Christmas lights, credit cards melting and pitch inspections – it must be winter! Postponements have certainly bitten as last weekend was full of them though with a thaw over night there may be some that looked in doubt yesterday more likely today. In the first division the one inspection at 11am this morning is at Cappielow. Dumbarton v Livingston is already off. Last weekend we only had two fixtures that got the go ahead, and they were highly significant at the top of the table. Morton slipped up but got a draw at Raith whilst Dunfermline got beaten at Livingston. So without kicking a ball last weekend it was Thistle’s day!
Game of the Day
Partick Thistle v Raith Rovers
Thistle had no game so go into this tie desperate to add to their brilliant home form. Raith meanwhile were taking two points off Morton as they managed to get a draw that was almost a victory. A Brian Graham double and a Greig Spence 85th minute goal almost was enough but they got pegged back in the 88th!
Partick Thistle
Reported Out
Sean Welsh
Raith Rovers
Reported Out
Simon Mensing
Reported In
Grant Anderson, David McGurn
Thoughts…
After long lay offs predictions can be made and results will wildly vary as to whether people are accurate or not and Raith having played last weekend could be significant. Footballers do not like lay offs and the Thistle team will be raring to go. I expect they will add to their Fortress Firhill tag today.
Dunfermline Athletic v Hamilton Academical
Jim Jeffries’ side had a golden opportunity last weekend to take the top and didn’t not just manage it but Andy Barrowman’s strike came in the 94th minute so they were well beaten! It was also from the penalty spot! Billy Reid’s team meanwhile had a weekend off and their on/off tie at the Bet Butler Stadium in the cup with Dumbarton will not have settled any kind of mood at New Douglas Park.
Dunfermline Athletic
Reported Out
Callum Morris
Reported Doubtful
Paul Gallacher
Hamilton Academical
Reported Out
Stephen Hendrie, Jon McShane, Kieran Miller
Reported Doubtful
Ryan Finnie
Thoughts…
It’s a really good game to go and watch as both Jeffries and Reid are excellent coaches. I fully expect this to be a game for those of us who like our games to be served with determination sliced with a bit of culture. As to the result Billy Reid being named manager of the month by the SFL might strike with the regular curse and he loses… With so many games off that may be as good a yard stick on which to base any prediction.
Greenock Morton v Airdrie United
Whilst Jimmy Boyle’s team had a weekend off, Allan Moore’s lads were battling to a 3-3 draw at Kirkcaldy. Kevin Rutkiewitcz had put them in the lead, David O’Brian had got them back in front and then Martin Hardie had to bag them a draw in the 88th!
Greenock Morton
Reported Out
Craig Reid, Steven Stirling
Reported Doubtful
Mark McLaughlin, Archie Campbell
Reported In
Tony Wallace, Kyle Wilkie
Airdrie United
Reported Out
Jack Boyle, John Boyle, Cameron MacDonald
Reported In
Liam Buchanan, Sean Lynch
Thoughts…
Morton once again for me. They will want to bag the 3 points they will feel they lost last weekend and having a week out of competitive fixtures does not do your squad any favours when they re battling in the basement.
Falkirk v Cowdenbeath
Neither team had games over the last 7 days!
Falkirk
Reported In
Sean Higgins, David Weatherson
Cowdenbeath
Reported Out
Albert Puigdollers, Scott Linton, Liam Cusack, Greig Stewart
Reported In
Colin Cameron
Thoughts…
As I have already said, predicting games between teams that have been idle is very hard. Falkirk have managed two wins on the trot whilst the Blue Brazil have not had a competitive game in 3 weeks! This makes it all the more fascinating and harder to predict – which is why we love this game!
