Dundee’s bid for fourth spot and a first Scottish Cup final since 2003, United’s uplifting result against Hearts, St Johnstone’s mixed week and Willie Collum’s demotion. Courier sports writers Eric Nicolson and Neil Robertson discuss this week’s hot topics.
Q Dundee then … where is this run of form going to take them Europe, Hampden, both?
EN: It’s a bit early for Dundee fans to start looking out their passports or the bakers to start planning dark blue Scottish Cup pies and cakes, but there’s no doubting the momentum that is building. As far as the cup goes, I think the Rangers game is a genuine 50-50. And in the league, they’re in better form than St Johnstone and Inverness and, in my eyes, Ross County as well. So they should be aiming for fourth, that’s for sure. I’d make them favourites for it.
NR: There are more than a few ifs, buts and maybes before the Dundee players can start planning for Europe but fourth place is definitely within their grasp. Success breeds confidence and there was a real swagger to Dundee’s play on Tuesday night as they demolished Dumbarton. As for the Rangers game, while Mark Warburton’s side have had it pretty much all their own way in the Championship this season, they were beaten by St Johnstone in the League Cup and struggled to overcome Kilmarnock in the Scottish.
Q Given the choice, Dundee fans would take a win over Rangers next week as opposed to Inverness in the league on Saturday though, wouldn’t they?
EN: I think so. There’s plenty of time left to recover from a league defeat but it’s a long wait until the next cup game if they lose at Ibrox. You hear all the league bread and butter stuff from managers but it’s all about trophies and cup final days out for fans.
NR: Dundee boss Paul Hartley has made it clear since the start of the season that the cups and a chance of silverware were his priorities and I am sure the fans will be in agreement. Dundee’s last Scottish Cup final was away back in 2003 and no one connected with the club needs reminding that their only success in the competition was more than 100 years ago.
Q The front players are getting all the headlines, but what about the defenders?
EN: It has gone relatively unnoticed because of the form of Hemmings, Harkins and Stewart but four clean sheets in a row is impressive stuff. I wasn’t sure about the Darren O’Dea signing but he’s proved to be an excellent acquisition. Free-scoring and tight at the back . . . it doesn’t get much better than that for a manager.
NR: Hartley looks as though he is taking as much pleasure from the clean sheets as his side’s goal-scoring exploits. I honestly thought Dundee would sorely miss the stricken James McPake but O’Dea has filled his boots impressively and has formed a really solid partnership with Thomas Konrad.
Q Rangers have again been linked with Greg Stewart. If you were Mark Warburton would you take Stewart or Hemmings?
EN: A hypothetical question, obviously, but it would be Hemmings for me. A prolific goalscorer with an all-round game is the type of player they’re all after and Dundee are lucky to have him. He’s playing like Stevie May of 2014 and could make Dundee a very tidy profit in the summer or (hopefully) a couple of years down the line.
NR: Hopefully neither! Warburton has already plundered St Johnstone’s prize asset in Michael O’Halloran and I would not want to see another top Tayside talent heading west. However, money talks and if Rangers come up with the readies, then Dundee would find it difficult to refuse. As for which one Warburton should target, I will have to sit on the fence as I could argue the merits of both all day long.
Q Gary Harkins. Rangers. At the wind-up. Discuss.
EN: For most players I would be worried going into a full Ibrox after his tongue-in-cheek jibe about Rangers being a new club, but not Harkins. If (let’s face it, it’s not really an if is it?) he gets stick from the Rangers fans it will make him play better. He’s that type.
NR: I was just thinking last week that former Celtic player O’Dea who had previously stated that Rangers should be stripped of titles because of the whole EBT business was in for a hot reception at Ibrox but then up stepped jolly joker “Jeebsy” to trump that! He is now Public Enemy No 1 and is certain to be barracked from first to last whistle by the Rangers fans but knowing Harkins, he will simply lap it up.
Q Dundee United produced probably the Premiership’s eye-catching result last weekend by beating Hearts. Do you have any confidence that they can back it up against Ross County?
EN: How can you have faith in this United team? They need to win back-to-back league games before they earn that right. If they do beat Ross County though, it will be a real statement.
NR: It will be almost cruel for their fans if United do not back up that fantastic Jambos result. The fear of another false dawn will accompany the United faithful who do make the trip to the Highlands but if Paatelainen’s team can secure back-to-back wins in Dingwall, then the slim chance of a great escape could become a possibility.
Q They’ve got Ross County in the cup the week after. I suspect United fans’ league/cup priorities are a bit different to those of a Dark Blue persuasion.
EN: That’ll be a yes.
NR: The cup will no doubt be a welcome distraction for the players from their league woes but I am certain United fans would quite happily forego a run in the competition if they could secure Premiership safety against all the odds.
Q It’s been a mixed week for St Johnstone. What has it told us?
EN: That they’ve still got the sort of character you need over a long campaign (the Motherwell match), and that they still haven’t cut out the daft mistakes (the Partick game).
NR: Having been at the Motherwell game last Saturday, I felt that the last-gasp nature of the win would give Saints a big confidence boost going to Partick. So it was really disappointing when I heard the score from Firhill on Tuesday night. Saints simply have to cut out the errors if they are to end the season strongly.
Q I don’t suppose either of you will be predicting a Saints win in Aberdeen?
EN: Don’t rule it out actually. Aberdeen have got big pressure on them these days. Hang in the game like Inverness did against the Dons, and Saints could be in business. Plus, Neil’s their lucky charm and he’s reporting on the game for us!
NR: The last time I covered a St Johnstone game in Aberdeen back in October, I feared for Saints that day and they won 5-1! However, while I would like to think lightning will strike twice, I am afraid that the Dons will be dominant this time round.
Q Willie Collum has been demoted from top-flight games. A good call?
EN: Absolutely. Some of the criticism of a bloke trying to do his best has been over the top but he’s had a shocker of a season. Mind you, he’s not alone. The standard of refereeing in Scotland is a real worry.
NR: It probably is but it is all a bit embarrassing considering Mr Collum will be one of the officials at the Euros this summer. However, I do have a lot of sympathy for the men in the middle who overall do not get as much wrong on a match day as the average player or manager.
Q It’s looking very grim for Brechin at the bottom of League One after another defeat. Are they doomed?
EN: I suspect they are. It’s been a long slog for Brechin this year and things don’t get any easier this weekend with a trip to Peterhead. I feel sorry for Darren Dods because his job has been much harder than his predecessors.
NR: Considering the threadbare squad Dods inherited when he took over at the Glebe, he has been up against it from Day One. In fact, he has done an incredible job just to keep them in touch until now but unless they can take at least a point at Peterhead and then beat Forfar in next Tuesday’s derby, then League two football beckons for the Angus side.
Q Gary Bollan has got his first win, though. Would you back Forfar to be safe?
EN: They’ve got a lot of work to do yet but I’ve got a feeling they’ll make it to third bottom . . . just.
NR: Ask me at five o’clock on Saturday afternoon! Forfar are a bit like United in that they have to back up their midweek win over Cowdenbeath with another victory at home to Albion Rovers to show they really have turned a corner.