SPL Matchday 17 Preview
By: Ian Rose | December 14th, 2007Here are the matches for the seventeenth week of the Scottish Premier League. The race for third is heating up, with three in the thick of it now in Hibs, United and Motherwell. Rangers will look to keep pace with Celtic before starting to make up their two games in hand on the defending champs, while the smaller teams clash over the remaining spots in the coveted top six. The matches this week are:
Hibernian v. Falkirk, Saturday 15:00
While tourists are all gawking at Edinburgh’s farting cow, Hibs have a ship to set right. Two losses on the trot have dropped them from third to a tie for fourth. Falkirk is playing very well, their 4-0 loss at Celtic Park aside, so this should be an interesting one. Hopefully John Collins isn’t paying too much attention to the talk about his chances for the Scotland job, and concentrates on his current one at Hibs. My guess is 2-1 to Hibs.
Kilmarnock v. Gretna, Saturday 15:00
Who thought this one would ever be this difficult to predict? Killie have been absolutely ravaged by injuries, and lowly Gretna has to be licking their lips at the chance for at least a point here. Still, even a Kilmarnock side as depleted as this one should be able to handle the likes of relegation-bound Gretna. A slim 1-0 to Killie.
Motherwell v. Aberdeen, Saturday 15:00
Mark McGhee’s Motherwell is on a tear, and hasn’t lost in over a month. Aberdeen is starting to put things right as well, rising up the table on the strength of wins over Hibs and (an admittedly weak) Killie. Home advantage seems to be pretty meaningless for the Well this season, as they have done significantly better on the road, but the same can’t be said for the Dons, who are conceding over two goals per game on the road. I can see a draw here, 1-1.
Rangers v. Hearts, Saturday 15:00
Rangers look to shake off the ghosts of Lyon and get past a tricky Hearts squad that has been the Jeckyll and Hyde of the SPL this season. At home, in front of the Ibrox crowd that was so quiet against the French, they need to bounce back with a win. It will be interesting to see the crowd’s reaction if Darcheville is introduced, after the sitter he missed on Wednesday. Prediction: 3-1 Rangers.
St. Mirren v. Dundee United, Saturday 15:00
The Buddies are second to last in the league, ten points above Gretna. United have lost a little of their charm the past few weeks, but still sit fourth, tied on points with Hibs and a game behind Motherwell. On paper, this shouldn’t be much of a contest, and for once, paper should be right. 2-0 to United.
Inverness v. Celtic, Sunday 15:00
Draw-happy Celtic take the long ride to Inverness and take on a Caley Thistle team on a three-match win streak, including wins over United and Hibs. Gordon Strachan is well aware of how vulnerable his team is at the back, and the fact that Caley hasn’t conceded in almost a month. Celtic should be the runaway favorite, but Caley have the form to force yet another draw out of the Bhoys. The question is, will they? I have to go with my heart (that pesky organ in my chest that makes my predictions suck) and say 1-1, and a deepening domestic crisis for Celtic.
It should be an interesting weekend. The Old Firm are both looking vulnerable, and Motherwell could make up a bit of ground if they falter. Mark McGhee, the bookies’ favorite for the Scotland job, has done some pretty remarkable things with the Well, but they still have not gotten the results against Rangers and Celtic that made the start of Hibs’ and United’s seasons so bright. For the sake of my own curiousity, I looked at last week’s predictions, in which I got two results right and one perfect score (Hearts 1-2 Motherwell) … not so great. I’m hoping for at least 50% this week, or else I should just start randomly picking teams, though my hopeful prediction for my Caley boys might deny me the chance. Oh well.
Category: Scottish Premier League
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