Kilmarnock Archives - SNN Sports

Celtic One Result Away from Title as Post-Split Premiership Fixtures Confirmed

Celtic could secure the Scottish Premiership crown on 26 April when they visit Dundee United, needing just a draw to mathematically confirm their dominance. The reigning champions hold a commanding 15-point advantage over Rangers with only five games left, putting them on the verge of a 13th league title in 14 seasons. In a post-split schedule that raises some familiar concerns about fixture balance, the SPFL has now confirmed the remaining fixtures for both the top and bottom halves of the table. The final Old Firm clash of the campaign is set for Sunday 4 May at Ibrox – a potentially fiery occasion even if the title is already wrapped up. Aberdeen kick off their top-six run with a home tie against Hibernian, while Rangers will travel to face St Mirren in their opener. The top-six fixtures will all conclude on Saturday 17 May with simultaneous 12:30 BST kick-offs. However, the post-split format has once again led to some uneven home-and-away tallies. Hibernian must travel to St Mirren for a third time this season, granting the Buddies 20 home matches and only 18 away. Motherwell, meanwhile, will end their campaign having played 20 away fixtures. It’s the first season since 2017-18 where fixture balance couldn’t be maintained across the league. At the other end of the table, St Johnstone begin their survival bid away to Motherwell. They sit bottom, five points behind the rest with time running out. Just six points separate seventh-placed Hearts from 11th-placed Dundee, with only the side finishing 12th relegated automatically. The team in 11th will enter the play-offs. Bottom-half clubs will conclude their campaigns a day later than the top six, with all games on Sunday 18 May at 15:00 BST. 🔝 Top Six Fixtures Saturday 26 April Dundee United v Celtic (12:30) Aberdeen v Hibernian (15:00) St Mirren v Rangers (15:00) Saturday 3 May Hibernian v Dundee United (15:00) St Mirren v Aberdeen (15:00) Sunday 4 May Rangers v Celtic (12:00) Saturday 10 May Celtic v Hibernian (15:00) Dundee United v St Mirren (15:00) Sunday 11 May Rangers v Aberdeen (12:00) Wednesday 14 May Aberdeen v Celtic (19:45) Rangers v Dundee United (19:45) St Mirren v Hibernian (19:45) Saturday 17 May (All 12:30) Celtic v St Mirren Dundee United v Aberdeen Hibernian v Rangers 🔻 Bottom Six Fixtures Saturday 26 April Hearts v Dundee (15:00) Kilmarnock v Ross County (15:00) Motherwell v St Johnstone (15:00) Saturday 3 May Dundee v Motherwell (15:00) Ross County v Hearts (15:00) St Johnstone v Kilmarnock (15:00) Saturday 10 May Hearts v Motherwell (15:00) Kilmarnock v Dundee (15:00) St Johnstone v Ross County (15:00) Wednesday 14 May Dundee v Ross County (19:45) Hearts v St Johnstone (19:45) Motherwell v Kilmarnock (19:45) Sunday 18 May (All 15:00) Kilmarnock v Hearts Ross County v Motherwell St Johnstone v Dundee

April 15, 2025

Scottish Football: A Broken System That Needs Fixing

Scottish football is in crisis. The league structure is outdated, TV deals are laughable, and youth development is stagnant. Fans are desperate for change, but the decision-makers continue to bury their heads in the sand. Joe Quinn, a former SPFL scout, has had enough. His proposal isn’t just a tweak to the system—it’s a complete overhaul. The question is, will Scottish football finally listen, or will self-interest and inaction win again? The Root of the Problem: A Game Run by Self-Preservation Scottish football is a closed shop. Quinn argues that change doesn’t happen because too many people in power benefit from keeping things exactly as they are. Whenever real reform is proposed, clubs and officials close ranks, protecting their own positions rather than the health of the game. Fans already know the issues: the league is predictable and stale, smaller clubs get a raw deal, Scottish talent is leaving in droves, and the women’s game is consistently underfunded and ignored. Quinn’s proposal isn’t just another discussion paper—it’s a radical blueprint to drag Scottish football into the modern era. But will those in charge finally step aside for progress? The 14-14-14 League Model: Genuine Reform or a New Coat of Paint? One of Quinn’s most controversial ideas is a 14-14-14 league structure designed to increase competition, fairness, and financial stability. The potential benefits are clear: fewer repetitive fixtures, proper promotion and relegation battles, and more clubs at the top level. On paper, it makes sense. But history tells us good ideas don’t always make it past the SPFL boardroom. Mid-table clubs happy with the status quo will fight this to the bitter end. The SPFL has a habit of discussing reform, only to back down when it matters most. Will this time be different? Ditching Gambling Sponsors: Ethical Stand or Financial Suicide? Scottish football is swimming in gambling sponsorships. Betting logos are plastered across shirts, advertising boards, and broadcasts. Quinn’s plan calls for an outright ban, following the example set by the English Premier League. The moral argument? Clear-cut. Gambling addiction destroys lives, and football shouldn’t be complicit in feeding the problem. The financial reality? A nightmare. Clubs, particularly those outside the Premiership, rely on gambling sponsorships to stay afloat. If the SPFL cuts ties with the industry, where does the replacement funding come from? Quinn believes it’s the right move in the long term, but without a clear financial alternative, this could cripple smaller clubs. The League Cup: Time to Stop the Snoozefest Quinn is clear on this: the League Cup group stage is a glorified pre-season exercise. Fans aren’t engaged, clubs don’t take it seriously, and the format is uninspiring. His solution? Scrap the groups, return to a straight knockout competition, and inject real jeopardy and excitement back into the tournament. It’s a simple, logical fix. Whether the SPFL will embrace it is another matter entirely. Youth Development & Women’s Football: Time for Real Investment Scottish football prides itself on producing top talent. But in reality, Quinn believes the system is failing young players. The best prospects leave Scotland at the first opportunity, the women’s game grows despite, not because of, governing body support, and clubs treat youth and women’s football as an afterthought rather than a priority. His proposal calls for real, sustained investment—not just PR soundbites and token gestures. If Scottish football wants a strong future, it has to stop relying on the accidental emergence of “golden generations.” TV Deals: Why Does Scotland Keep Selling Itself Short? Scottish football’s TV contracts are, frankly, embarrassing. Sky Sports cherry-picks matches and does the bare minimum to promote them, clubs earn a fraction of what smaller European leagues generate from broadcasting deals, and fans are either overcharged or locked out entirely. Quinn demands a more aggressive approach to negotiating TV rights. Germany and other European nations offer free-to-air matches. Why is Scotland still accepting scraps? According to Quinn, the SPFL’s usual excuse is “It’s the best deal we can get.” He disagrees. In his view, Scottish football’s leaders don’t fight hard enough for a better deal. Will Anything Actually Change? Scottish football has heard big ideas before. We’ve seen bold proposals, promising plans, and endless discussions. And yet, nothing changes. This time, though, the pressure is mounting. Fans are growing restless. The game is losing relevance. If the SPFL and SFA continue to ignore these problems, they risk losing an entire generation of supporters. So, will Quinn’s plan finally force real action? Or will it be another great idea destined to gather dust? Have Your Say Is Scottish football stuck in the past? Would you support these changes? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on social media using #SNNSports

April 2, 2025

Buddies put five past Killie to keep top six hopes alive

St Mirren have ended a four-year winless run against Kilmarnock as they defeated them at home today. It is only Derek McInnes’ 2nd ever defeat to the saints as a manager and his first as the Killie boss. It gives St. Mirren a real boost going into the two final games before the split. For Kilmarnock it sees them teetering over the playoff places at the bottom of the table. Despite the rainy, windy and blustery conditions before kickoff the start of the game greatly contrasted with it, as it was a scintillating opening ten minutes. The Saints press and overlapping runs, put the Killie backline under pressure immediately. It didn’t take long for the opening goal as the saints first shot on goal put them ahead. A low driving shot from Boyd-Munce sizzled past McCrorie. Only moments later the home side put themselves further in front when Ayunga clashed with Mayo in the box leading referee Nick Walsh to point the spot. Idowu adopted a slow run up with a stutter before hitting the ball and he slid it into the back of the net to give the home side a two-goal advantage after only 10 minutes. Despite Killie having most of the possession they failed to capitalise on it. The second half kicked off to improved weather and from the whistle it would appear a better Killie team. However, this was short lived as in the 58th minute the home side went three ahead. A counterattack led to a corner which wasn’t dealt with by the Kille backline. The ball fell to the feet of Boyd-Munce who fired a powerful side foot shot past the keeper. The Saints then began to show their flare upon the hour mark as they began to control the possession of the game and play some good technical football. In the 65th minute the ball fell to Captain Mark O’Hara on the edge of the box. He brought the ball on to his right side and sent a fourth ball into the net of Killie. Only four minutes later the Hawaii Five-o tune blared across the stadium as Declan John received the ball on the left-hand side of the box and fired home the goal of the game with a venomous shot past McCrorie. In the 85th minute Killie were awarded a penalty after Joe Wright was brought down in the box. Anderson fired stopper Hemming but in reality, it was a conciliation goal from an afternoon to forget. After the game Assistant Manager Brian Kerr said; “I think the performance was excellent. I think it’s been coming to be honest. We’ve had real good performances over the last 7/8 weeks without the result to back that up”. A disappointed Derek McInnes said; “St Mirren were hands down smarter than us, more street wise than us and more clinical than us. They thoroughly deserved the three points today”. Killie now return home next Saturday to face off against Motherwell whereas St. Mirren travel up to face Dundee.

March 29, 2025

Rangers salvage win against Killie to kickstart Ferguson era

The Barry Ferguson era began with a bang as Rangers clawed back a two goal deficit to come away 4-2 winners against Kilmarnock. In the ascendancy, Kilmarnock put themselves ahead as Joe Wright escaped his marker to head in Fraser Murray’s pinpoint corner with just over ten minutes played. Despite a backroom overhaul, it looked as though Rangers were on the verge of a rinse and repeat rather than any clean break as Brad Lyons doubled the hosts’ lead as nicking the ball and firing it home from outside the box. Facing another humiliating defeat, Rangers rallied to claw back a goal. Mohamed Diomande summoned an excellent through ball whilst playing the advantage to put Václav Černy through, the winger producing a deft finish for his 15th of the season. In a night to be enjoyed by set-piece enthusiasts, James Tavernier landed his corner on a dime to find Cyriel Dessers for the side’s equaliser. Victory would sealed by the Nigerian international with a sublime finish, bettered only by the long range pass from Ridvan Yilmaz that found him before Nedim Bajrami capped off the night’s turnaround with Rangers’ fourth. Despite the lopsided opening scoreline, Rangers were almost in front as Kieran O’Hara denied a strong volley from Hamza Igamane. Although they were somewhat fortunate to not be three down as Marley Watkins bore down on Jack Butland’s goal following a misread of the bounce from Clinton Nsiala, the Welshman taking aim between the sticks but the English keeper equal to it. Dessers was denied his first of the evening by a terrific goal-line block by Wright after an excellent ball through the eye of the needle from Igamane across the face of goal. Title gone but Ferguson instills professional pride Two goals is one thing but thirteen points is another as even the greatest fantasists would struggle to conjure a story that would see Rangers snatch the title this year. It’s fair to say that without a Europa League run, the club risks ended their pre-49ers era with an embarrassing whimper. And whilst it the criticism of interim manager Barry Ferguson’s appointment is fair indictment on the haphazard running of the club, the performance tonight indicated that the players still held some professional pride after going down to a side now sat in 10th. This may not be a vintage Rangers year, but there appears to be a glimmer of hope that the man with 288 appearances for the club can at least stop this season ending on a sour note. Mystifying Killie leaving revival too late It would take Kilmarnock seven games to earn their first league win. Nineteen to earn their fifth. By the time the side had woken from their daze, all hope of matching last season’s fourth place finish looked as good as gone. This is side that can lose 6-0 to Rangers in December, but hold a 2-0 lead over them in February. That can do the double over Hearts and then go six without a win. For reasons that fans would love to be able to put their fingers on the season that began with a thrilling if heartbreaking European journey looks set to end with a relegation dogfight. More worrying perhaps is whether Derek McInnes will have the energy, or even the desire to rejuvenate this side desperately in need of new faces. Line-ups: Kilmarnock: O’Hara, Ndaba, Deas (Watson 81), Mayo, Wright, Murray, Magennis (Polworth 70), Lyons (c), Armstrong (Donnelly 61), Wales, Watkins (Cameron 81) Unused subs: Anderson, Kennedy, McCrorie, Ramsay, Wilson-Brown Booked: Magennis, Watson Goals: Wright (11), Lyons (14) Rangers: Butland, Jefté, Nsiala (Yilmaz 31), Pröpper, Tavernier (c), Raskin, Diomande, Hagi (Lawrence 78), Igamane (Bajrami 78), Černy (McCausland 87), Dessers Unused subs: Curtis, Kelly, Danilo, Rafael Fernandes Booked: Hagi, Dessers, Pröpper, Lawrence Goals: Černy (35), Dessers (53, 62), Bajrami (85) Referee: Don Robertson Attendance: 8,751

February 27, 2025

SPFL Weekly: Five Talking Points

Rangers gave Philippe Clement his marching orders, Hibernian defeated a lethargic Celtic, there was no new manager bounce for Motherwell, and the cool-as-ice Kabangu kept Hearts ticking. Meanwhile, Ross County continued their push for the top six, and Aberdeen stave off capitulation with back-to-back wins. Here’s our round-up of the big talking points from Matchday 27 in the 2024/25 SPFL season. Clement sacked – Who’s next? Rangers 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren was the straw that broke the camel’s back. A dismal showing at Ibrox sealed Philippe Clement’s fate in a week filled with speculation about a potential US-led takeover by San Francisco 49ers’ investors. His dismissal came just hours after our report last night, which anticipated the club’s official announcement. After the match, Clement apologised to the fans, telling BBC Sport: “I can only say sorry and apologise [to the Rangers fans] from me and the team. This is not what Rangers teams need to show on the pitch. We all know this was by far below the standards we all expect.” However, for Rangers supporters, it was too little, too late. Some even set up a JustGiving page to fund his rumoured £1.2 million compensation fee. During his 16-month tenure, Clement showed rare glimpses of promise, particularly in Europe, where Rangers secured automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16. Yet, he struggled to translate those performances into domestic success, leaving the club 13 points adrift of league leaders Celtic. Attention now turns to his long-term successor, with former Everton boss Sean Dyche, ex-Rangers title-winning manager Steven Gerrard, club legend Barry Ferguson, and former Light Blues midfielder Gennaro Gattuso all linked. Ferguson has been announced by the club to manage until the end of the season. VAR controversy mars heroic Hibs performance The heat on VAR grows with Brendan Rodgers’ latest comments following Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian. An equaliser for Celtic was ruled out in the second half after the VAR overruled the on-field officials. Their decision was that Alistair Johnston crossed the ball after it was out of play, with the linesman originally calling it in. Regarding the controversy, Rodgers told BBC Sport: “I was very disappointed we didn’t get that, especially when the linesman didn’t think it was out. He probably has the best view. “I don’t know how you can tell the ball is definitely out from an image from the 18-yard line. We need to see evidence the ball was out. If you don’t have that, you’re having a guess.” However, the debate surrounding the decision has unfairly overshadowed Hibernian’s outstanding and fully deserved performance. They fought with grit and determination to withstand Celtic’s attacks while capitalising on a fatigued Hoops defence in transition. A defining moment came when Rocky Bushiri heroically cleared the ball off the goal line following a surging run from Jota, sparking a deafening roar from the home crowd. By the final whistle, as Sunshine on Leith echoed around Easter Road, there could be no denying that Hibs had earned their moment of celebration. No new manager bounce for the ‘Well One could forgive the neutral fan who gave little thought to this fixture last weekend. However, there has been renewed interest following the appointment of Michael Wimmer as Motherwell’s manager. The German spoke about bringing “intensity, energy, and passion” to proceedings. Still, there was little evidence of this in the first half of a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United. Both sides came into the game in poor form, but the Tangerines struck first and stopped the Lanarkshire side from having a new manager bounce. The visitors did react positively in the second half but lacked the clinical edge to get back into the match. On the second-half performance, Wimmer told BBC Sport: “We can work with the second half. It was really good. It was aggressive, we had opportunities, and we played forward. That’s what we want to see.” The Steelmen are now on their joint longest losing streak in ten years and worryingly looking over their shoulders at the teams behind them in the table. Kabangu injection saves Hearts Nine years ago, the Perth club witnessed a bejewelled Elton John in a stellar concert at McDiarmid Park, singing hits such as Crocodile Rock and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. This weekend, they saw another Elton dazzle before their eyes. Elton Kabangu, the January recruit from Hearts. The Belgian scored twice in a 2-1 away victory to see Hearts look towards the top six and European places. Putting aside last week’s disappointing home result to Rangers, where he failed to take his chances, he was a thorn in the Saints’ side throughout and put away two clinical finishes to take his toll up to six goals from seven games. Hearts boss Neil Crichtley told BBC Sport about his performance: “I’m delighted for Elton Kabangu to get two goals after his disappointment last week. He’s such a great personality to have at the training ground every day. I thought he was fantastic again.” The Saints are running out of games to turn things around, languishing six points adrift at the bottom of the table. Their manager, Simo Valakari, joined the club in October to do just that. With each passing game, that is looking increasingly less likely, and preparations for the Championship may lie ahead. Battle for top six Ross County is on an excellent run of form, with five wins from their last 9. Their only two defeats from that run came against the two Glasgow giants. They came from behind this weekend to beat Dundee 3-1. On the performance, Cowie told BBC Sport: “I was most pleased with how we responded to going behind, we were not spooked by it and deservedly got back in the game at 1-1. “We came out the traps flying after half-time and scored two goals. A fantastic win, and it keeps the momentum going.” The man from Inverness has given the Dingwall fans hope, as the club is only two points off the

February 24, 2025

Drama, Decisions & Deciders: Scottish Football Managers in the Spotlight!

With a crucial Champions League showdown looming, Brendan Rodgers has issued a rallying cry to his Celtic squad—go bold or go home! The Hoops boss is urging his side to seize the moment in Germany, where they must overturn a 2-1 deficit against Bayern Munich to keep their European dream alive. Meanwhile, Bayern’s own Vincent Kompany is playing it cool, suggesting that his side’s 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen was the perfect defensive test ahead of Celtic’s visit. But could Jota shake things up? The Portuguese winger has surely staked his claim for a starting spot after a dazzling performance in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Dundee United. Speaking of Dundee United, Jim Goodwin insists that Will Ferry and Kevin Holt were merely rested against Celtic and should be back in action next week. Nothing to see here, folks—just a precaution! Over at Rangers, Philippe Clement is facing the heat. His side’s shock Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park has left fans fuming, and his decision to hook Bailey Rice at half-time didn’t go unnoticed. The 18-year-old was dropped for failing to “break the lines” with his passing, but Clement insists he still believes in the youngster. With pressure mounting, Clement is standing firm, refusing to walk away from what he calls the “toughest period” of his career. Elsewhere in Scottish football, Hibs’ new shot-stopper Jordan Smith has been left “blown away” by the standard of the game, while Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has showered praise on the travelling Dons support after their gritty win at Dundee. And let’s not forget the SWPL drama—Glasgow City’s Leanne Ross has been grilling refereeing chief Willie Collum over some questionable decisions. With all these talking points, Scottish football is delivering non-stop drama on and off the pitch!

February 16, 2025

Kilmarnock Climb into Top Six with Convincing Win Over St Johnstone

Kilmarnock moved into the top six of the Scottish Premiership with a commanding 3-1 victory over bottom side St Johnstone at Rugby Park. Early Lead Sets the Tone Liam Polworth gave the hosts an early advantage, capitalising on a mistake by Elliot Watt before displaying great composure to chip the ball over Andy Fisher in the St Johnstone goal. Killie Seal the Win in Three-Minute Blitz Kilmarnock put the game beyond doubt with two goals in three second-half minutes. Fraser Murray doubled their lead with a sensational free-kick from 25 yards, curling the ball past Fisher into the bottom corner. Moments later, Bobby Wales showcased his finishing ability by controlling a pass from Lewis Mayo and slotting home a composed low finish, making it 3-0. St Johnstone’s Revival Stalls Despite coming into the match on a four-game winning streak, St Johnstone struggled to impose themselves. Their best first-half chance came in the 36th minute when Stephen Duke-McKenna’s cross-field pass found Sam Curtis, but his shot was comfortably saved by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Kieron O’Hara. Marley Watkins also came close for Killie, hitting the crossbar just before half-time. Saints boss Simo Valakari made tactical changes at the break, introducing Taylor Steven and Zach Mitchell in an attempt to turn the game around. However, Kilmarnock remained in control, with Brad Lyons forcing another fine save from Fisher early in the second half. Late Consolation for Saints St Johnstone finally found the net in added time when Graham Carey converted from close range, but it was little more than a consolation as Killie comfortably saw out the match to claim their second consecutive home victory. What the Managers Said Kilmarnock Manager Derek McInnes: “The league is unpredictable, with teams around us struggling to put wins together. It’s crucial to find consistency, and we’re determined to be a top-six team this season.” St Johnstone Manager Simo Valakari: “It was a tough result. Kilmarnock pressed well, and we struggled to play through it at key moments. We’ve defended well recently, but conceding an early goal changed the game’s dynamic. Credit to our opponent – they deserved the win.” Kilmarnock’s victory keeps their European hopes alive, while St Johnstone remain six points adrift at the bottom, facing an uphill battle to climb out of the relegation zone.

February 16, 2025

Dundee United Demands VAR Overhaul, Pulls Out of Key Incident Review

Dundee United has recently taken a strong stance on VAR practices, arguing that the system’s application is marred by inconsistent rule interpretations. In a significant move, the club announced its decision to withdraw from the Scottish FA’s Key Match Incident (KMI) panel, expressing deep concerns about the panel’s intended purpose and overall impact. Background on the Review Panel The Scottish FA launched the KMI panel in September of last year as a five-member group comprised of club representatives, ex-referees, former players, and coaches. The panel is tasked with examining critical incidents from the previous week’s SPFL Premiership games and other competitions where VAR is in use. Its role is to assess and vote on whether both the on-field decisions and any VAR interventions were correct. A Catalyst for Change Dundee United’s decision comes on the heels of a controversial 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock. In that match, Marley Watkins’ goal – which clinched the win for Kilmarnock – was allowed to stand after a VAR check, despite significant questions regarding its legitimacy. This incident appears to have been the tipping point for United. In an official statement, the club explained: “Dundee United FC has formally notified the Scottish FA that we are withdrawing our representation from the KMI panel. This decision is the result of extensive discussions throughout the season with the Refereeing Department. We have raised serious concerns about the panel’s purpose, effectiveness, and overall impact on the game. We feel that the panel’s outcomes are not aligned with the feedback provided to the Scottish FA.” The statement went on to criticise instances where on-field decisions, once validated by both VAR and the Refereeing Department, were later contradicted by the panel. According to Dundee United, many of the panel members lack sufficient expertise in the laws of the game, which has contributed to what the club sees as a flawed review process. Media and External Pressures The club also highlighted how some of the panel’s decisions have been magnified by media reports, adding undue pressure on match officials. This, they argue, could have repercussions for future refereeing decisions and undermine the confidence in the system. Broader Implications for VAR Beyond the immediate concerns with the KMI panel, Dundee United has called for a comprehensive review of VAR practices in Scottish football. The club noted that inconsistent interpretations of the laws of the game by VAR have frustrated several Premiership clubs. In their view, while errors are an unavoidable part of football, the heightened scrutiny brought about by VAR has made refereeing decisions a highly public issue. “We are committed to ensuring that our club is treated fairly at all times. At the same time, we want to contribute to a broader improvement in Scottish football. We are reaching out to both the Scottish FA and the SPFL to advocate for a more robust VAR protocol and review process. This is essential for protecting our match officials and preserving the integrity of the game.” Additional Reactions In a related development, St Mirren recently voiced its displeasure following a VAR decision that denied them a penalty in a match against St Johnstone. The club’s statement underlined their ongoing concerns with recent officiating errors, calling on the Scottish FA to address these issues promptly. Participation in the KMI panel is voluntary for clubs, with an external expert advising the panel on the laws of the game. Despite these measures, Dundee United’s recent actions underline the growing discontent within Scottish football regarding the current VAR framework. The Scottish FA is reportedly exploring further enhancements to the VAR system, as it has been actively evolving the protocol since its introduction in October 2022. Sky Sports News has reached out to the Scottish FA for further comment on the matter.

February 6, 2025

Your club’s January window rated

Aberdeen In: Alfie Dorrington (Tottenham Hotspur, loan), Oday Dabbagh (Charleroi, loan), Alexander Jensen (Brommapojkarna, undisclosed), Mats Knoester (Ferencvaros, undisclosed), Jeppe Okkels (Prestond North End, loan), Kristers Tobers (Grasshopper Zurich, undisclosed) Out: Alfie Bavidge (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, loan), Duk (Luganes, undisclosed), Angus MacDonald (free), James McGarry (Athens Kallithea, loan), Alfie Stewart (Inverness Calidonian Thistle, loan), Rodrigo Vitols (Keith, loan) Jimmy Thelin has taken an unorthodox approach to fixing his side’s back line, by getting an entirely new one. The arrival of defenders Tobers, Jensen, Knoester and Dorrington show where the manager thinks the epicentre of side’s seismic collapse originates. Papa Gueye’s return from injury is a welcome boost but adding a couple of supporting forwards in Dabbagh and Okkels, a player Thelin knows from his time at Elfsborg, will help add some verve to a stale attack. Moves made all the more important by the biggest loss of their windown with Duk leaving for La Liga side Leganes. Overall, a proactive approach to solving the side’s woes despite the loss of Duk. Fans will have to hope the current players’ fragile confidence is not contagious. B- Celtic In: Jota (Rennes, undisclosed), Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace, loan) Out: Alexandro Bernabei (Internacional, undisclosed), Kyogo Furuhashi (Rennes, undisclosed), Aiden Haddow (Heart of Midlothian), Odin Holm (Los Angeles, loan), Luis Palma (Olympiakos, loan), Alex Valle (Barcelona, loan ended), Stephen Welsh (Mechelen, loan) Peter Lawwell might just be the happiest man in Scottish football, the Celtic CEO has managed to recoup Jota and Kieran Tierney (pre-contract for summer signed) for less than a fifth of what they sold them for. Less pleased perhaps will be the fans themselves who have seen their beloved Kyogo depart for France and a limited window spend given the club’s burgeoning purse. However, on top of the savings and scoring on his return, Jota being five years younger than the Japanese forward is a good bit of future planning. We know how ambitious he is to move the club forward, so Rodgers will be frustrated to that they were pipped to another former player of his in Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined Middlesborough on loan instead. More worrying perhaps is that the departures of Palma and Valle will harm the squad’s depth but Jeffrey Shlupp’s ability to play in almost every position should negate that to some extent. Here’s to hoping that in going out on loan, Welsh and Holm do not join another lost generation of youngsters at the club. B+ Dundee In: Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Cesar Garza (Monterrey, loan), Victor Lopez (Queretaro, loan), Imari Samuels (Brighton & Hove Albion) Out: Sammy Braybrooke (Leicester City, loan ended) Sean Kelly, Curtis Main (Ayr United, free), Marley Sweenie-Rowe (Forfar Athletic, loan), Julian Vetro (Burnley, loan ended) An odd windown for the Dee’s. On the one hand the permanently returning Donnelly and loanee Garza have looked like class additions since arriving with Samuels and Lopez still bedding in. On the other, it fails to stem one of the major issues this side faced in the winter, squad depth. When the side beat Rangers, Tony Docherty made the point that the side had won despite being down to bare bones during the winter. However, letting five players leave the club seems like an odd way of dealing with the issue. Braybrooke and Vetro no doubt left because of a lack of game time but Docherty is left with having to see this squad through the next few months which seems just as likely to make the top six as it does to get relegated. D Dundee United In: Allan Campbell (Luton, undisclosed), Lewis Fiorini (Stockport County, loan), Ruari Paton (Port Vale, loan) Out: Zak Cameron (Cowdenbeath, loan), Adam Carnwath (Alloa Athletic, loan), Scott Constable (Stirling Albion, loan), Charlie Dewar (Alloa Athletic, loan), Alan Domeracki (Norwich City, undisclosed), Lewis Haldane (East Craigie, loan), Ollie Simpson (Jeanfield Swifts, loan), Owen Stirton (Montrose, loan), Miller Thomson (Falkirk, loan), Meshack Ubochioma (Livingston, loan) Evolution not revolution seems to have been the motto in the United front office. If you had told those involved at the club that they could finish in top half in their first season since promotion they would have bitten your hand off. Now they face the very possibility of going for the entire arm as third looks a very real possibility and have made some neat additions to give themselves the best chance of doing so. One time Scotland international Campbell brings quality in midfield as Fiorini arrives looking to come good on the potential that saw him graduate from Manchester City’s academy. Paton took the hard route to Dundee. Having been released by Hibs, the striker has worked his way up from the Lowland League to the Prem playing in every division in between before struggling in League 2 with Port Vale. Jim Goodwin will hope he can ease the goalscoring burden carried by Sam Dalby, who has netted over a third of his side’s total. Plenty of outgoings as United’s fledglings look to find their wings on loan across Scotland. Most notably Miller Thomson, the youngster will hope to build on his early season promise with title chasing Falkirk. C- Hearts of Midlothian In: Aiden Haddow (Celtic), Elton Kabangu (Union Saint-Gilloise, loan),Sander Kartum (Brann), Jamie McCart (Rotherdam United, undisclosed), Harry Milne (Partick Thistle, undisclosed), Michael Steinwender (Varnamo, undisclosed) Out: Malachi Boateng (Plymouth Argyle, undisclosed), Liam Boyce (Derry City, undisclosed), Daniel Oyegoke (Hellas Verona, undisclosed), Kyle Rowles (DC United, undisclosed), Andres Salazar (Atletico Nacional, loan ended), Callum Sandilands (Montrose, loan), Kai Smutek (Bonnyrigg Rose, loan), Macauley Tait (Livingston, loan) The outcome of Hearts’s business in this window and the next could have serious ramifications for Scottish football. It remains early days of the partnership with Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s company Jamestown Analytics but with loanee Kabangu from partner club USG already scoring five goals in four games, it would appear as though the two could be on the cusp of making signings from abroad a fine art. Of course it remains

February 4, 2025

Kilmarnock earn controversial victory over Dundee United

Dundee United’s mini-slump continue as they were 1-0 losers to Kilmarnock, their fourth defeat in five league games. It took it’s time coming but eventually Derek McInnes’ men found a way, Marley Watkins leaping higher than Jack Walton to head in the opener. However there were complaints from United that in doing so Watkins had committed a foul but the goal stood following a VAR check. United will no doubt come to regret not seizing the opportunities they did have in front of goal, Kevin Holt’s accidental touch in the box came close but failed to hit the target. Responding to the pressure in equal measure Joe Wright saw his effort well saved by Walton in the first half. Fraser Murray was far less accurate with his header from Danny Armstrong’s cross, sending the effort well over the bar. Wasting arguably their biggest chance of the night was Liverpool loanee Luca Stephenson when presented with a three on two saw his pass far too easily cut out. Following the goal in the 72nd minute, Kilmarnock were able to hold on for the win and climb to ninth in the table. They will face St Johnstone at home next Saturday. Dundee United meanwhile cling on to third but face a difficult test away to Celtic at the weekend. Line-ups: Kilmarnock: O’Hara, Ndaba, Mayo, Wright, Murray, Magennis (Deas 55), Lyons (c) (Polworth 32), Watson (Donnelly 90), Armstrong (Anderson 71, Watkins (Ramsay 90), Wales Unused subs: Glavin, Mackay-Steven, McKenzie, Brown Booked: Armstrong Goals: Watkins (78) Dundee United: Walton, Holt, Gallagher (c), Adegboyega (Middleton 82), Ferry, Campbell (Trapanovski 82), Sevelj, Strain, Stephenson (Fiorini 70), Paton (Moult 70), Dalby Unused subs: Babunski, Docherty, Graham, Richards, van der Sande Booked: Adegboyega, Ferry Referee: David Dickinson Attendance: 5,661

February 2, 2025

Kilmarnock

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