Borefests rather than box office defines Sky start

WANT to make yourself a few quid tomorrow? Put a few pennies on under 2.5 goals in the match between St Johnstone and Aberdeen.

The game is live on telly so, let’s face it, what else going to happen?

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster sat in the Sky Sports studios on the day the fixture list was unveiled and waxed lyrical about a golden opportunity for the game to shine.

With no Premier League or English Championship to cram into the schedule, the Premiership had the chance to showcase its fabulous curves to a watching UK.

It’s not quite played out as we had all hoped. In terms of bang for their buck, Sky haven’t had a lot of luck.

With no supporters in the stands, it was always going to be slightly eerie and lacking in the passion that drives players.

But while not quite being the sporting equivalent of the test card, it can hardly have nailed Cyril from Milton Keynes to his sofa.

Celtic and Hamilton conjured up six goals on the opening weekend. That aside, you’re left to think the guy who picked the first batch for the box must have walked under a ladder on his way into the office.

Six other encounters have yielded a measly five goals – and a pitiful two from open play.

If that’s not unlucky enough, two of Sky’s scheduled games – including tomorrow’s rearranged screening – had to be scrapped after matches were postponed on account of Covid-19 protocols being broken.

For those who support the teams lining up and are already following the league, the contests have brought intrigue and interest.

But, unless you back

Livingston or Rangers, watching the women’s Scottish Open snail to a finish in a final round lasting more than five hours was probably more exhilarating Sunday viewing than the 90 minutes in West Lothian.

Even watching Lewis Hamilton go round in circles stands to have been more exciting.

It’s not all down to bad luck. If your first two big Sunday games are on artificial pitches, it’s unlikely to generate a thrilling spectacle.

Full marks to Kilmarnock and Livi for their organisation and battling qualities.

But the best players in the country struggle to perform on those surfaces and not one goal from open play in 180 minutes involving Celtic and Rangers says it all. If you are trying to show the competitiveness of the league, that’s fine.

But if you want to present it as an enthralling and glamorous product, they weren’t the right games to choose. Not without packed away stands to add some polish.

Tomorrow is one of five more matches to enjoy unchallenged air time before the international break, after which the Premier League rampages back on to centre stage.

We must all hope there’s a bit more juice to come out of them.

Lest we forget there’s a sponsor desperately needed for the league.

It’s rather important then that it isn’t a turn-off or else folk will turn over.

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Guy who picked first games for TV must’ve walked under a ladder