Scumdee Shite 0 Saintee Sky Superstars 1 (with 10 men)
League Table Here
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Bollan,Dods,Griffin,Kane,Scott,O'Neil, Legend,Georgio,Il
Biscotti
Subs :: Whiteford,O'Halloran,Ferguson,Connolly,Nathan the
Ginger One
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Sky TV Product. Set in the charming and quaint surroundings of the tip that is Dens Park. I mean if the Pars can put up 2 stands in a summer why the hell should we be expected to pay 12 quid to stand in the pissing rain on a Sunday night. Or even 17 quid for the benefit of rust overhead and splinters up yer arse. And as for the 'Dee-Lette' (?) cheerleaders.........
Still the teams did get to be led out be a piper (nowt like modernising the game eh?) and seemed to take about 10 minutes to drudge to the centre circle. After a minutes silence to remember the N Ireland bombing last week (commemorated by both sets of fans impeccably OF take note) it was down to business.
El Luggino in his infinite wisdom made a few changes to the side that gubbed Tottens Tinks on Tuesday with McMahon out injured and Dasovic dropped in came Phizzy (complete with posing nasal strip) and Garry Bollan, allowing Il Biscotti to push up to left winger. With the rain pouring down and both sides obviously nervous in the early stages it was a fairly cautious opening spell. Scumdee had the better chances but blew then with Danny and Darren looking good in defence. Saints had problems pushing forward with the left wing suffering from an apparent lack of understanding between Bolland and Il Biscotti (with the former doing little to inspire confidence) and the right seeing Del O'Neil absent again - this is becoming a weak spot in the team given the number of times Georgio or the Legend were forced into this position to get the ball.
In midfield Kane and Scott both looked average with neither willing to commit to pushing forward leaving most of the work to a totally knacked Legend and Georgio. Saints lacked power up front and it was Kane who forced the Scumdee keeper into a couple of saves in the first half with long-range efforts whilst both Del and Georgio saw chances go wide.
Saints were lucky to go in at half-time with the game goalless after Dods made an error and let the ball between his legs at the edge of the box. Despite pleas for offside we had to rely on the Scumdee player missing the goal from 8 yards out. Still nice to know that there are some things in life you can rely on!!
The second-half saw a lot more urgency from Saints and with the pressure mounting on the home defence thanks to Il Biscotti pushing forward more and some probing runs from McQ. We finally took the lead on the hour mark when McQ found O'Neil on the right wing. He cut in and sent the ball into the box where Georgio knocked it clear for Phizzy to turn and volley into the net from 10 yards. Oh how we laughed and cheered. Saints had chances to increase their lead with Roddy and Georgio coming close.
At the other end Scumdee won a series of free kicks from the increasingly erratic referee Mike McCurry but Main only had to make one save.
The game boiled over with 15 mins to go. Georgio got the ball to the corner flag and started to take the piss out of Adamczuk. The Scumdee defender didnt like this and had a few digs at Georgio who put his arms out in a gesture to look for help from the ref. Of course the Pole decided to clutch his face and collapse. Cue a red-card for retaliation for Georgio whilst the Pole escaped with a yellow. To say that the large away support were miffed was to understate the fact. Even the normally placid Luggy who had a good view of the incident leapt to his feet and looked set to carry out a one-man pitch invasion.
With Saints down to 10 men the last 15 minutes saw us under more pressure. Luggy put on Chief for Scott although for some reason he left on the knackered (and booked) Legend and the useless Del. Still it was the Saints sub who could have made it 2-0 in the last moments. Legend broke down the right and sent an excellent cross over which O'Halloran only weakly headed into the keepers hands.
Still the final whistle went and gave us all a chance to vent anger at the ref, before escaping the tip into fresh air once more. There were yellows for Roddy, Bollan, Kane and Griffin. The worrying one was Legend since he seems to be picking up senseless bookings in every game for use of the elbows.
As for the Scum - they are going so far down you'd call them Monica !!
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
| Hearts | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Celtic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| Rangers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Aberdeen | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Kilmarnock | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Motherwell | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Saints | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Dunfermline | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Dundee Utd | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Dundee | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Remember to vote on todays ref Mike McCurry (Glasgow hmm) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk