Caley makes it five from five; Celtic draw

By: Ian Rose | December 22nd, 2007

I know this is supposed to be a blog about Scottish football in general, and I’d like to think that I don’t bias it too much toward my preferred side, but I just can’t help it today. Inverness Caley Thistle is officially THE in-form side in the league, after today’s 3-2 away win at Hearts makes it five wins in five matches for the Jags. Not only was the result pleasing, but the game itself was a cracker, with everything you’d want — good goals, penalties, a red carded keeper and a last-minute winner. It really was a great match. Hearts made 21 shots, ten of them on target, but only one got by Micheal Fraser in open play, plus a penalty from Velicka.

With today’s win, the Caley sit in 6th place, a dream just a month ago. This is a side that started the season on six straight losses, and sat below Gretna for a time. Now, with a perfect December and Craig Brewster having to be the leader for Manager of the Month, things look a lot different.

Hearts, on the other hand, seem to be in a freefall. They now sit above only three sides - Gretna, Killie and St. Mirren. Those Champions League qualifying matches last year must seem very, very far away.

Gretna is actually finding a little run of decent play, beating Dundee United today. Unfortunately for Gretna, only one match each remains with Hearts and United, since all but one of their nine points have come against those two teams. Still, an away win must put some confidence in the squad, and the way both St. Mirren and Killie are playing, there is some hope for them. Killie and the Saints (which would be a massively kick-ass band name) managed to halt each other’s losing streaks today with a profoundly uninteresting scoreless draw.

Meanwhile, the points continue to bleed away at Celtic. Their home draw with Hibs today leaves them with a three point league lead, with THREE games in hand over Rangers. Considering that two of those matches are with Gretna and St. Mirren, the Rangers are essentially leading now. If they can overcome Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow, they will be in the driver’s seat, and the Old Firm derby will be the match that decides who goes top. European ties are always different than league ones, but one has to wonder whether a team that draws with a Fletcher-less Hibs and St. Mirren can really stand up to the likes of Barcelona.