SPL Weekend Review

Week two of the SPL season seen ten teams compete in five matches, with four games played on Saturday and one of the Sunday. TheFullTenYards will now take a look back at the fixtures played and report on what occurred in each match. For those wondering, the Hearts - Dundee United game will be looked at in more detail tomorrow.

St. Johnstone 0 - 2 Rangers

Ally McCoist managed to pick up his first competitive win as Rangers boss at the third attempt, defeating a lacklustre Saints side in Perth. However, it was the Saints who had the opening chance, Callum Davidson forcing a good save from Allan McGregor after a decent long range effort. And his namesake Murray Davidson had the next chance for St. Johnstone, his effort just flashing past the far post. However, then Rangers started to get a stranglehold on the game, Jelavic heading a fine powerful header at the Saints goal, only for Enckleman to make a fine save from the Croat. Then came the sucker punch, a flighted ball in by Lee Wallace was met by the head of Stevie Naismith, and he added to his goal against Hearts last week with a second headed goal, which flew past Enckleman and into the net.

Early in the second half, Jelavic wrapped up the points for Rangers, a great run from Steven Davis his pass being played on by Naismith to Jelavic who was in acres of space, and he fired past Enckleman for his first of the season. Jody Morris had a chance to bring St. Johnstone back into the game, but his low drilled shot went the wrong side of the post. In the end though, Rangers picked up a deserved victory, while St. Johnstone continue to struggle in front of goal.

Man Of The Match - Nikica Jelavic (Rangers): The big striker worked well up front with Naismith, taking his goal well, and should prove a big part of Rangers’ season if he can keep fit.

St. Mirren 1 - 0 Aberdeen

The Buddies got their first win of the campaign, leaving them joint top of the league alongside Rangers and Motherwell after two weeks of the season. Steven Thompson should have scored very early on though, his volley from the six yards line, flying over the top of the bar, when a striker of his experience should have been scoring. Gary Teale being another to fire over, after a good run by the ex Derby man. St. Mirren looked very good on the ball, and a delightful pass by McGowan to Teale, was crossed in by the summer signing, but Nigel Hasselbaink messed up his header completely.

Aberdeen survived a massive penalty shout by the home side, but camera angles made it hard to see where the ball struck Osbourne so no further comment can be made. St. Mirren continued to show their passing focus, a nice bunch of one touch passes, culminating in Hasselbaink being played through, and the Dutchman showed the composure that was lacking in his earlier chance to fire past the Dons keeper. Aberdeen could have equalised soon after, however, a Vernon header was well cleared by the outstretched arms of Samson in the St. Mirren goal. The final chance of the match fell to Aberdeen, but Michael Paton could only send his shot inches past Samson’s left hand post. The result sends St. Mirren climbing the table, while Aberdeen start the season with only one point on the board.

Man Of The Match - Nigel Hasselbaink (St. Mirren): The young striker took his goal very well, needs to work on his composure in front of goal though, and if he does then he may become a very good player for the Buddies this season.

Inverness 0 - 1 Hibs

The match between the only two sides without a point on the board already, ended with Hibs picking up the vital victory. Ivan Sproule had the first chance of the match, but his shot from a few yards out was well blocked by the Caley left back. Hibs continued to dominate, Garry O’Connor seeing his powerful shot being well dealt with by Esson, before Sproule and O’Connor combined, the latter seeing his shot blocked by Esson. Caley got their first chance of the game, when a cross ball fell at the feet of Richie Foran, however, his shot went well over the bar. Gregory Taddei eventually got the ball in the Hibs net, but the goal was ruled out for being offside.

Into the second half and Caley looked very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty, when a cross was blocked by the arm of Lewis Stevenson, however, the ref waved play on and Caley were left fuming. Ryan Esson was once again called upon to stop Hibs, as Matt Thornhill’s ambitious scissor kick was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Aldridge and Tansei then missed very good chances to give Caley the lead, and they were left to rue these misses as deep into the third minute of injury time, Garry O’Connor powered a shot through the arms of Esson to give Hibs the victory.

Man of the Match - Ryan Esson (Inverness): The Inverness goalkeeper was in fine form as he kept out Hibs until the final minute of the game. Very unlucky to end up on the losing side.

Kilmarnock 0 - 0 Motherwell

A very good match ended in the only draw of the weekend, as both goalkeepers kept out their opponents with some good saves. James Dayton may have been awarded a penalty early in the match, his touch past Keith Lasley in the box drawing the tackle from Lasley, and the Killie winger went down under the block of Lasley. The referee waved play on, and Killie looked right to feel aggrieved by the decision. Jamie Murphy then couldn’t get a boot on a delightful cross by Stevie Hammell. A flurry of corners for Motherwell soon followed, and one of them fell on the head of Hutchinson, but the Well centre half couldn’t direct his header onto the target. Minutes later, a powerful shot by Liam Kelly was well saved by Darren Randolph in the ‘Well goal. Dayton also managed to pull a good save out of Randolph, his left footed drive being parried away by the keeper. Cammy Bell was then called into action at the other end, having to save well from McHugh and palming his powerful effort over the bar.

Into the second half and it was once again the keepers who were on top, Bell producing a fantastic save to stop Jennings long range effort from flying into the net. A mistake under pressure by Randolph, resulted in Kelly picking the ball up thirty five yards out with an empty net, but he tried to take the effort first time, when a touch would have been better, and the ball went harmlessly wide. Killie centre half Zdenek Kroca then made a tremendous last ditch tackle to stop Nicky Law from opening the scoring, after Law had been left clear through on goal. The last chance of the match fell to new Killie signing Dean Shiels, but he tried to take on one to many men, rather than picking out the free Dayton who was in a much better position. In the end though, no-one really deserved to lose what was a very entertaining scoreless draw.

Man of the Match - Cammy Bell (Kilmarnock): The choice was mainly between him and his Motherwell counterpart, Darren Randolph. Bell gets the award though for his save from Steve Jennings which kept the game goalless.

Posted in: Bell,Esson,Hasselbaink,Jelavic,Review,SPL,Weekend