SPL Today: Double Up

Just two SPL games this afternoon with four clubs involved in the league cup semi-finals and Dundee United playing Hibs tomorrow.

What, I ask, is the point of playing the League Cup semi-finals at the weekend, at the same time as SPL games?

Seems a bit strange.

Anyhows, to the action:

Hamilton v Kilmarnock

Hamilton are still rooted to the bottom of the table. It could be that there tactic is to stay exactly where they are and sit back and watch as Hibs come careering past them and into the First Division.

But they’re form has shown signs of picking up. They’ve drawn with St Mirren, Motherwell, Celtic and Inverness in recent weeks. A 4-0 defeat at Rangers aside they’re not losing a lot of goals. The key for Billy Reid would be to find a goalscorer. Will Mickaël Antoine-Curier fill that role? If he can then Hamilton might just be giving Hibs even more to worry about.

Kilmarnock have developed the unpleasant habit of losing late goals. They lost to two goals in the last 20 minutes against Hearts and drew with both St Johnstone and Dundee United to goals in the last couple of minutes. It’s a pattern that Mixu Paatelainen will be hoping doesn’t become a habit.

Kilmarnock’s new signing from AC Milan might feature today. I never thought I’d write that sentence. Has Mixu uncovered another Eremenko type gem in Willy Aubameyang?

Despite Kilmarnock becoming the SPL pin-up team of the season I have a feeling that Hamilton will take advantage of Hibs not playing to get something here.

A rare home win.

Hearts v St Johnstone

Home comforts are probably just what Hearts need after their uncomfortable night at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

But St Johnstone in winning the cup game here that they’re more than capable of holding their own.

It’s for others to worry about the ramifications of Hearts’ defeat in midweek. They just need to get back to winning games.

Kevin Kyle might miss out a game which could cause Hearts problems. There is a big squad at Tynecastle but the players at the fringes don’t suit Jim Jefferies’ requirements.

Two wins and two draws in the league mean St Johnstone are unbeaten in 2011. Games in hand over Motherwell and Inverness mean the top six is looking vulnerable to a Perthshire charge.

Despite that I think Hearts will have point to prove today. And they’ll prove that point by taking three points. Home win.

The Scottish Football Blog News Feed

Scottish Cup Week: The Saga Continues

Rangers 3 v Kilmarnock 0
Some wag (me) suggested on Twitter last night that this would have been a more effective Beattie to play up front for Rangers.

Not that it mattered as the home side - who were more than happy to dish out a few brutal challenges - overpowered a fairly ineffective Kilmarnock. Two cracking first half finishes from Lee McCulloch and Kyle Lafferty had all but finished the game off before Steven Whittaker's emphatic penalty removed any doubt.

Not a great game, Kilmarnock looked capable but not hugely threatening. Challenges from Lafferty, Steven Davis and Steven Naismith were rather agricultural, with Alexei Eremenko the particular target of a couple of Ron Atkinson's "early doors reducers."

Is it frightfully old fashioned and Corinthian of me to expect better of Rangers? Or of any team? Possibly.

But a deserved win for Rangers who become the sixth team to guarantee their spot in the fifth round.

Biffy Who

The draw for the fifth round will be made today and rumours abound that Biffy Clyro are to be rummaging around George Peat's balls to decide the fixtures. This seems to have caused consternation and amusement in equal measure. Unfortunately I'm not really sure who or what Biffy Clyro are so it's all gone above my ahead.

Weather Permitting

And as if that wasn't enough this Scottish Cup week stretches to an eighth day with a number of fixtures to be played this evening.

Amazingly Threave Rovers v Stenhousemuir, the much delayed third round replay, has been postponed again. They'll now try and play it on Wednesday. If that game doesn't end up a nine goal thriller we're all going to be hugely disappointed.

The scheduled (subject to weather, pitch inspections and alien invasions) fixtures tonight are:

Round 4
Hearts v St Johnstone
Falkirk v Partick Thistle
Queen of South v Brechin

My previews of the ties are here.

Round 4 Replay
Dunfermline v Montrose (Pitch inspection at 9.30 this morning)

I had Dunfermline down to win this one on Saturday. They didn't but I'll back them to finish the job tonight. Home win.

Scottish Cup Fifth Round Draw

Update: The draw has been made. And we've an Old Firm clash to look forward to. Who'd have thought? That's the only finalised tie of the round so far.

Aberdeen v Montrose or Dunfermline
Inverness CT v Morton or Airdrie
Hamilton v Dundee United or Ross County
Stenhousemuir/Threave Rovers or Stranraer v Motherwell
East Stirlingshire or Buckie v Queen of the South or Brechin
Rangers v Celtic
Hibernian or Ayr v St Mirren or Peterhead
Hearts or St Johnstone v Falkirk or Partick Thistle

To be played on 5/6 February.

The Scottish Football Blog News Feed