Matchday 9: Hibees rise to the challenge

By: Ian Rose | October 7th, 2007

That’s nine weeks in the bag for the SPL, and things have been shuffled throughout the league. With their Saturday victory over Rangers, Hibernian stood atop the SPL table for almost a day before Celtic reclaimed their lead with a lackluster win over Gretna. Every successful season includes a few ugly wins, as Gordon Strachan knows well, and he’ll be disappointed in his team’s performance but relieved to get out of Fir Park with all the points and avoid the embarrassment of dropping points to the SPL’s worst side. Gretna led most of the match, and though Celtic gained a match on Rangers this week, they look shaky. Dundee United beat Motherwell in the battle for fourth place, which could very well be a more meaningful place this year, since the SFA has decided not to allow Scottish Cup runners up a chance at the second UEFA Cup spot. If the Cup is won by a side that has already qualified for Europe, the second spot will go to #4 in the league. Aberdeen made a play at rising back into the middle of the table after a terrible start to the season, comfortably beating St. Mirren 4-0. The top 6 has a new look so far this season, with both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock still struggling in the bottom half, and United and Motherwell hanging tough. The bottom, meanwhile, is a deadlock, with three teams tied at seven points in 9th, 10th and 11th place, all a single match above Gretna in the single relegation spot.

Next week is the international break, with Scotland taking on Ukraine in the third-to-last Euro qualifier. A week later, SPL matchday 10 brings the game that Glasgow fans live for every season, the first Old Firm derby of the year. Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox in a match that could either resurrect them or put their title challenge in serious doubt. A win, and they’re back tied on points with Celtic. A loss, and a gulf of six points would divide the two sides. Especially if Celtic crash out of the Champions League, and have little else to concern themselves with, 6 points will be hard to make up. Celtic have looked more consistent (in their results if not, today, in their style) than Rangers domestically, but Rangers have had more success in Europe, so it’s going to be an absolute dogfight. Right now, Celtic fans have the bragging rights, and you can be sure they’re exercising them, but the real pride in Glasgow goes to the side that wins the head-to-heads.

In order to keep pace with whoever wins that OF derby, Hibernian will have to take their undefeated record to Fir Park and face Motherwell, the same side that kept them from their defense of the league cup. Look for John Collins’ boys to have revenge on their minds, and stay with the Old Firm for at least another week.