SPL Matchday 14 Preview

By: Ian Rose | November 23rd, 2007

The seemingly month-long international break is over, and club football returns to Scotland this weekend, with all twelve SPL sides in action. Celtic and Rangers play their first matches since the last round of the Champions League, each leading up to vital Champions League matches again this week. Here’s a look at the matches:

Falkirk v. Rangers, Saturday 12:30
Falkirk have only beaten Rangers once in the SPL era, and with their current form, this doesn’t seem like the week to repeat that accomplishment. Rangers should be rested and they know that matches like this are absolute must-wins to keep pace with the Hoops. Prediction: 0-2 win to Rangers.

Celtic v. Aberdeen, Saturday 15:00
Celtic hasn’t lost to the Dons in three years, but the strong recent form of Aberdeen combined with the long rest for Celtic makes this one a little dangerous. If this were at Pittodrie under these same circumstances, I’d probably call it a draw, but Celtic should be able to motor through, 3-1.

Hibernian v. Dundee United, Saturday 15:00
Game of the week in the SPL. These two are both tied with Rangers on points for second place in the league, and they will both be looking to put their stamp on third with a win. The last time they met, in Dundee in August, they played to a scoreless draw, but I can’t see that happening at Easter Road. Hibs have slipped a bit since their fantastic start, and United have stepped in. A tough one to call, but I see Barry Robson and United taking a gutsy away win here, 2-1.

Inverness v. St. Mirren, Saturday 15:00
If Hibs v. United decides who is best in contention for third place and the UEFA Cup, this match may be just as vital in determining who can feel safe about surviving in the SPL. St. Mirren are on a decent run of play, and a win would put them 13 points ahead of drowning Gretna. A win for Inverness would give them 9 points of safety room, and put Gretna in an even lonelier spot at the bottom. I know that my Caley is capable of winning this match, but it’s hard to pick them from recent form, so I’ll go with a draw, 1-1.

Kilmarnock v. Motherwell, Saturday 15:00
Killie has drifted into the bottom half of the league, but remain dangerous, while Motherwell sit in fifth behind Hibs and United, hungry to keep pace. When these two met in August, an injury-time strike from Rhian Dodds put Killie on top for the away win, and I expect Motherwell to reverse that result and take this one. 3-1 to ‘Well.

Gretna v. Hearts, Sunday 14:00
Gretna is in dire straits, no way around that. They’ve had some close, gutsy finishes, but if they don’t start picking up points soon, they’ll be SPL lame ducks by New Years. The Black-and-Whites will have some confidence going into this match, since one of their four points on the season was gathered up at Tynecastle, but Hearts have been much improved since then. The inconsistency of Hearts makes me nervous about picking them, but not as nervous as I’d be about predicting Gretna to do anything positive. 3-2 to Hearts.

Should be an interesting weekend, especially if either of the Old Firm stumble, but I really don’t expect that to happen, not this time. We’re coming up on another Old Firm derby in January, so tensions will slowly but steadily rise in both camps … as if things ever really settle down.