AS THE SUPPORTERS SEE IT
DUMBARTON
SATURDAY’S loss to Queen of the South means we have now lost five in a row heading into Saturday’s dead rubber with Raith. It would be a harsh way to end a successful season by losing six in a row.
A bright spark from Saturday was young Donald Mccallum taking his chance in a Dumbarton jersey once more. The youngster has been scoring frequently for the U20s but chances have been limited for him in the first team. He has only had 26 minutes of Championship football and has scored two goals. Decent going. The lack of game time for the young Sons has been criticised all season, and more so in recent weeks. With safety assured and poor performances by first-team players, Mccallum and co should feature more. Saturday would be another perfect occasion for him to show what he can do, and really push himself to feature in the first team more next season.
HEARTS
THAT’S why we are Champions. On Saturday, Hearts played their penultimate league game away to Cowdenbeath and, as so often, found a way to win on a difficult surface against resolute opponents.
I was privileged to listen recently to Craig Levein outlining that the team has four main attacking strategies forming a cornerstone of coaching at all levels. On Saturday, we started with experimental positional changes and a more direct approach which almost paid dividends in eight seconds. It was ultimately a return to a faster tempo, shortpassing game which earned the winning penalty. It was fitting for the departing Brad Mckay to score, and that every regular outfield player has now scored. Saturday will be a wonderful day, picking up the league trophy after a game against a revitalised Rangers still striving for second place.
Roddy Elliott
LIVINGSTON
THIS Livingston team are on the brink of a miraculous escape that just a couple of weeks ago seemed virtually impossible.
The performance on Saturday at Stark’s Park was professional from the very first whistle and we went about our business as if our lives depended on it. To win 4-0 was unexpected, but wasn’t the first time we’d won handsomely against the Rovers this season.
Having moved off the bottom of the table with one match remaining at the expense of Alloa, I just hope we don’t find ourselves back there come 2pm this Saturday. Queen of the South are the visitors this weekend and are a side very well organised under James Fowler. However, a win over the Doonhamers and Cowdenbeath’s failure to beat Alloa would complete our Great Escape! Come on you Livi!
The Livi Lion
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
SO IT’S official, Queen of the South will be competing in the Premiership play-offs again after consecutive fourth-place finishes. With a game to play, we have 60 points. Our previous best at this level was 56, so a fantastic achievement bearing in mind the quality of opposition.
Huge credit must go to the players who have maintained an exceptional level of consistency throughout the season, and to James Fowler and his staff who have set the bar incredibly high in their first season in charge. It is unlikely that our scant resources will be able to cope with six gruelling games over a three-week period, but we will approach each game with nothing to fear. With the first legs at Palmerston, we will have to ensure we have something to hold on to going into the second legs. Given our home form and strength in defence, it’s not impossible.
Neil Cameron
RAITH ROVERS
EVEN though it was preceded by a shambling Raith Rovers performance that looked more like a Keystone Cops episode, there was still a fair amount of shock at manager Grant Murray’s dismissal on Tuesday evening. Sadness too, as Murray had been a fine servant to the club as a player, and had presided over some famous days as manager, most notably the Ramsdens Cup triumph over Rangers, as well as wins over Hibernian, and Rangers again in the Scottish Cup.
League form has been stagnant, however, and the Board appear to realise that there is something of a disconnect between the club and fans who, rightly or wrongly, view Raith as lacking ambition. Time will tell if it is the right move, but with the Championship looking like it will be more even, and therefore more competitive next season, the correct appointment will be vital.
Shaughan Mcguigan
COWDENBEATH
RANGERS
THE joke that is Lee Mcculloch’s captaincy has gone on too long. It’s not funny anymore. Not to Rangers fans anyway, although I’m sure everyone else is having a good chuckle. Mcculloch got what he has long deserved on Saturday. He is an imposter. A past-it striker who plays every week, without fail, at centrehalf. Not only can he not defend, he can’t lead as a captain either.
After another three points were lost because of his incompetence, the fans finally turned on him. Rather than tell us how “sickened” he is, Stuart Mccall needs to listen to the fans on this one. He needs to be dropped if we are to get promoted. He will cost us in the play-offs. The only people happy to see him play will be Queen of the South and Hibs fans. We will almost certainly finish third now because of him. If he plays against Hearts, the booing should continue relentlessly.
RG