Domestic football really can’t be beaten

Scotland have dominated the football column inches for the past week, and quite rightly so.

Steve Clarke's men stand on the brink of making the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Considering we were third seeds in our group and had to contend with the threat of Austria and Israel, this is an excellent performance by our men's national team. Scotland are back in action next month, with a trip to Moldova followed by a visit from Denmark. One win from those two matches and we can start to look forward to the play-offs in March.

For now, though, the spotlight returns to domestic football.

The cinch Premiership is shaping up very nicely, and tomorrow's card throws up loads of intriguing matches. None of this weekend's games is on the television - a rarity - and they are all played on Saturday.

Hearts are the only undefeated team in the division, but that record will be put to the sternest test when they travel to Ibrox to take on defending champions Rangers. It's a clash between the league's top two and Hearts manager Robbie Neilson deserves a lot of credit for the way the Tynecastle outfit have acclimated so quickly to life back in the top flight. Hibs will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Dundee United to Easter Road. Their unbeaten run was ended by Rangers last time out. I like the look of this Hibs team, but this will be a test of their credentials, in terms of how they recover from that first loss.

Celtic cannot afford any more slip-ups, so their trip to Motherwell carries significance. Graham Alexander's men have also started the season well and will be uncomfortable opponents for Ange Postecoglou and Co. Celtic cannot afford to drop further behind Rangers. Bottom-club Dundee and Aberdeen are toiling and they meet at 6pm, to cater for a North American market. Dundee look better than their results suggest, while the Dons have hit a rough patch under Stephen Glass. Defeat at Dens would be damaging. International football is great, especially with Scotland doing so well, but it's great to have the bread and butter back.