Tam McManus might be only 26, but he already has something of the journeyman about him. He was a Hibs kid (he came through around the same time as Kenny Miller) and went out on loan a couple of times before breaking through into the first team. He looked a bright player for the Easter Road side, too, but when Tony Mowbray took over, it was clear he had no future at the club. He went on loan to Boston, but returned to Scotland before gaining a free transfer to Dundee.
Their subsequent relegation to Division One necessitated strigent cost-cutting, and McManus was eventually moved on, this time to Falkirk. That didn't work out, and he was released in January. A trial at Hibs didn't result in an offer of a return to his first club, and so, as a free agent, he pitched up at Dunfermline.
After such a stop-start career over the past few seasons, it's no surprise that McManus was desperate to resume playing regularly. But he was in for a shock. Despite his lack of appearances for Falkirk, the fact that he was an unused substitute in an earlier round of the Scottish Cup meant that he was cup-tied for the rest of the competition. With Dunfermline heading to Hampden to play Hibernian in the semi-finals, McManus would have to watch from the stands. Of course, he's going to miss the final now, too.
Perhaps that was why he played with such vigour last night. Dunfermline travelled to Love St knowing that only a victory would give them any chance of avoiding the drop into Division One. A predictably tense relegation six-pointer, the game was very low on quality in the first half. After the break, though, Dunfermline started to get the upper hand. Perhaps inspired by the perpetual motion of their striker, they realised that if they started to actually pass a bit and play some football, the game was there for the taking. McManus was always going to be the one to profit: he had one effort blocked and another ruled out for offside before finally netting the only goal of the game.
The Pars are now just a point off St. Mirren at the bottom, and in a much better run of form. For all their Scottish Cup heroics, manager Stephen Kenny always stressed that staying in the SPL was his over-riding priority. If they do survive, McManus will feel a great sense of satisfaction at the way his season ended, even if he misses out on a Cup final appearance.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Gretna are promoted, but is it good news for the SPL?
As with the top flight, the Scottish Football League Division One took a surprisingly long time to declare a winner this season. Twelve points clear at the top at the turn of the year, and scoring for fun, Gretna looked a shoe-in for the title and their third successive promotion. But their subsequent wobble, coupled with St. Johnstone's great run of form (they were fighting in both cup competitions, too, remember) made for a thrilling last day of the season.
It's heart-breaking for the Perth team, who have ended up with nothing after a season that promised so much. They got to the semi-finals of both the League and Scottish Cups, and pushed Hibernian and Celtic hard in both games, but eventually the better resourced teams came through. On Saturday, they got even closer - they beat Hamilton 4-3 in a pulsating game, and for 5 minutes were Division One Champions as it stood. But then the news came through from Dingwall - Gretna had scored again to go 3-2 up against Ross County, and back above the Saints in the table. They held on and took the title by a single point.
Gretna's rise has been meteoric. The former English non-League team have risen from Division Three to the SPL inside 5 seasons, and became the darlings of many last season when the got to the Scottish Cup Final, and only lost out to Hearts on penalties. Those same observers will now be hailing the romance of this small-town club earning its chance to play against the giants of the Scottish game next season. Eccentric owner Brooks Mileson has promised he will invest more of his fortune to ensure that Gretna will be able to hold their own in the SPL.
And yet... while the management team obviously deserve credit for organising things on the park, Gretna's turbocharged ascent has been entirely down to Mileson's cash. In Division Two, they assembled a squad more costly than many SPL clubs' wage bills. Their crowds at Raydale Park have hovered around 2,000, and while they can expect their SPL status to attract more fans, the fact that they will be playing their "home" games at Fir Park next season (Raydale Park doesn't meet the SPL's minimum criteria) means a 250 mile round trip will probably dissuade many of them from travelling. And the SPL needs more empty seats like the Scottish Labour Party needs the Iraq issue.
Given the limited catchment area, it's genuinely hard to see how the support can grow significantly in the longer term. Gretna are a small town club, propped up by a wealthy benefactor, not a genuine new force in Scottish football. If Mileson ever turns off the taps, it's hard to see how they can sustain their position.
Compare this with St. Johnstone. While Gretna took 500 fans to Dingwall on Saturday (admittedly, a tough journey), the Saints took 3,000 to Hamilton. They have built a team under an astute young manager, Owen Coyle, with the experience of players such as Derick McInnes and Jason Scotland, who desperately wanted to test themselves in the SPL again, week in, week out. McDiarmid Park would love to welcome the Perthshire crowds back to watch the big boys come to town, and dream of the days when their club took on SV Hamburg or Monaco in European competition. At the end of the day, they couldn't quite do enough to get promotion, but romance is not the preserve of the wedding specialists from near the Border.
As it is, they will have to bide their time. Gretna are up, and time will tell how much further they can go.
It's heart-breaking for the Perth team, who have ended up with nothing after a season that promised so much. They got to the semi-finals of both the League and Scottish Cups, and pushed Hibernian and Celtic hard in both games, but eventually the better resourced teams came through. On Saturday, they got even closer - they beat Hamilton 4-3 in a pulsating game, and for 5 minutes were Division One Champions as it stood. But then the news came through from Dingwall - Gretna had scored again to go 3-2 up against Ross County, and back above the Saints in the table. They held on and took the title by a single point.
Gretna's rise has been meteoric. The former English non-League team have risen from Division Three to the SPL inside 5 seasons, and became the darlings of many last season when the got to the Scottish Cup Final, and only lost out to Hearts on penalties. Those same observers will now be hailing the romance of this small-town club earning its chance to play against the giants of the Scottish game next season. Eccentric owner Brooks Mileson has promised he will invest more of his fortune to ensure that Gretna will be able to hold their own in the SPL.
And yet... while the management team obviously deserve credit for organising things on the park, Gretna's turbocharged ascent has been entirely down to Mileson's cash. In Division Two, they assembled a squad more costly than many SPL clubs' wage bills. Their crowds at Raydale Park have hovered around 2,000, and while they can expect their SPL status to attract more fans, the fact that they will be playing their "home" games at Fir Park next season (Raydale Park doesn't meet the SPL's minimum criteria) means a 250 mile round trip will probably dissuade many of them from travelling. And the SPL needs more empty seats like the Scottish Labour Party needs the Iraq issue.
Given the limited catchment area, it's genuinely hard to see how the support can grow significantly in the longer term. Gretna are a small town club, propped up by a wealthy benefactor, not a genuine new force in Scottish football. If Mileson ever turns off the taps, it's hard to see how they can sustain their position.
Compare this with St. Johnstone. While Gretna took 500 fans to Dingwall on Saturday (admittedly, a tough journey), the Saints took 3,000 to Hamilton. They have built a team under an astute young manager, Owen Coyle, with the experience of players such as Derick McInnes and Jason Scotland, who desperately wanted to test themselves in the SPL again, week in, week out. McDiarmid Park would love to welcome the Perthshire crowds back to watch the big boys come to town, and dream of the days when their club took on SV Hamburg or Monaco in European competition. At the end of the day, they couldn't quite do enough to get promotion, but romance is not the preserve of the wedding specialists from near the Border.
As it is, they will have to bide their time. Gretna are up, and time will tell how much further they can go.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Dunfermline daring to dream as Hibs blow it again...
Celtic are on for the double this season. Having secured the SPL title last Sunday, they now look forward to the Scottish Cup Final on 26 May. If they lift the trophy, it will be a dream ending to the season, particularly for captain Neil Lennon who will be playing his last game for the club.
But if you think that would taste sweet, just think what the double would mean to your average Pars fan. Not winning the League and Cup, of course, but winning the Cup and avoiding relegation. They are already in Europe next season, thanks to Celtic qualifying for the Champions League and thus offering up the UEFA Cup place that comes with the Scottish Cup. To go into that competition as an SPL team, rather than one in Division One, would not just be good for Dunfermline, it would be good for Scottish football as a whole. After all, a club living on even further reduced means will probably find Continental competition even more of a stretch.
Of course, Celtic are overwhelming favourites to lift the Cup, and, 4 points adrift at the bottom of the SPL with just 4 games to play, avoiding relegation doesn't look all that likely either. But it's worthwhile remembering what Dunfermline have already achieved this season. When Stephen Kenny came in as manager in November, Dunfermline were simply hopeless, miles adrift at the bottom of the League and unable to score goals.
That haven't scored many goals since, to be fair, but what Kenny did was work on the things he could improve. He tightened up the system, getting Dunfermline to play in a tight, compact formation that's hard to break down, and he instilled belief in his players. They might still be bottom of the SPL, but the players work for each other, and their manager. Finally, he did what he could to augment the squad, bringing in Adam Hammill on loan from Liverpool and Stephen Glass on loan from Hibs in January, and signing Tam McManus as a free agent. All players that could give either creativity or an attacking outlet to the side.
They were outplayed for long periods of Tuesday night's replay, but they are no longer easy to score against, and when they won a penalty in the 85th minute Jim McIntyre grabbed the opportunity to take the lead. They have now knocked Rangers, Hearts and Hibs out of the Cup.
Where now for Hibs? This was the 3rd Semi-Final in a row for them in the competition they haven't won for 105 years, and the curse remains for another year at least. They haven't been the same side since the CIS Cup Final, and the dressing-room bust up / player revolt that followed has clearly damaged them. For a club that doesn't win silverware very often, they took very little time in taking the shine off the trophy. The manager's job is safe, though, despite the stories of unrest, and he will look to rebuild his squad in the summer and see what he can do with his own team next season. The remaining league games this term are of little consequence now.
Meanwhile, Dunfermline have an absolutely crucial game against St Mirren this weekend. Mathematically, Motherwell aren't quite safe yet either, but the reality of the situation is that only St Mirren or Dunfermline can go down this season. So Saturday's game is the classic six-pointer.
If Stephen Kenny does pull this off, he deserves to be hailed as Manager of the Season, without doubt. And remember, he has some European pedigree too - it was his Derry team who gubbed Gretna in the UEFA Cup at the beginning of the season, before drawing 0-0 with PSG.
And he's still someway off his 40th birthday. He really could become some manager.
But if you think that would taste sweet, just think what the double would mean to your average Pars fan. Not winning the League and Cup, of course, but winning the Cup and avoiding relegation. They are already in Europe next season, thanks to Celtic qualifying for the Champions League and thus offering up the UEFA Cup place that comes with the Scottish Cup. To go into that competition as an SPL team, rather than one in Division One, would not just be good for Dunfermline, it would be good for Scottish football as a whole. After all, a club living on even further reduced means will probably find Continental competition even more of a stretch.
Of course, Celtic are overwhelming favourites to lift the Cup, and, 4 points adrift at the bottom of the SPL with just 4 games to play, avoiding relegation doesn't look all that likely either. But it's worthwhile remembering what Dunfermline have already achieved this season. When Stephen Kenny came in as manager in November, Dunfermline were simply hopeless, miles adrift at the bottom of the League and unable to score goals.
That haven't scored many goals since, to be fair, but what Kenny did was work on the things he could improve. He tightened up the system, getting Dunfermline to play in a tight, compact formation that's hard to break down, and he instilled belief in his players. They might still be bottom of the SPL, but the players work for each other, and their manager. Finally, he did what he could to augment the squad, bringing in Adam Hammill on loan from Liverpool and Stephen Glass on loan from Hibs in January, and signing Tam McManus as a free agent. All players that could give either creativity or an attacking outlet to the side.
They were outplayed for long periods of Tuesday night's replay, but they are no longer easy to score against, and when they won a penalty in the 85th minute Jim McIntyre grabbed the opportunity to take the lead. They have now knocked Rangers, Hearts and Hibs out of the Cup.
Where now for Hibs? This was the 3rd Semi-Final in a row for them in the competition they haven't won for 105 years, and the curse remains for another year at least. They haven't been the same side since the CIS Cup Final, and the dressing-room bust up / player revolt that followed has clearly damaged them. For a club that doesn't win silverware very often, they took very little time in taking the shine off the trophy. The manager's job is safe, though, despite the stories of unrest, and he will look to rebuild his squad in the summer and see what he can do with his own team next season. The remaining league games this term are of little consequence now.
Meanwhile, Dunfermline have an absolutely crucial game against St Mirren this weekend. Mathematically, Motherwell aren't quite safe yet either, but the reality of the situation is that only St Mirren or Dunfermline can go down this season. So Saturday's game is the classic six-pointer.
If Stephen Kenny does pull this off, he deserves to be hailed as Manager of the Season, without doubt. And remember, he has some European pedigree too - it was his Derry team who gubbed Gretna in the UEFA Cup at the beginning of the season, before drawing 0-0 with PSG.
And he's still someway off his 40th birthday. He really could become some manager.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Celtic finally stumble over the line after a lacklustre race
So Celtic have finally won the SPL 2006/07, after a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Gordon Strachan has emulated the feat of his predecessor, Martin O'Neill, and won back-to-back titles in his first two seasons at the club. His award as Scottish Players' Association Manager of the Year later on Sunday night was recognition for the fine job he has done rebuilding the Celtic squad while maintaining a dominance over the rest of Scottish football. It was his best signing, Shunsuke Nakamura, who secured the win with a trademark freekick right at the end of the game (he also won the player of the year award, too).
Yet clearly all is not well with Scottish football. Celtic's hold on the title was practically complete by Christmas, and it was only their recent poor form that kept Rangers in with a mathematical chance of snatching the championship until the split. Of Hearts, last season's pretenders to the crown, there was no sign. It is impossible not to let the paucity of competition take some of the shine off Celtic's latest trophy.
There were 8,000 Celtic fans down in Ayrshire to celebrate with the team on Sunday, limited by Kilmarnock's decision not to turn even more of their ground over to the visitors and annoy their season ticket holders, rather than a lack of seats. Kilmarnock really don't have anything more to play for this season - but, as Jim Jefferies sighed, this lack of revenue will hurt his plans for rebuilding his squad over the summer.
Even more depressing was the pitiful crowd at Pittodrie. They weren't helped by a tiny travelling support from Hibs, but less than 10,000 people turned up to watch Aberdeen try and secure European football for next season. Aberdeen have improved markedly in recent years, and yet their supporters just don't seem interested. It's true that they aren't the prettiest team to watch, but without more punters coming back and putting more money into the club, the chances of them attracting better players in the summer remain remote.
Something, it's clear, has got to change.
Yet clearly all is not well with Scottish football. Celtic's hold on the title was practically complete by Christmas, and it was only their recent poor form that kept Rangers in with a mathematical chance of snatching the championship until the split. Of Hearts, last season's pretenders to the crown, there was no sign. It is impossible not to let the paucity of competition take some of the shine off Celtic's latest trophy.
There were 8,000 Celtic fans down in Ayrshire to celebrate with the team on Sunday, limited by Kilmarnock's decision not to turn even more of their ground over to the visitors and annoy their season ticket holders, rather than a lack of seats. Kilmarnock really don't have anything more to play for this season - but, as Jim Jefferies sighed, this lack of revenue will hurt his plans for rebuilding his squad over the summer.
Even more depressing was the pitiful crowd at Pittodrie. They weren't helped by a tiny travelling support from Hibs, but less than 10,000 people turned up to watch Aberdeen try and secure European football for next season. Aberdeen have improved markedly in recent years, and yet their supporters just don't seem interested. It's true that they aren't the prettiest team to watch, but without more punters coming back and putting more money into the club, the chances of them attracting better players in the summer remain remote.
Something, it's clear, has got to change.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
No repeats, please
It's still possible that the green halves of both Glasgow and Edinburgh will meet in the Scottish Cup Final on 26th May. Celtic came through 2-1 winners over a spirited St. Johnstone performance on Saturday, while Hibs are still in the competition after their 0-0 draw with Dunfermline.
But that's not the only symmetry in Scottish football right now. Earlier in the season, it was Rangers and then boss Paul Le Guen who were getting it in the neck from their supporters. Now it's Gordon Strachan's turn to feel the hot breath of disappointment on his neck. While a probable league and cup double will cheer the Celtic support eventually, at the moment they are restless and spiky, and for some reason: Celtic have not been playing well recently. The title should have been wrapped up weeks ago, but because of their poor form (1 win in 5 before Saturday) the SPL goes into the split next weekend with Rangers still mathematically in with a chance.
On Saturday, too, they were far from the free-scoring, easy on the eye outfit they sometimes showed themselves to be in the autumn. Derek Riordan, after a season sitting first in the stands, then on the bench, has finally got his chance upfront, but when he was replaced by Kenny Miller near the hour mark, boos rang out around Hampden. For a team on the verge of getting to the Scottish Cup final, that was a slightly surreal response from the fans.
For all his achievements so far, Gordon Strachan has found it difficult to win a place in the hearts of the Celtic fans, and he's not been helped this season by an almost non-existent challenge from Rangers in the SPL. His team selections have frequently infuriated the support, who have wanted to see more of Riordan and Thomas Gravesen. There are rumours circling about his future at the club... at the moment they remain just that, because he seems in no mood to walk out, and the board love him for slashing the wage bill. Yet he perhaps feels entitled to a little more respect after all his achievements so far.
Across in Edinburgh, of course, it was Hearts who were the crisis club, with dressing room splits and players being emptied for questioning the regime. But clearly Hibs felt left out, and so went nuclear with a dressing room crisis of their own last week which dominated the papers and increased the pressure on John Collins especially ahead of their semi-final tie.
Ahead of the game, Collins had appeared flustered in the press conference, and flashes of anger crossed his face in interviews with the media, but he resolutely refused to answer any questions about the rumours that a delegation of players has demanded a meeting with the chairman to voice criticism of him. After the game itself, he was a little more forthcoming with the BBC's Chick Young, agreeing that it had been "a week he wouldn't want to repeat".
As for the game itself, Hibs were really, really poor in the first half, but improved in the second, without doing enough to win the game. It was the same team that won the CIS Cup Final just 3 weeks ago, but nowhere near the same intensity or movement. After a traumatic week, that perhaps is no surprise. Dunfermline had a couple of chances themselves, and defended solidly, but can't have any complaints at the result.
The real question is why on earth this game goes to a replay, instead of being settled with extra time and penalties if necessary. It's a ridiculous arrangement, and devalues the prestige of a "day out at Hampden" even more. So they'll be back here again in 10 days time.
No repeats, please, said John Collins. Couldn't agree more.
But that's not the only symmetry in Scottish football right now. Earlier in the season, it was Rangers and then boss Paul Le Guen who were getting it in the neck from their supporters. Now it's Gordon Strachan's turn to feel the hot breath of disappointment on his neck. While a probable league and cup double will cheer the Celtic support eventually, at the moment they are restless and spiky, and for some reason: Celtic have not been playing well recently. The title should have been wrapped up weeks ago, but because of their poor form (1 win in 5 before Saturday) the SPL goes into the split next weekend with Rangers still mathematically in with a chance.
On Saturday, too, they were far from the free-scoring, easy on the eye outfit they sometimes showed themselves to be in the autumn. Derek Riordan, after a season sitting first in the stands, then on the bench, has finally got his chance upfront, but when he was replaced by Kenny Miller near the hour mark, boos rang out around Hampden. For a team on the verge of getting to the Scottish Cup final, that was a slightly surreal response from the fans.
For all his achievements so far, Gordon Strachan has found it difficult to win a place in the hearts of the Celtic fans, and he's not been helped this season by an almost non-existent challenge from Rangers in the SPL. His team selections have frequently infuriated the support, who have wanted to see more of Riordan and Thomas Gravesen. There are rumours circling about his future at the club... at the moment they remain just that, because he seems in no mood to walk out, and the board love him for slashing the wage bill. Yet he perhaps feels entitled to a little more respect after all his achievements so far.
Across in Edinburgh, of course, it was Hearts who were the crisis club, with dressing room splits and players being emptied for questioning the regime. But clearly Hibs felt left out, and so went nuclear with a dressing room crisis of their own last week which dominated the papers and increased the pressure on John Collins especially ahead of their semi-final tie.
Ahead of the game, Collins had appeared flustered in the press conference, and flashes of anger crossed his face in interviews with the media, but he resolutely refused to answer any questions about the rumours that a delegation of players has demanded a meeting with the chairman to voice criticism of him. After the game itself, he was a little more forthcoming with the BBC's Chick Young, agreeing that it had been "a week he wouldn't want to repeat".
As for the game itself, Hibs were really, really poor in the first half, but improved in the second, without doing enough to win the game. It was the same team that won the CIS Cup Final just 3 weeks ago, but nowhere near the same intensity or movement. After a traumatic week, that perhaps is no surprise. Dunfermline had a couple of chances themselves, and defended solidly, but can't have any complaints at the result.
The real question is why on earth this game goes to a replay, instead of being settled with extra time and penalties if necessary. It's a ridiculous arrangement, and devalues the prestige of a "day out at Hampden" even more. So they'll be back here again in 10 days time.
No repeats, please, said John Collins. Couldn't agree more.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Hearts give Hibs a hangover
The script was written, all it needed was an unlikely hero to make it complete. A weary and, it seemed, demoralised team in maroon, who were spanked 4-0 in their last game, travel to the home of their city neighbours and hated rivals, missing several players through injury or suspension. Their hosts, meanwhile, have just won a trophy in devastating style, are full of confidence, and are the bookies clear favourites. Guess what happens.
If nothing else, Hearts' unlikely victory on Sunday meant that the old footballing chestnut about derbies, form books and windows could be given another airing. They never looked like scoring all afternoon, but another blunder by a Hibs goalkeeper (clearly the yellow jersey is cursed, because they are on their 3rd keeper of the season now and they all seem a bit error-prone) allowed Marius Zaliukas to score the only goal of the match. It was an eventful afternoon for the Lithuanian defender, who also got booked and lived dangerously at times with some very hands-on defending in his own box.
Hearts celebrated like champions, and a large section of their supporters amusingly stayed behind in the away stand after the match. Hibs were due to parade the League Cup trophy straight after the game, but the Jambos made them wait and wait and wait, as the stewards failed to clear the South Stand. Stephen Frail, the Hearts' assistant coach, spoke at length about the importance of team spirit afterwards, and it was clear he and Craig Gordon have done much since the debacle against Dundee Utd to try and get some unity in the dressing room. This was a hard-won victory, and for that they deserved it.
Yet there was something depressing about it all. Here was a team that had come to Easter Road to defend and frustrate, with the clear aim of getting a point. The win was an unexpected bonus. It was the way Falkirk had played when they came to Easter Road in September, and left with the same result. It did the job against a strangely flat Hibernian, who couldn't impose themselves on the game as they would like. Yet this was not Falkirk, but the "mighty" Hearts, who were supposed to be challenging for the league this season. All the swagger and verve has gone, and in its place is a fundamentally limited team. If you wanted evidence of just how badly wrong the Romanov project has gone, Sunday was - despite the win - pretty damning.
It's hard, too, not to come to a similar verdict about the SPL 06/07. Celtic have been within sight of the winning post for so long that their eventual triumph is going to feel more and more like an anti-climax the longer the wait goes on. Gordon Strachan has built a decent team, but they are making a meal of wrapping up the title.
There were some who hoped Paul Le Guen would have the same effect on Rangers as Arsene Wenger had on Arsenal. Instead, he destroyed their title ambitions by Christmas and was off soon after, leaving a wounded club in his wake. Walter Smith has tightened up the defence and generally improved things since his return, but - as the UEFA Cup tie against Osasuna showed - they really aren't all that good.
Aberdeen are 5 points adrift of Rangers and could still get second, but holding off Hearts to claim third and the UEFA place looks more likely. Based on their performances this season, though, neither the Dons nor the Jambos would be a good advertisement for Scottish football in Europe next season.
And down at the bottom, Dunfermline, who have looked stuck-on for relegation since August, still have hope mostly thanks to the atrocious form of St Mirren. If there was a God, he'd relegate both of them.
Hibs 0-1 Hearts
Dundee Utd 1-1 Celtic
Rangers 1-1 ICT
Falkirk 2-0 St Mirren
Kilmarnock 1-2 Aberdeen
Motherwell 2-0 Dunfermline
If nothing else, Hearts' unlikely victory on Sunday meant that the old footballing chestnut about derbies, form books and windows could be given another airing. They never looked like scoring all afternoon, but another blunder by a Hibs goalkeeper (clearly the yellow jersey is cursed, because they are on their 3rd keeper of the season now and they all seem a bit error-prone) allowed Marius Zaliukas to score the only goal of the match. It was an eventful afternoon for the Lithuanian defender, who also got booked and lived dangerously at times with some very hands-on defending in his own box.
Hearts celebrated like champions, and a large section of their supporters amusingly stayed behind in the away stand after the match. Hibs were due to parade the League Cup trophy straight after the game, but the Jambos made them wait and wait and wait, as the stewards failed to clear the South Stand. Stephen Frail, the Hearts' assistant coach, spoke at length about the importance of team spirit afterwards, and it was clear he and Craig Gordon have done much since the debacle against Dundee Utd to try and get some unity in the dressing room. This was a hard-won victory, and for that they deserved it.
Yet there was something depressing about it all. Here was a team that had come to Easter Road to defend and frustrate, with the clear aim of getting a point. The win was an unexpected bonus. It was the way Falkirk had played when they came to Easter Road in September, and left with the same result. It did the job against a strangely flat Hibernian, who couldn't impose themselves on the game as they would like. Yet this was not Falkirk, but the "mighty" Hearts, who were supposed to be challenging for the league this season. All the swagger and verve has gone, and in its place is a fundamentally limited team. If you wanted evidence of just how badly wrong the Romanov project has gone, Sunday was - despite the win - pretty damning.
It's hard, too, not to come to a similar verdict about the SPL 06/07. Celtic have been within sight of the winning post for so long that their eventual triumph is going to feel more and more like an anti-climax the longer the wait goes on. Gordon Strachan has built a decent team, but they are making a meal of wrapping up the title.
There were some who hoped Paul Le Guen would have the same effect on Rangers as Arsene Wenger had on Arsenal. Instead, he destroyed their title ambitions by Christmas and was off soon after, leaving a wounded club in his wake. Walter Smith has tightened up the defence and generally improved things since his return, but - as the UEFA Cup tie against Osasuna showed - they really aren't all that good.
Aberdeen are 5 points adrift of Rangers and could still get second, but holding off Hearts to claim third and the UEFA place looks more likely. Based on their performances this season, though, neither the Dons nor the Jambos would be a good advertisement for Scottish football in Europe next season.
And down at the bottom, Dunfermline, who have looked stuck-on for relegation since August, still have hope mostly thanks to the atrocious form of St Mirren. If there was a God, he'd relegate both of them.
Hibs 0-1 Hearts
Dundee Utd 1-1 Celtic
Rangers 1-1 ICT
Falkirk 2-0 St Mirren
Kilmarnock 1-2 Aberdeen
Motherwell 2-0 Dunfermline
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