Yet another bonkers week in Scottish Football and for the Championship, League 1 and League 2 it’s the end of the normal season. But up in the Premiership, it’s still business as usual, McGregor kicking lumps out of folk, Dundee losing and Celtic wrapping up the title.
League 2 was the only league to have a proper title race and after last week’s disaster Peterhead knew they had to at least draw against Queens Park at the national stadium and Clyde knew to capitalise on any slip up from the league leaders they would have to win away to Cowdenbeath at Central Park. The Blue Brazil who have been much improved this season punctured Clyde’s aspirations of lifting the trophy. Peterhead were comfortable winners and lifted the trophy in style at Hamden Park.
Berwick Rangers who sacked their manager to try and get a lift as they go into the relegation playoffs got off to the worst possible start with a two nil defeat to Eglin City. Berwick Rangers will now play Cove Rangers for a place in the SPFL next season, the Aberdeenshire Club seeing off East Kilbride with some ease – 5-1 on aggregate. The other games saw no change in the table as players were either dreaming of the beach or the playoffs. Clyde with play Annan before facing the winner of either Edinburgh City and Stenhousemuir.
In League One only one of the games really counted for anything. Brechin City hosted Stenhousemuir knowing that a win for the Angus club would stave off successive relegations until the playoffs. However, despite Stenny having McBrearty sent off just before the hour mark, they couldn’t secure the vital 3 points and will be playing in league 2 next season. Stenhousemuir now have some momentum before their vital playoffs. The Warriors will be wanting to stay up especially as their rivals Falkirk are making their first appearance in the 3rd tier of Scottish football for the first time since the ’70s.
Elsewhere in the dead rubber League 1 games, Champions Arbroath hosted Dumbarton, the highlight of the match was the Dumbarton defender making a brilliant diving save on the line, for his efforts Ballantyne was sent off and McKenna scored the resulting penalty, drawing Arbroath back on terms after Dumbarton had opened the scoring earlier.
Montrose vs Raith Rovers also finished one apiece as the sides prepare for the promotion playoff. East Fife played out an entertaining 2-3 loss to Forfar, Airdrie romped Stranraer 4-1 as the Lanarkshire side prepare to have a hybrid of Part-time and Full-time players next season.
Up in the Championship, it was all to play for with Falkirk, Alloa, Queen of the South and Partick Thistle all looking to avoid either automatic relegation or the relegations playoffs. Falkirk did the best they could beating Champions Ross County 3-2, however, Alloa drawing against Ayr United meant that Falkirk will be playing in League One next season. After the match, there was much seethe and tin pottery with fans rightly concerned as to how their club was being run and the amount of cash that has been wasted over the last 2 years. Whilst other fans protested there were reports of some fans getting shirts signed by what is almost certainly the worst Falkirk side in a generation.
Partick Thistle demolished Queens 3-0 a result which puts Queen of the South in the relegation playoffs and cost Gary Naysmith his job. In a bizarre turn of events, the players were taken out of the Player of the Year event halfway through to tell them that their gaffer had been punted and then probably to enjoy the rest of their night. Unreal! The Dumfries club then wasted no time in bringing back Allan “Magic” Johnston and Sandy Clark who had been sacked from Dunfermline earlier in the season. This season only Ross County, Alloa, Ayr United and Inverness have made it through the season without the manager's nameplate being removed from his office.
Morton hosted Dundee United as United looked to continue to build momentum for their playoffs meanwhile Morton have nothing to play for after confirming safety a few weeks back. In another bizarre chapter of Morton’s frankly crazy season, Jonathon Johansen and assistant Peter Houston walked out on Morton after being told they couldn’t pick certain players due to contract clauses Morton wouldn’t be able to afford next season. Morton then appointed their 3rd manager of the season who guided them to a 1-0 win over the Arabs.
Dunfermline lost, rather unsurprisingly, 1-0 to Inverness a mix up between rookie keeper Cammy Gill and rookie Defender Stuart Morrison gifting a goal to the Highlanders.
In the Premiership it was a normal order of service Allan McGregor who is a real class act in the Rangers goal once again proved that he is a horrific coward. His leg breaker challenge on Ferguson in the Aberdeen game was a shocker but the experienced keeper really had to better it. As he took his goal kick he extended his foot to kick McNulty in the back, McGregor then collapsed feigning injury but was sent off for this unprovoked outburst. McGregor who said he couldn’t play for the new Rangers has won some favour back from the Ibrox crowd by being so staunch that he couldn’t line up in a guard of honour when Celtic visit next week. Also in true Scottish football style, he was also given a free kick. Classic. Rangers eventually ran out 1-0 winners over Hibs after what felt like months of time wasting by the Ibrox side, Gerard will be happy with all three points as he still has the worst win record of any permanent Rangers manager in the premier league.
Celtic wrapped up the title in style cruising to a 3-0 win in Aberdeen, the game was pretty much a non-event other than a wonder strike from “French Eddy”. Celtic despite winning the league by a big margin will be looking to improve next year and the close season rumour mill is already churning with Jose Mourinho being linked with the Celtic Park job.
St Mirren and Hamilton again picked up points as they fight to get free of the relegation play-off but Dundee’s fate has been decided and they will be playing in the Championship next season for the first time in 5 years. Kilmarnock moved back into second place beating Hearts by one goal to nil. The Kilmarnock manager Steve Clark has said this week he will be thinking about his future, although he would be excellent for the Scotland job, I really hope he sticks with Killie as you feel they are on the verge of something even more special than what he has already created.
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As I'm about to press send it's as follows in the playoffs.
Premiership playoff Ayr United 1 vs ICT 3 - Great start for the Highlanders who should be able to protect that lead in the second leg.
Championship plays off Montrose 2 vs Queen of the South 1 - Poor start for Allan Johnston's second spell. As it stands his team should be able to overcome that at home
Raith Rovers 2 vs Forfar 1, Raith coming from behind in this one to lead the tie.
Annan 2 vs Stenhousemuir 0 Annan in control of the tie, I would struggle to see Stenny come back from this.
Edinburgh City 0 vs Clyde 1 Clyde are clearly over their speed bump and back on course, both teams have been magnificent this campaign.