With the club selling Nikica Jelavic, Steven Naismith out for the season and Kyle Lafferty injured, Rangers have a lack of attacking options with only David Healy the out-and-out striker at the club.

Cousin’s agent Willie McKay said: “Daniel had talks with Ally and everything looks very positive. He has a few offers on the table because of his recent form with Gabon but he is keen on the idea of returning to Rangers. The last time I took him there they won the title, so who’s to say it won’t happen again?”

The Gabon striker’s time at Ibrox was checkered with sendings off for violent conduct, but manager Ally McCoist is reportedly keen on bringing him to the club to alleviate their lack of strikers.

After leaving Rangers to join Hull in a £3 million deal, he exclusively told the Evening Times that he would rather play for Hull City, than continue to play for Rangers even if they win the SPL and reach the last 16 of the Champions League. So it will be interesting to hear what the Rangers fans think of Cousin potentially returning to Ibrox.

He spent a season in the English Premier League before joining Greek outfit Larissa the following year. He left Greece in the summer and has spent the last few months in Gabon playing for FC Sapins in a bid to get fit for the African Cup of Nations.

During his time at Ibrox, Cousin played 44 times with 17 coming on as a substitute, scoring 13 goals.

© Vagelis Georgariou | Scotzine

As a loyal Rangers supporter this of course managed to attract my attention and I became particularly intrigued when I discovered who the guest of the show was: none other than Phil Mac Giolla Bhain.

Phil’s popularity certainly seems to be growing rapidly, as reflected by his success in The Tartan Blog Awards 2011, and his website is becoming extremely popular with those like-minded Celtic fans who share his curious obsession with all things Rangers.

Celtic are a club with a proud history, indeed it is the second best in the country, and yet all outward appearances suggest that the vast majority of Mr Mac Giolla Bhain’s time is spent studying, researching and reporting on Rangers Football Club.

Given Phil’s football allegiances and bitterness towards my own club, I really struggled, and am still struggling, to find justification as to his suitability for an appearance on the website given the topic in question.

In his latest article on Scotzine, he refers to Rangers as ‘an embarrassing bit of baggage’ and rants about the anti-Irish and anti-catholic prejudices that he feels exist within the blue legions. It seems that if you want to know anything about Rangers FC or taxation then the most suitable answer is likely to come from somebody in a green and white hooped top. As such, I will ignore Phil’s choice of team from this point forth and examine some of the comments made during part two of Episode 22 of The Final Whistle.

Phil Mac Giolla Bhain refers to the ‘end of denial’ for Rangers supporters and to their growing awareness and perhaps acceptance of the financial difficulties that face their club. I will admit to possibly being one of the many who simply believed that because we would be fine simply because we are Glasgow Rangers.

Such an outlook was of course very naive but the amount of propaganda in the media recently has certainly seen that the facts – or should I call them rumours? – were no longer ignored.

I will deal with things in a slightly different order from the recorded episode and firstly talk about Whyte and the various allegations surrounding his tenure as owner of Rangers FC.

Firstly there is a debate around whether or not the takeover was paid by Mr Whyte via one of his companies or if the Ticketus money was used as his source of funding. The Rangers chairman claims to have lodged £33M into a bank account as proof of funding while his purchase of Rangers was still being processed and frankly I find it difficult to believe that his acquisition of our club would have been allowed to proceed without such a confirmation, although that is much of an opinion as Phil’s belief that it was funded by the mortgaging of future season ticket sales.

I am certainly no financial expert when it comes to businesses of this size and I don’t believe Phil will claim to be either, but to me it seems impossible that Rangers would still be running if the vast majority of the Ticketus deal was swallowed up in the funding of Whyte’s takeover, especially given our Euro exits this season. I would suggest that it would be better to wait for the facts to emerge although it certainly hasn’t prevented the media in their various forms from speculating as to the condition of the Gers’ finances.

The BBC’s Mark Daly has certainly managed to cause quite a stir with his latest ‘revelations’ regarding Craig Whyte. I have never known any owner of a football club in Britain to face such intense scrutiny from the media, an almost targeted and considered campaign that has affected Rangers’ ability to trade in the same fashion that they will have done in years gone by.

Personally I lost count to the amount of times Andy and Phil used the terms ‘allegedly’, ‘apparently’ and the likes when discussing the perjury claims against Mr Whyte and I think that frankly epitomises the problem surrounding such stories.

The latest BBC ‘documentary’ is based on the same case as they highlighted in their initial report dealing with an issue that occurred almost 17 years ago. It was claimed during the course of Episode 22 that Mark Daly had seen evidence that Whyte had lied in court and one therefore must question why Whyte has never faced trial for his actions. My cynical mind leads me to think that such proof does not exist or that indeed there is no case to answer. It should also be noted that my opinions are just as factual and correct as those you read in The Daily Record and such newspapers, although that doesn’t necessarily count for much.

As a Rangers fan I am not overly worried about the business dealings of our chairman at a time when I was due to start primary school and I don’t think my fellow Bears should be too concerned with it either. I am convinced that if you dig deeply enough, and trust me the media have in this case, then you would find dodgy dealings and goings on in the past of any successful businessmen but of course, those businessmen do not own Rangers Football Club.

There lies the difference.

Finally let us consider the possibilities that may result from the ongoing HMRC tax case in relation to EBTs used by Rangers during the Murray era and may I remind you that it is only a possibility.

Despite the sense of inevitability that the media seem to have created surrounding the issue it still remains to be seen as to whether the liability of £49M will ever become payable for Rangers FC.

Let us assume for now that it does and that Rangers via whatever process necessary are required to form as ‘Rangers Newco’. Although Mr Muirhead referred to Livingston as an example of possible punishment, I think the difference in the cases are such that it is almost irrelevant for the purposes of discussing Rangers.

Mac Giolla Bhain clearly indicates that he feels it would be unfair and unjust for Rangers Newco to gain direct access to the SPL, especially as there is the possibility that no penalties will result. Taking lessons on morals and ethics from a supporter of Celtic Football Club however may just prove too much for my principles and pride to handle.

I do however tend to agree with him in that I think that the statutory ten point penalty for current SPL clubs is likely to result if such a scenario ever comes to fruition. Phil of course feels that Rangers should begin in the Third Division and earn their place in the SPL and while that may be the moral and ethical decision, I think it is unlikely to ever happen.

This is not because the corridors of the SFA are filled with ‘Rangers men’ or because Rangers are ‘The Establishment Club’ but simply because it would be suicide for Scottish Football.

Phil suggests in his latest article on Scotzine that the SPL would survive just fine without the famous Glasgow Rangers following an immediate period of Celtic domination. I am not so sure. The current TV deal would be immediately withdrawn and all clubs in Scotland would be forced to sell their prized assets in order to compensate for the drop in revenue. Furthermore I think you can see from the mass obsession in all things Rangers that the rivalry is a must for those at Parkhead. It is as if they exist simply to try to beat Rangers, whereas Rangers exist simply to win championships.

Perhaps that is an unfair assessment of the situation but the hysteria and songbook at present from Celtic fans would certainly suggest otherwise. Either way I cannot see the SPL doing anything other than granting immediate entry to Rangers Newco, IF indeed such situation ever arises.

I am sure that Phil Mac Giolla Bhain and The Rangers Tax Case blog will be whipping the Scottish media and supporters of Celtic Football Club into a frenzy about the alleged impending death of Scotland’s premier club.

I am also sure there will be many more rumours, allegations and false accusations to be fired in the direction of Ibrox in the weeks and months to come.

For obvious reasons I sincerely hope the predictions, and perhaps hopes, of Phil are wrong and that we are spared the shortage of jelly and ice-cream that we have been promised.

I do however worry for the health and sanity of those in green and white if Rangers win the case against HM Revenue and Customs. I would advise the authorities to close all bridges and the Samaritans to dramatically increase their numbers of staff.

Seriously though, I am sure all will become clear in due course but until then, as Mr Whyte suggests, that won’t stop the media letting the facts get in the way.

Attendances are still hovering around 5,000. On the transfer front, it was busier than usual with Nicky Law, Michael Higdon, Tim Clancy and Omar Daley coming in a bit later on.

Arguably our best player from last season John Sutton left and loan signings from the 2010/11 season – Steve Jones and Gavin Gunning returned to their parent clubs.

Stuart McCall guided the team to the Scottish Cup Final in 2011, but unfortunately the team did not turn up on the day and were beaten 3-0 by Celtic.

That was then, this is now and the Steelmen have been cooking up a storm in the SPL with their blistering away form and their rather colourful East Stand who have brought a bit of colour and atmosphere to Fir Park.

The squad is very similar to last season’s apart from the new signings and the departures that I mentioned above, but somehow Motherwell have blitzed the rest of the SPL and were even breaking the Old Firm for a month or so in the Autumn, but I think most ‘Well fans will agree that splitting the Old Firm is an unrealistic target for a team the size of Motherwell as their resources are nowhere near the standard of Celtic or Rangers.

The Starting Eleven

What can you say about Darren Randolph, whether you support Motherwell or not, you will be running out of superlatives to describe his performances in a Motherwell shirt, he has made one mistake in his Motherwell tenure, that being against Leeds in a friendly. He is a definite fan favourite with the ‘Well support and with 24 SPL games and nine clean sheets, who can blame them?

Tom Hateley has been a make-shift right back since Steven Saunders long-term injury but thankfully is very comfortable and since is a natural right midfielder he is very comfortable going forward and has pitched in with a few crucial goals, one of those being the last kick of the ball at St. Mirren, where he swung a free kick into the top corner to win the game 3-2. Tom will forever be judged on whether he is as good as his dad but with 24 SPL games, two goals and six assists, I’m quite happy with how he’s doing.

Shaun Hutchinson is a strong, reliable, old-fashioned, tough centre-half who is not afraid to put some hard tackles in and is my favourite ‘Well player. He has played 17 SPL games and has even contributed with a goal, but sometimes his potential going forward is not shown as he is often having to cover for the next ‘Well player in our list. Despite this I still believe he is as good as Rogne at Celtic.

Stephen Craigan boasts the record number of SPL own goals with eight. Not the type of record you want on your CV, but “Craggs” has been a great servant to the club and would do anything for his beloved ‘Well and showed his passion after last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final when he came over and celebrated with the ‘Well fans before full-time. Craigan is one of my favourite players, even if he does cost us goals. He is the club captain and helps young players develop and played for his country more than 50 times, playing 23 times in the SPL this year and even contributed with an assist.

Steven Hammell is in my opinion, the best left back in the SPL apart from Emilio Izaguirre. He has been a great servant to the club and will continue to be so. He has said that he wants to stay at Fir Park until he retires and not a single ’Well fan will be disappointed at that. He has played a big part in guiding the Steelmen to their current position. He defends the left flank superbly and is not afraid or uncomfortable when going forward. When Craigan finally hangs up his boots, Hammell will have no problem filling his role as captain.

Nicky Law and Jamie Murphy are Stuart McCall’s most recent wide-men, with Murphy on the left and Law gracing the right-wing. Law joined from Rotherham in the summer on a free and since joining he has become a fan favourite, finding himself in the starting eleven almost every game. Jamie Murphy recently made the headlines after turning down a £250,000 move to Blackpool. He is usually considered a striker but since Ojamaa has joined he has switched to a winger and is coping very well. He has always been a hit with the Motherwell support and has been around for a long time, despite only being 21. Making his ‘Well debut at 17, he has really matured and will probably leave in the summer, but showing some loyalty to a team that is used to its stars leaving at the first sniff of cash has made him even more of a hit with the fans.

With a centre midfield pairing of Keith Lasley and Steve Jennings, you are transported back to the good old days of football with rough, hard-hitting tackles and players that aren’t afraid to stick their feet in. Both are popular with the majority of the ‘Well support but a minority of fans believe that they are “dinosaurs” and that we need smaller, faster midfielders but I completely disagree. They bring a bit of excitement and make tackles that can win games. Lasley has four goals in 22 games and Jennings has played 22 games with no goals or assists but his tackles are priceless.

Our current strike-force is Henrik Ojamaa and Michael Higdon. Let’s start with Ojamaa, he joined in January on a six month deal and has so far scored in every starting appearance. That’s four goals in 5 games (he came on as a sub against Dundee United and failed to score). He has since been snapped up on a new two and a half-year deal, much to the delight of the Motherwell support. He brings an air of excitement when he gets the ball and looks like he could score every time he gets possession. Long may it continue! Michael Higdon is the club’s top scorer with eight goals and hit the headlines after his supposed “offensive gesture” but let’s focus on football and not bans and sanctions. He is quite frustrating to watch and sometimes it seems as if he has to miss five sitters before he can score, but his goals have been crucial and I would love him to get a few more this season.

The Fringe

Tim Clancy was brought in during the summer from Kilmarnock and in my opinion is a good, consistent defender who does not get the credit he deserves. He does start often, especially during Craigan’s current suspension.

Omar Daley joined late in the summer window from Bradford City, where he also worked with Stuart McCall and is an attacking winger/striker. He is an exciting player and just like his compatriot Chris Humphrey, he is very fast. He brings excitement when he’s on the ball and is one of my favourite players.

Chris Humphrey, the fastest man in the SPL who in previous seasons was always on the team sheet but since the arrival of Nicky Law and Omar Daley he has found first team action hard to come by, but this isn’t as bad as it sounds because while watching him play last season the first thing you would notice is that, the majority of the time his delivery was poor, but since he has been coming off the bench his performances have greatly improved and with his pace and new-found crossing ability he could rip even the best Scottish defense to shreds!

I believe that with that squad and the hunger and passion the team has been showing, Motherwell will come third quite comfortably and possibly bring back the Scottish Cup back to Fir Park.

With Motherwell in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and looking favourites for third place, the future is bright for the club.

Written by Nathan Ross

Head coach Eddie Wolecki Black commented on his latest acquisition: “Once we became aware of Lesley’s availability then it was an easy decision to pursue her signature. This is not the first time we have been linked with Lesley and I am happy that this time she has decided to sign for the club.

“She has shown tremendous loyalty to Rangers who have to take great credit for her development over the past few years. There is no doubt she has the calibre to play for this club and at 20 years of age is another player who can give us many years of continuity. First though we need to get her back to full fitness. For the time being she will be in the hands of the medical staff.”

McMaster makes it a trio of signings captured from rivals Rangers, with Julie Melrose and Nicola Docherty making the move to the SWPL champions over the past month or so.

Black added: “I know many people will ask where will this one play and where will that one play, my answer is it’s a very long season and we will play many games, we as a club know the depth of squad required to challenge on all fronts. I think people forget we have lost 5 players from last season’s squad and the signing of Lesley makes it 5 in. I believe new signings give the whole club a lift and our current players know we have to keep a strong squad. We have a more mature squad with a great balance of experience, good attitude and youth.”

Commenting on her move, McMaster said: “I am delighted to be coming on board at City after many years at Rangers and I am looking forward to a new challenge as well as improving myself as a player. I appreciate this opportunity and I am excited about my future and I am sure I will gain plenty experience playing with the top players in the country.”

A somewhat different show tonight as we discuss the latest action in the Scottish Cup and do a review of the January transfer window over skype with Chris Gallagher. In Part Two of the show Phil Mac Giolla Bhain joins us to discuss all the latest goings-on off the field at Rangers Football Club.

Enjoy the Show!

Listen to The Final Whistle Scottish Football Show Episode 22 on Podomatic or subscribe to it on iTunes.

The other highlight of the draw was a possible meeting of Motherwell and Aberdeen. The Dons have to replay their fifth round tie with Queen of the South, after Saturday’s tie ended in a draw.

St Mirren also face the prospect of an all-SPL clash should they win their replay against Ross County, facing either Hearts or St Johnstone.

Hibernian face a trip to either Ayr United or Falkirk, who will now play their fifth-round tie on February 15, after Saturday’s clash was postponed.

The three fifth-round replays will be played on February 14, while the quarter-finals will take place on the weekend of March 10 and 11.

Full Quarter-final draw:

Hearts/St Johnstone v St Mirren/Ross County
Ayr United/Falkirk v Hibernian
Dundee United v Celtic
Motherwell v Aberdeen/Queen of the South

Ties to be played weekend of March 10-11.

I do not know why this should be, other than the effect of the Daily Record “exclusive” on the Ticketus story.

Some of us had pointed the way in June of last year.

The story was always there for a sports desk to run with it. The unthinkable is now being planned for by the people who hold positions of power and authority in Scottish football.

Stewart Regan seems to think he can reach the nation through Twitter. The defence of the “Old Firm” brand is in full swing.

Should the “big tax bill” crystallise and the cash flow situation at Rangers deteriorate then the club established in 1872 (I know it has 1873 on the crest) will cease to exist.

It will, literally, be the end of “The Rangers” and the connection with the past will be broken.

A new company and new club could be set up and it could call itself Rangers, but it would not be the club established when Queen Victoria was on the imperial throne.

“Rangers 2012” would be a new club.

The movers and shakers in this are already positioning their ducks in the correct order for the “New Co” to be parachuted into the SPL without any penalty.

If Rangers (1873) go into administration then there is mandatory 10 point penalty in the SPL. If the liquidation occurs then the “NewCo” does not have any penalty laid down in the SPL rules.

The penalty could be draconian or there could be no penalty at all.

Given that Planet Fitba is considering the unthinkable (Rangers being liquidated) then perhaps you might want to consider this:

If Rangers were liquidated and, for the sake of this argument, were not allowed to come back straight into the SPL as a “NewCo” then what would happen?

I suspect that the “provincial clubs in the West of Scotland might benefit. Perhaps Chick Young might indeed become a St Mirren fan. Ok, perhaps not.

Certainly Motherwell would get some erstwhile patrons of Ibrox. The Ayrshire clubs, especially Kilmarnock, would get a lift. Hearts would probably get more people through the gates though I doubt Hibernian would.

Fairly quickly Celtic would start to find that they would be coming up against a clutch of teams capable of beating them.

It would be like having several clubs the size of Hearts in the West of Scotland. The financial disaster prophesied by people like Stewart Regan is shrill and fact free.

The backward multiplier effect of a Rangers free SPL is heavily over stated by these hand-wringing adherents of John Maynard Keynes.

Celtic would, for a while, dominate, but the Parkhead side would not be invincible and these provincial clubs would grow.

The model would be a self-sustaining one with most clubs fielding the product of their own youth systems. Rangers’ financial doping poisoned the well of talented Scottish youth. Murray Park became a training facility for foreign imports not an academy for home-grown talent.

Celtic was forced into a borrowing driven arms race under Martin O’Neill.

A generation after the tax-free steroid enhanced Rangers of the Advocaat years the SPL could see more and more players like James Forrest and James McCarthy breaking through into the top flight while still in their teens.

In the 1980s when Rangers were enfeebled the new firm was in their pomp and Celtic had real competition from Aberdeen and Dundee United and Hearts came within a whisker of winning the double.

Apart from the lifting up of several provincial clubs there would be a wider societal benefit from the extinction of Rangers.

What WOULD be gone in a landscape without Rangers would be a gathering point for anti-Irish racism and anti-Catholic hatred in Scotland.

Although there would be ex-RFC fans supporting these other clubs they wouldn’t be facilitated in their ethno-religious hatred which seems to define their very existence.

Ex-RFC fans attending these clubs would find Pepperamis in green wrappers, eggs Benedict on the lunchtime menu and, whisper it, a player from the Republic of Ireland in their first team.

Rangers have been the nexus for much of the anti-Irish racism that has characterised modern Scotland in my lifetime.
Without this grand central stain of poison Scottish football and Scottish society will be the better for it.

In fact I can think of no better bit of national housekeeping as the independence question is about to be asked.
Rangers, a creation of Imperialist North Britain, are an embarrassing bit of baggage that the new Scotland can do without.

Written by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain

Phil Mac Giolla Bhain is an author, blogger, journalist and writer based in Donegal, Ireland. He has broken some of the most high-profile stories in recent times regarding Scottish Football. From the Hugh Dallas email scandal to the Rangers tax issue, the Neil Lennon letter bomb attacks not to mention tackling the racist Famine Song. Phil has written for the likes of the, Caledonian Mercury, Celtic View, Guardian, Magill, Irish Independent and the Irish Post. Phil is an active member of the NUJ sitting on the Irish Executive Council and the New Media Industrial Council.

In their first match without Nikica Jelavic following his deadline day transfer to Everton, Ally McCoist made one change from the team that beat Hibs the previous weekend with new signing Mervan Celik replacing Gregg Wylde in the starting eleven.

But it was the visitors who started the better and in the opening fifteen minutes Rangers goalie Allan McGregor was twice called into action.

On 11 minutes he did well to save a deflected shot from Russell and then three minutes later he took no chances and punched away a swirling shot from Paul Dixon.

From the resulting corner Gunning gave his team the lead. Rangers never looked comfortable in dealing with it and after McGregor hurried away a cross from John Rankin, Gary Mackay Steven crossed the ball in for Gunning who sent his header past the despairing McGregor.

Rangers needed a response and almost got it immediately from the one bright spark on the day, Sone Aluko.

The former Aberdeen man once again opened his box of tricks on 18 minutes and lashed a right-footed drive which was well-saved by Dusan Pernis.

Midway through the first half Pernis was again United’s saviour. Aluko set up David Healy whose shot seemed to be heading for the bottom corner but Pernis managed to get down and guide it out for a corner with a glove.

Just as Rangers looked to be on the front foot, they lost a very cheap second goal on 34 minutes.

Dixon and Mackay-Steven linked well together on the left hand side and with Kyle Bartley out of position, Johnny Russell had all the time in the world to hit home past McGregor, to leave Rangers with a mountain to climb.

The only chance of note before half-time fell to Kyle Bartley after a clipped ball into the box from Steve Davis, but Pernis collected the ball easily.

The ineffective Celik was replaced at half-time by Salim Kerkar as McCoist looked for a way for his side to get back into the game.

On the whole the sparse Ibrox crowd of only 17,822 saw very little in the way of chances for the home side and indeed it was the visitors who had the better chances in the second 45.

Devoid of service, Healy was replaced after 60 minutes by fellow Northern Irishman Andrew Little who moved up front with Kerkar.

But soon after Garry Kenneth had a great chance to kill the game off, but his free header only found the arms of McGregor and soon after United captain Jon Daly missed a header from six yards.

A rare chance for Rangers came on 71 minutes as some good skill from Aluko found Little in the box but he scooped his shot over the bar.

By this time Gregg Wylde had come on as Rangers threw their last throw of the dice at the tie, on 75 minutes Maurice Edu fired a shot well wide from distance.

John Rankin then tested Allan McGregor with a fierce volley as Dundee United looked for a third.

In the end, a Sone Aluko free-kick in the closing stages of the match went well over the bar, summing up the day for Rangers.

After the match Rangers manager Ally McCoist said: “Our defending for the goals was very, very poor. We certainly could have defended the cross a lot better for the first. “It was far too easy for the second goal with Johnny Russell getting far too much space. Defending is part of the game that we take pride in but it was poor today.

“It’s been a really disappointing day but you have to give credit where it’s due and I thought United in the first half played well.”

He added: “I felt we attempted to push forward and the effort was certainly there to get balls in to the box, but there was a bit of guile missing in the end. I certainly don’t have a problem with the way the players went about things in the second half. We were trying to push forward with Lee Wallace on the left and Sone Aluko on the right and the effort was there but the wee bit of quality was missing today.”

With Rangers knocked out of both domestic cup competitions, all their efforts will now be solely focused on the league.

McCoist continued: “The players will be fine. We don’t have an option. We have to get our sleeves rolled up and get on with it. The players are disappointed, but on Monday we’ll get in to training and we’ll go ahead. This club has had problems in the past but there is determination and grit in that dressing room that will see us through this.”

A jubilant Peter Houston told BBC Scotland after the match: “The first-half performance, especially, was excellent, we created a lot of chances and scored two good goals. We didn’t play as well in the second half, but I’m maybe being a wee bit picky.

“We still looked dangerous on the counter attack and restricted Rangers to not a lot. Pernis had two good saves from Healy and Aluko in the first half and that’s where you need your goalkeeper to keep you in the game. We’ve got a nice balance between youth and experience. It’s taken a while to come together but this was always going to be a transitional season. We’ve still got a lot to do to secure a top six place in the SPL.

“But it’s nice to come to Ibrox and record a victory. We kept attacking and kept two up all the time.”

RANGERS: McGregor; Bartley, Wallace, Bocanegra; Goian; Edu, Davis, Papac (Wylde, 69), Celik (Kerkar, 46); Aluko, Healy (Little, 60).
Subs not used: Alexander, McCulloch.

DUNDEE UNITED: Pernis; Neilson, Dixon, Kenneth, Gunning (Dillon, 90); Rankin, Robertson, Mackay-Steven (Lacny, 88), Armstrong (Flood, 76); Russell, Daly.
Subs not used: Banks, Ryan.

Attendance: 17,822

5th February 2012

4th February 2012

Scottish Cup Fifth Round

SFL Second Division

SFL Third Division

The list of inspections, in the league, according to the SFL website are: -

Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir – Saturday at 11:30am
Arbroath v Airdrie United – Saturday 11.00am
Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath – Saturday at 9.00am
East Fife v Brechin City – Saturday at 9.30am
Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic – Saturday at 11:30am

SCOTTISH CUP

There is no First Division fixture list this weekend due to Cup action so where are the likely upsets, are there any likely and who should progress? Ayr United v Falkirk has the two beaten semi finalists up against each other. Brian Reid has managed to secure the signing of two loanees in the shape of Kiegan Parker and Sean Higgins. Falkirk will be a very different looking side as they recover from the loss of Kallum Higginbotham to Huddersfield. This could be a very tasty tie if it goes ahead and we would all expect an away win but Ayr have proven handy cup specialists over the years so it may take a replay to separate them. Motherwell v Morton gives Allan Moore some respite from the vagaries of the league campaign on which he has embarked this year. SPL opposition at home should triumph surely? Moore has major defensive injury worries so a shock seems highly unlikely.

St Mirren v Ross County may well spell the game of the day for the SFL as the leaders of Division One get to play against a club they would be expected to beat if they wanted next year to consolidate in the SPL. Of course that would be if they got promoted… St Mirren have already fallen foul of SFL opposition in the league so will be keen to avoid lightening striking twice. On top of that County put the Saints out the league cup last year so it is all measuring up! County are likely to be without David McNamee, Jonny Flynn and Marc Fitzpatrick. I fancy a home win and the end of a dismal cup run for Danny Lennon’s side. Finally Aberdeen v Queen of the South has Gus McPherson’s side likely to field new signing Sam Parkin and hope he continues to find the net as he did the last weekend. They are without Kevin Smith and Marc McCusker though Craig Reid and Stephen McKenna should be back. New signing John Potter for Queens, like Gavin Rae for the Dons is cup tied. A home win for me I am afraid as I think the Doonhamers need to concentrate on the league.

SECOND DIVISION

I think we can safely say there will be more than a few games off following the inspections which shall be a pity and a shame because there were quite a few ties with the word intriguing hanging over them! Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath fitted into that category as Colin Cameron’s side won 4- 0 the last time they visited on league action and Arbroath are beginning to catch them again. The Sons will be without Kevin Nicoll whilst Killie loanee Garry Fisher will feature in the squad for the Blue Brazil, taking Cameron’s place. Thomas O’Brien is still out for Cowdenbeath too but the rest of
the squad should be available. For me it will possibly end up Alan Adamson’s fifth win on the spin as Cameron dictates play when on the park… East Fife v Brechin City has Darren McCormack and Ryan Wallace back for the Fifers though John Robertson may still be without Craig Johnstone and David Muir. Brechin are looking like they will be without Charlie King as well as Gerry McLachlan and Derek Carcary. For me I would put money on a postponement – possibly like every fixture this weekend – but if it gets the nod I think John Robertson’s side may shade it.

Arbroath v Airdrie United sees Paul Sheerin sweating over the fitness of 4 players with Stuart Malcolm, Mark Baxter, Josh Falkingham and Beau Busch struggling. Michael White and Jordan Elfverson are out. Kieron Stallard returns for Airdrie and Cameron MacDonald is added to Jimmy Boyle’s squad. Tough game for the visitors and I would expect each to snuff the other out making the Dumbarton result one that could become more significant as the afternoon draws on. Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir would be one on my bucket list this afternoon. Rangers loanee Jack Werndly may make his debut for the wee Rovers whilst there will be no John Gemmell, Tony Stevenson or Jordan Halsman. At least Barry Russell looks like he is coming back. Stenny will be missing Stevie Murray and Martyn Corrigan. With so much at stake for both in terms of getting a consolidated play off place this could be a fascinating 0-0 draw or one of those big scoring games that have been a feature of this season…

Finally Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic sees Stirling wanting off the foot of the table. Brian Allison is back as well as John Cawley though the swings have roundabouts – out are Stevie Nicholas and Shaun Fagan for the Binos. The visitors will welcome back David Mowat, Iain Campbell and Martyn Fotheringham whilst Stephen Tulloch may be missing. After losing to Arbroath midweek the Binos will be desperate to make amends but I can see them slipping further.

THIRD DIVISION

Queens Park v Alloa Athletic should beat the frost otherwise it might be a national scandal! There are no changes for the Spiders from the team that was beaten by Peterhead so they could once again struggle. For Alloa Ben Gordon will be available as well as Ryan McCord. For me Alloa are on a fine run and that will continue. East Stirling v Stranraer should be as easy an away win as any this season especially as Stranraer have already registered a 6-0 win against East Stirling already this year! Stranraer have Chris Aitken back and are at full strength. Tipping the winner may be the easiest tip of the day as I cannot see past the visiting side.

Montrose v Annan Athletic has the team that was neck and neck with the league leaders Alloa now 13 points adrift trying to make up the gap. With Montrose down to only 15 fit players prayers may be answered and the team that lost to Alloa last Saturday could find themselves on the end of a humbling experience. However Annan arrive without David Winters who has left after a trial period, Graham Bell and John MacBeth. A late test for Sean O’Connor and Ian Harty starting is the other squad news as Annan need a win to get their season back on track. Stewards’ Enquiry if they don’t get it. Finally Berwick Rangers v Peterhead sees a resurgent – at last – Blue Toon ready to keep the train a going against the Borderers. The home side will have Ben Gordon back with Lee Currie, Kevin McDonald and Elliot Smith out. In come John Ferguson and Stephen Tulloch. There is no Barry Sellars and doubts for David Ross and Scott Ross as Jim McInally hopes he has found the turn in Peterhead’s season. I think he might find the light at the end of this tunnel is NOT an oncoming train and gain another three points.