SPL Matchday 16 Preview

By: Ian Rose | December 7th, 2007

Thanks to the SPL’s decisions to postpone matches first for both Celtic and Rangers before the national team’s match with Italy, and for Rangers before their Champions League match with Lyon, the league is a little messy right now. Celtic play two league matches in four days this week, both admittedly against mediocre opponents in St. Mirren and Falkirk. Two wins will put them seven points ahead of Rangers, but leave Rangers with two games in hand. Here are the matches this week:

Aberdeen v. Kilmarnock, Saturday 15:00
The Dons surely got a boost this week from results going their way in the UEFA Cup. Now they are one home win away from the Round of 32. If they can manage it, it will be the first time Scotland has three teams still active in Europe past the new year in over 30 years. But there’s business at home to take care of first. Killie are on a poor run, with four losses in a row and only one win in the last two months. Dons need to beat teams like this if they have any chance of making it back-to-back seasons in Europe. I see a home win, 2-0.

Celtic v. St. Mirren, Saturday 15:00
No visiting team has even scored at Celtic Park yet this season, and St. Mirren is unlikely to be the first, even with a depleted Celtic defense and a backup keeper. The Buddies were stomped by Falkirk, and Falkirk is no Celtic. Celtic should take this one comfortably, 3-0.

Falkirk v. Dundee United, Saturday 15:00
United will be looking to get back to winning ways after last week’s home defeat to Inverness. Falkirk has looked shaky, but showed their danger last week by romping over St. Mirren, 5-1. This could be a really interesting match, and I see Falkirk holding on for a draw, 2-2.

Hearts v. Motherwell, Saturday 15:00
Speaking of shaky, it’s been a best-of-times / worst-of-times kind of year for Heart of Midlothian. They kick Celtic out of the league cup, and draw with Celtic in the league. Not bad. They also draw twice with Gretna, gifting the Black-and-Whites two of their five total points. Not so good. Motherwell has been wicked on the road, winning five of eight matches. My gut says another away win for Mark McGhee and the Well, 1-2.

Inverness v. Hibernian, Saturday 15:00
Even though Hibs are far ahead of Inverness in the league table, and are a traditionally much more successful team, they always struggle when they come up to the Highland capital. In fact, in the four league matches the two have played at the new Caledonian stadium, Hibs have not managed to score a single goal. Caley manager Craig Brewster, who may be the most defensively minded striker/manager in history, will be looking to keep the run of clean sheets going, but Steven Fletcher might have something to say about that in his first match after signing an extension to stay with Hibs. I see a score draw here, 1-1, though as always I am hugely biased as a Caley Thistle supporter.

Celtic v. Falkirk, Tuesday 19:45
I have a lot of respect for Falkirk. They play good attacking football and are always fun to watch. Sometimes that works in their favor, as in the aforementioned 5-1 romp over St. Mirren, but I’m not sure they can play the sort of balanced it game it takes to get a result against the Old Firm. 2-1 to Celtic.