rangers drew with Dundee earlier this season at Dents Park
03:26and of course Dundee won 4-2 in their last game against Dundee United and that's really given
03:30them a boost as they look to pull away from the relegation zone. They still sit 11th but they
03:35need to get some results themselves and that should be a really interesting match. I always
03:40think Dundee Rangers games at Dents Park often throw up drama and yeah there's a real difficulty
03:47for Rangers is showing that they can do this domestically and against what you would call
03:52the smaller teams in the league. That Bill Bowe game is very much on the horizon but it's not
03:57played for another couple of midweeks so there's no excuse for Rangers this weekend. They really
04:02need to build on that performance. I think Barry Ferguson would love to go into that Bill Bowe
04:07match with wins over Dundee and then Hibbs the following week just to make sure that confidence
04:11is exceptionally high and the mood music around Dierbroch is positive. I don't think it's an easy
04:18game for them though and I think Dundee will make it very, very tough. It should be a really good one
04:24live on the television. You mentioned them already, Motherwell just on the fringes of the top
04:30six, one point behind Hearts. Big game for them up at Potaudri. If they're looking to get into the
04:35top six, Aberdeen might be one of the teams that they're targeting given that they've obviously
04:40been on the slide since that remarkable start to the season they've had. They have had a couple of
04:45wins in their last four or five but still nowhere near the form that was shown earlier in the season
04:51so Motherwell can go to Potaudri and get a victory then suddenly they're looking at Europe for next
04:56season. Yeah and I think that'll be Michael Vimmer's message to his players that they need to
05:01get, they're looking at three fixtures. They've got Aberdeen, they're away at Kilmarnock and they've
05:06also got Hearts so these are three difficult matches. They're going to have to get some
05:09put in a positive performance in at least one of those games. I was really impressed with
05:14Michael Vimmer's Motherwell when they beat Rangers at Ibrox. I think that shows that they're more
05:20than capable of going to Potaudri and capitalising on any weaknesses Aberdeen show. I do
05:26think the Dons under Jimmy Thielen have got a bit better of late and I think it's helping that Kevin
05:32Nisbet is starting to score goals again and some of the players that they brought in in January
05:38now look a little bit more settled and getting used to the Scottish game. I do think Aberdeen
05:42are probably safe in the top six. I think it would be a very strange set of results that would take
05:47them out of that but they've got their eyes on third place so it's a high stakes match for both
05:52teams. Motherwell, knowing that Celtic are playing Hearts, they're probably thinking well
05:58Hearts might drop some points there and Motherwell's goal difference is really poor
06:03so they're almost a point worse off because of the goal difference of Hearts
06:08so they have to put in a statement within themselves. Another really interesting game
06:13and I think we'll learn a lot about Motherwell's chances but also about whether Aberdeen
06:17have got the minerals to finish third. This is a game that if you're going to be a third place team
06:22you expect to win. Talking about third place, how's the team currently in the position and
06:29looking strong you have to say after a long unbeaten run obviously which was ended by Celtic
06:34in the Scottish Cup but certainly in the league they remain unbeaten and obviously on the back
06:41of a disappointing injury time concession of an equaliser at Kilmarnock before the international
06:45break which denied them another victory but home to St Johnson tomorrow, a team obviously who are
06:53cut adrift, five points adrift at the bottom of the table and games running out for Simo Vallachary
06:58to keep sense up but a tough one for them through Easter Road but one that Hibs will certainly be
07:03looking to win to cement that third place position. I think Hibs, again I talked about
07:08Aberdeen needing to win if they want to be a third place team, I think if you're a Hibs supporter
07:13you're looking at a game and going right you're playing the bottom place team, we have to go and
07:17beat them here. I've been quite impressed by St Johnson or Simo Vallachary, I think they're a
07:21little bit unfortunate to be five points behind, they would have been probably inwardly fizzing
07:26at Dundees, 4-2 would have done the United. I think they're capable of going to Easter Road and making
07:31it tricky. I'm quite intrigued to see how Hibs react, they haven't won a game for a few weeks
07:37and while they're third they also are likely to be about Nicky Cadham who's been one of their
07:43best players, he's got a hamstring issue and a lot of their players have been on international duty,
07:49there are three Hibs players away with Australia and they also had two playing in Africa and
07:55I just wonder if the preparations for that game probably be a bit tricky for David Gray
08:00given how many players have been away. This isn't a gimme for Hibs, I think a lot of people
08:06think that Hibs have got the momentum and that's why they're favourites to finish third.
08:10Again, if they can demonstrate that they're capable of winning this match then you're looking
08:16at a team that really is in pole position but don't be fooled by St Johnson's league position,
08:21Simo Vallachary's team are playing well, he said yesterday that they don't have the gate of a
08:25relegated team right now, they'll come out fighting and it's a game that I'm looking forward to watching.
08:31Dundee United were probably the team looking at a good bet for third place only a few weeks ago
08:38before Hibs shot up and Dundee United kind of tumbled down a bit, they've hit the skids I would
08:44say probably, only one win in their last seven or eight matches so they're another team who'll be
08:52perhaps still eyeing up third place but certainly looking over their shoulder at Motherwell who
08:58are currently seventh and could overhaul them if Dundee United don't get their act together in the
09:02next couple of weeks, although you have to say that they still had a very good season coming
09:04straight up from the championship. Yeah, I think everyone forgets United are the promoted team
09:10and for them to be sitting where they are right now, I think it's 41 points they have, that's a
09:13tremendous haul. I haven't been impressed by United recently when I've watched them, I think
09:18they've run out of petrol a little bit, I think they are quite one-dimensional in the way they
09:22play, Sam Dalby's a target man and I think Jim Goodman tried to address that in January when he
09:28brought in a few new players like Alan Campbell and Louis Fiorini just to give them a little bit
09:32of a different dimension, Rory Payton as well, it's not quite worked out and they're the Sunday
09:38game against Ross County, it's a really difficult match up in Dingwall, County have done really well
09:44under Don Cowie to pull away from the relegation zone and I don't think that's an easy one for
09:48United whatsoever. With the games that have been played over the weekend, United, if they were to
09:53win that, again you start talking about them being a third place team. Given they also play Hearts
09:58though in this little trilogy of fixtures, if they were to not win against Ross County and then
10:04lose at Hearts, then you do start to wonder if they are challengers for Europe or indeed could
10:09they still be at the top six. I think they're probably just going to be okay top six wise,
10:13but the break may have come at a good time for them. They'll be stinging, losing a derby 4-2 at
10:19home, it's a really sore one and they'll expect a reaction but County are not safe yet by any
10:26stretch of the imagination, 35 points, only four points clear of the 11th place. These home games
10:33are always crucial for County and given that the other match on Saturday is St Mirren against
10:38Kilmarnock where you've got two teams in the bottom six also playing, County will want to try
10:43and pick up points knowing that one of those two teams, if not both of them, are going to slip up as well.
10:49Looking at that St Mirren-Kelly game, you're probably thinking that St Mirren's top six
10:55chances are gone now and they would probably have to win their three fixtures and then hope that
11:02all the teams above them lose theirs as well. So it's difficult to see St Mirren getting into the
11:06top six so they're just really looking to cement their safety now I think and Kilmarnock are
11:11perhaps still in proper danger, just one point ahead of the second bottom position.
11:18Absolutely, St Mirren have got quite, if you look at their fixture list, if you're doing it all on
11:22paper, St Mirren's is quite kind. I think they play all bottom six teams but they've left themselves
11:27too much to do. I think that losing to a lead against Motherwell was a real killer for them
11:32and that would have given them a chance. St Mirren have finished in the top six the past two seasons.
11:37This is a much harder league this time around and I think they'd do well just to stay out of danger.
11:43I think St Mirren's record against Kilmarnock is atrocious though. I can't remember the exact stats
11:47but I was speaking to a colleague of mine who's a big St Mirren fan and he reminded me that Derek
11:51McKenzie has got an absolute Indian sign over St Mirren so it'll be interesting to see how that
11:58game goes. You look at both of those teams and you think they'll be okay because they're resolute,
12:03they're strong, they're well organised, good experienced Scottish football managers.
12:08But somebody pretty decent is going to finish in 11th place and it's not beyond the realm
12:13of possibility that one of those two teams could do it. So important game again for both.
12:18Good stuff. So that's rounded up all the Premiership fixtures this weekend but it is worth
12:23mentioning a Championship match that's taking place tomorrow as well. A highly intriguing
12:29affair between Scott Brown's Air United and the now Neil Lennon's Dunfermline. Neil Lennon's first
12:34game in charge of the Parsons taken over last week and obviously has Victor Wanyama,
12:41possibly one of the biggest signings in the Scottish lower leagues for quite some time.
12:46That game's taking place at Somerset Park tomorrow so all eyes on Air versus Dunfermline.
12:51Definitely. Dunfermline have dominated the headlines this week. I've been at not one
12:55but two Dunfermline press conferences. It's lucky that if I go to two Dunfermline press conferences
12:59in a season, let alone a week. Neil Lennon was a fascinating company, reinvigorated,
13:05looking forward to the challenge. Victor Wanyama looked pretty good for a guy that's not played
13:09football since last July. Lennon wanted to bring in some experience to what is a fairly
13:17young and callow Dunfermline team and Wanyama definitely does that. I'd forgotten that Wanyama
13:23was in a Champions League final squad for Tottenham and that's how big a player we're
13:28talking here. He's only 33 and I just had it in my head Wanyama was much older.
13:37Now you're hoping that form is temporary, class is permanent with this guy. He's only got seven
13:41games to go. I'm sure Scott Brown would rather not have Victor Wanyama in the Dunfermline
13:48midfield given that they are trying to chase promotion as well. Dunfermline's need is
13:53probably greater. They need to start winning games otherwise I could see them being in the relegation
13:57playoff position. That's not what Neil Lennon signed up for. How those Dunfermline players
14:03react to Neil Lennon coming in will be fascinating. Of course it will be a really intriguing game at
14:08some extent. Indeed and there's another big game taking place involving the Scottish
14:14Lower Leagues which is the SPFL Trust Trophy final on Sunday between Livingston and Queen's Park.
14:22An interesting one there. David Martindale's side I believe have won the competition before
14:27but this is Queen's Park's first national final if you can call it that for a very very long time
14:32going back over 100 years I think. We all know that Queen's Park were a very successful side
14:38back in the initial inception of Scottish football in the late 1800s. Obviously they've been
14:45amateur and now have only recently turned professional again so an interesting cup final taking place.
14:51I was at Livingston Falkirk on Tuesday and I was pretty impressed by Livingston. I thought
14:56they were really good, really experienced, well organised and a hard team to beat. I think their
15:03favourites have been Queen's Park. Queen's Park obviously managerless. Ever since beating Rangers
15:08it's got a bit sour at lesser Hamden with the departure of Callum Davidson. They're one of the
15:16most storied clubs in early Scottish football history and it is remarkable that they've done
15:22very little since then. I would find it difficult to see them beating Livingston on current form.
15:29I think Livingston look like a team that are going to be at the business end of this season.
15:34They probably won't catch Falkirk in the league but I tell you what I wouldn't want to play them
15:38in the play-offs if that was a premiership side. I certainly think David Martindale having spoken
15:44to him this week would love to get some silverware in his pocket. They've done really well to recover
15:48from relegation in my opinion. It's hard for teams like Livingston to go down and maintain a level
15:54on the budgets they have and just given the feel-good factor sort of dissipating.
15:58But they've done really well. Martindale made a very funny quip actually on Tuesday night.
16:05He said it'd be weird going to a cup final where Livingston will have more fans than the opposition
16:09and he's probably right given that they probably will have more fans than Queen's Park.
16:13It'd be a nice reward for those long-suffering Livingston supporters.
16:16They've got to get their hands on something.