AFTER Sunday's result at Rugby Park, those of us who thought Celtic had boobed in bringing back Brendan Rodgers were nodding sagely. Now, if Rangers keep winning, and that includes their game-in-hand, the second half of the season, in 2024, promises to be a cracking run-in.
As usual, the controversies at Ibrox, a VAR-induced penalty and a red card, tended to dominate the post-game conversation. It kind of makes you long for the old days of no television, so, the controversies were confined to the post-match analysis of those actually at the game. Trial by television can be wearing.
As for that Celtic defeat, at least, this time Brendan didn't blame the plastic pitch, more his plastic players. The Daily Rhebel's sports desk team could be summoning up that cracked crest image before long.
The mainstream media, driven as they are by the need to pander to the Big Two's knuckle-draggers, will largely ignore The Championship, that will be their loss, because it is building towards a cracking second half.
Dundee United and Raith Rovers, one point apart at the top, are locked into a fight for the single automatic promotion place, with Raith eight points ahead of third-placed Partick Thistle, who have played a game more.
Raith
and Thistle produced a genuine seven-goal thriller at Stark's
Park on Friday night, so,
clearly there is little between them. Dunfermline Athletic
currently occupy the fourth
play-off spot, but, while they have a four-point advantage over
fifth-placed Airdrie, I
think everyone at Firhill, East End Park and
The Excelsior Stadium are
looking over their shoulders and Northwards, towards Inverness,
where Caley Thistle
boss Duncan Ferguson
– big Duncan Disorderly himself,
has really shaken things up since taking over from wee Billy
Dodds. The big man even lived up to his nickname, getting himself ordered to the stand in the first half, as Caley Thistle thrashed Queen's Park at Hampden on Saturday.
Caley Thistle are one point behind Airdrie, but have played a game less and with the momentum Big Duncan has brought to the club, they could go on a charge all the way into the play-offs, in which case, anything could happen.
Always a really tight league, the Championship is equally close at the foot, where any one of four clubs: Ayr United, Queen's Park, Arbroath or Greenock Morton could yet slip down a division.
THERE IS another two-horse race in progress in the First Division, with Hamilton Academical and Falkirk separated at the top only by Accies' four goals better goal difference. The rest are eight points at least adrift, while, at the bottom, troubled Edinburgh City are in danger of being cast adrift.
DIVISION TWO at least has a clear leader, with Stenhousemuir five points clear of the pack, which is led by Peterhead. However, for us old football romantics the big question here is, can that wily old fox and Man About the West End of Glasgow, Ian McColl, work his magic to get Clyde out of their currently dangerous position – four points adrift at the foot and badly needing a run of wins if they are to avoid possibly dropping into the Lowland League.
SPEAKING OF The Lowland League, highly-ambitious East Kilbride hold a five-point lead, from Cumbernauld Colts at what is effectively the mid-point of the season. They will take a bit of catching as the sides turn from home.
Interesting to see Celtic B in mid-table in this league, clearly, they are not eating Quality Street in the East End of Glasgow these days.
BRECHIN CITY were, a few weeks ago, being hotly-tipped to e the first team, relegated out of the four Senior Leagues after the formation of the Scottish pyramid, to fight their way back. Then, manager Andy Kirk was snapped-up by St Johnstone.
This saw a slight dip in form and new manager Gavin Price has a bit of work on his hands, as they have slipped behind Banks o' Dee at the top of the Highland League.
City's 3-4 loss to Formantine United on Saturday has closed things up at the top of the table, the run-in would seem to be a close-run thing in prospect.
BROXBURN ATHLETIC have a five-point lead over Jeanfield Swifts at the top of the East of Scotland League, however Swifts have a game-in-hand, which might prove useful.
THE WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE table is, to anyone with a knowledge of Junior Football history, a strange one to look at these days. With Irvine Meadow anchored at the foot, with Glenafton Athletic just above them, then Arthurlie above them, some “Big Teams” are struggling.
And there's more. While Tucker Sloan refreshes his squad, Auchinleck Talbot are down in tenth place, one place, one point and one game behind their very-good neighbours Cumnock.
However, the middle of this table is jam-paced by sides capable of going on a winning run and getting into the title mix, so the first half of 2024 looks like being a cracking six months in the wild west.
At the foot, with new managers in place at both Meadow Park and Loch Park, the faithful are hopeful of a better second half to the season.
THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP has fallen foul of the recent bad weather, with only two clubs through to the last eight, following mass postponements in Round Four.
On 2 December, the original date, just one game was played, with St Cadoc's making the trek from Newton Mearns to 'the Mearns' to beat Stonehaven 1-0.
On Saturday, Lochee United surely enjoyed their fish teas at Nardini's, after beating Largs Thistle on penalties on the artificial surface provided at Barrfields by Euromillions winners Colin and Chris Weir.
Five of the six outstanding games are due to be played this Saturday.
FINALLY, to the often-ignored child of Scottish Football – The South of Scotland League. Dalbeattie Star are traditionally the powerhouse of this league and at the moment, albeit they have a couple of games-in-hand, they trail Newton Stewart by a point at the top of the table.
There appears to be a bit of a sporting rising going on down there in Newton Stewart, the town's rugby club are also making waves up in third place in National League 2, the third tier of Scottish club rugby. Perhaps the success of the rugby boys is inspiring the footballers of the Cree Valley.
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