Aberdeen and Rangers go head-to-head in a mouth-watering title clash at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
Champions Celtic are looking to take advantage of dropped points by nearest pursuers with a win over Dundee. Hibs and Hearts are still scrapping near the foot of the table after frustrating starts to the term. However, on the Hotline, it seems discussions about European football remain high on the agenda with people being dug out. One call about Celtic’s draw with Atalanta in Bergamo last week still seems to be raising debate.
Al Beattie wasn’t happy at Rangers fans claiming Celtic parked the bus in Italy and used Rangers’ goalless draw with Barcelona in 2007 as reference. But Alan Flett said: “For anyone to try and compare Rangers v Barcelona with Celtic v Atalanta last week is beyond belief. That Barcelona team were one of the best of all time, even Real Madrid parked the bus against them. Atalanta are a diddy league team.”
Alec Morrison added: “Al Beattie, funniest thing I’ve read in a long time, well short time as you seem to think 17 years ago was a short time ago. It’s good to know than in the past 17 years no-one has said we play anti-football, so onwards and upwards for Rangers.”
It is Celtic who lead the way in the title race going into this midweek round of fixtures following their Sunday victory at Motherwell. Luke McCowan was among the stand-out players for Brendan Rodgers as they triumphed 3-0 at Fir Park and Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, was full of praise for the ex-Dundee star.
He said: “I was concerned that, with Callum McGregor missing in midfield, Celtic would miss his influence. But McCowan stepped up to the plate magnificently and for the transfer fee paid looks like a absolute steal.”
The Edinburgh derby honours were split as Hibs and Hearts fought out a 1-1 Easter Road draw. Neil Critchley’s new side managed to secure a point with a late equaliser through youngster James Wilson.
Neil Renton, Leith, had a comment to make on a more senior Tynecastle performer as he said: “I’d like to praise Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland for getting into the spirit of Halloween. How else can you explain him turning up to the derby against Hibs dressed as the Invisible Man?”
Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, had words to say about the form of St Mirren and also tied it with the situation at Hibs. He said: “Why would you reward Stephen Robinson at St Mirren with a new contract when his team are playing below par like my golf? Or do the board think another club like Hibs will be teed-off with David Gray and come knocking with a five-iron contract and St Mirren get a big compensation claim as I think the games a bogey for Robinson at St Mirren, never mind Gray.”
Alan Lough, Dunbar, wasn’t happy at the standard of officiating over the Premiership weekend. He said: “Another weekend where VAR ruins everything that we love about football. The experts can say what they want about it, but we are long past the point where the spontaneity of it no longer exists.”
Jim McClean, Rothesay, added: “If there is a worse referee than Matthew MacDermid, I have yet to see him. That’s three games he has taken charge of Killie games, he has it in for us, controversial decisions in every game. This guy should be downgraded immediately. Come back Willie Collum. All is forgiven.”
John Caw was back to say: “Alan Muir. This is the man who cost Neil Lennon his job at Celtic. At the Motherwell game it’s a stonewall penalty and red card for Stephen O’Donnell.”