Insert Amusing Pseudonym Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 8 hours ago, craigkillie said: Northern Ireland squad hasn't been announced yet but you'd expect Smith and Boyce to be in that. I'd guess the game will still go ahead though. Boyce might no be in the squad as his missus is due. But it'll go ahead regardless 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) Much more impressive showing from Dundee tonight. Needed that after Tuesday's stinker. Put the pressure on Dunfermline and Raith. As for the Saturday games: Arbroath need points if they're going to keep themselves in this conversation, and it doesn't come much tougher than the league leaders Hearts. Dick Campbell's side will be looking to avoid 3 consecutive losses and return to their previously impressive 2021 form, but Hearts are unbeaten in their last 8 games and will evidently be favourites. A tough ask, but they've answered them in the recent past. Raith travel south to take on the Honest Men, with David Hopkin's men fresh off their battering of Dundee on Tuesday. Both matches between these two this season were dull-as-dishwater 0-0 draws, and I'm sure both will be looking for something better. Now with an impressive first win under their new manager, a win for Ayr could see them up to 5th on the day depending on results. Meanwhile, Raith will look to leap back over Dundee and hopefully Dunfermline with a win that would snap their 3-game winless streak and stop them from potentially stagnating and dropping out of the play-off spots in future. An intriguing one in the battle of the long-named lads. If Dunfermline win, they look in great shape as they tighten their grip on 2nd place. An Inverness win meanwhile sees Caley grab 7 points from 9 from some of the top teams in the league and haul themselves up as high as potentially 5th by day's end, a far cry from the relegation spots of a few weeks ago. The Pars comfortably won this tie on opening day, and will be favourites to do so again, but Neil McCann is looking to prove that he and his team have clicked. Lastly, Dundee's win over Alloa mounts extra pressure on Queen of the South's hopes to finish as a play-off side. They could realistically find themselves back in 4th over Raith with QoS and Ayr Utd wins (and mathematically could be 2nd in 24 hours, though they'd need at least 16 goals to do so). Morton are desperately looking to find form from anywhere, and are probably looking more behind them than in front at the moment. A win would see them at best up to 6th and perhaps some breathing room from the relegation play-offs. Edited March 20, 2021 by RossBFaeDundee 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbowrising Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Some big head to heads coming up with Dees, Dunfi and Raith 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoo61 Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 12 minutes ago, rainbowrising said: Some big head to heads coming up with Dees, Dunfi and Raith Only thing that is predictable is that they will all be of a dreadful quality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) What a league this is. Frustrating day for Arbroath, as while they put in a creditable performance to keep Hearts scoreless and grab a point, they find themselves more isolated in 9th. Despite this, they're still just 8 points off the play-off spots, so there's still a chance, but they'll need to find wins and soon to continue justifying me discussing them here. Another opportunity missed for Raith to push on clearly in the 2nd spot, with Ayr grabbing an equaliser to leave them joint on points with Dunfermline and Dundee, above the former only via goals scored. Ayr are 5 points off 4th and 3 points off 9th, showing a draw really isn't in their best interests right now, but certainly better than a loss. Massive win for ICT at East End Park, as Neil McCann's side continue to put it together and rise up to 5th in the table, just 3 points shy of the play-offs, and Raith in 2nd place. A disaster for Dunfermline, who go back to 3rd via goals scored. Though they have an extra game in hand over those two, both games are against their two fellow 30-pointers (Raith and Dundee). Finally, a big win for the Ton at Cappielow over a Queens side who look like they've had their fairy dust wear off. While still only 8th, Morton go 3 points clear of 9th and like Ayr are just 5 points off 4th in this mental league. It doesn't take much good form to turn a team from relegation candidates to play-off chasers in the Championship, and Gus MacPherson will be looking to do just that. AJ meanwhile needs to stop the sudden rot for QoS now, down to 6th and a massive disadvantage in GD. Edited March 23, 2021 by RossBFaeDundee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Win at Raith and we'll be within two points of the play-offs and potentially three off second place once the Dunfermline v Dundee game plays out next Saturday evening. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 1 hour ago, rainbowrising said: Some big head to heads coming up with Dees, Dunfi and Raith Exactly, with those three comprising the full four games in hand versus the rest of the Championship. As it stands, Raith, the Pars and Dundee seem the likely playoff candidates, but Raith’s current form clearly show it’s still anyone’s (but Alloa?j race. After the Raith v Pars match a week on Tuesday, I expect much will be clearer. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Starko Rover Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Win at Raith and we'll be within two points of the play-offs and potentially three off second place once the Dunfermline v Dundee game plays out next Saturday evening. Lose and you’re looking the other way, entire season has been crazy. I’d probably say ourselves, Pars and Dees are just about safe of bottom two but outside of that it’s a complete lottery where anyone finishes except Hearts and maybe Alloa, their next game is surely make or break. After the last game between us I’d have bet on Morton getting pulled into the relegation battle but who knows at the moment. I’ll say one thing it’s not a boring season. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_M Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 32 minutes ago, San Starko Rover said: Lose and you’re looking the other way, entire season has been crazy. I’d probably say ourselves, Pars and Dees are just about safe of bottom two but outside of that it’s a complete lottery where anyone finishes except Hearts and maybe Alloa, their next game is surely make or break. After the last game between us I’d have bet on Morton getting pulled into the relegation battle but who knows at the moment. I’ll say one thing it’s not a boring season. Relegation dogfight thread for this pish. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Right, after the good laugh that was the Cup games last night, we return our focus to league action: After the initial underwhelmed reaction by Ayr fans to the news that David Hopkin would be their new manager, I would assume they are feeling a bit better about it now. Hopkin's men, after a tough first match away to Hearts, have had 3 decent results in a row, including last night's 4-0 stroll up in the Highlands. Now with a wee bit of momentum behind them, the Honest Men will be looking to take all 3 points from a tough matchup against bottom side Alloa, who will be desperate to fight for every chance they have at survival. Ayr's recent form, Alloa's scudding at the hands of a Dundee side they'd battered three days prior, and Ayr winning both matchups previously this season indicate an away win which could see them as high as 5th by Sunday morning, but Alloa are no strangers to being spoilers. After thundering into 2021 with an incredible rise up the table, the flying Queens side has been stalled in the last couple of games, and find themselves in 6th place. Allan Johnston's side will be looking to get back on track, but a visit to Tynecastle is never an overly exciting one for a team with this goal in mind, especially in this league. However, the league leaders have been toiling on the pitch of late, and will no doubt be disheartened and embarrassed by their shocking Scottish Cup exit last night. This should inspire a little bit of confidence in the Doonhamers, but the Jambos will surely be out for blood against everyone left in their path if the club has any intentions of getting back onside with their fans. A QoS win could well see them back in the play-off positions, but it will no doubt be a tough ask if Robbie Neilson gets a bloodthirsty response out of his team... If. Neil McCann seems to be finally clicking with his new team, who are now on a 3-game winning streak (albeit the latest one being a rough performance in a win over Highland League Buckie Thistle). Dick Campbell's Arbroath meanwhile will be wanting to right last night's loss to Falkirk ASAP. The Lichties have now gone 4 games without a win after going unbeaten in 2021 through January and February. They now find themselves in 9th, 3 points off 8th, 8 points of the play-off spots, and desperately needing a win in any circumstance. Inverness, after a wee while of worrying about relegation play-offs, are now just 3 points of the promotion ones, and a 4th straight win would do their hopes for the latter a great deal of good, considering at least one team above them will definitely drop points. Two teams coming off wins last night (though Morton's took a little longer) that have been fairly inconsistent as of late. Raith remain winless in 4 league games, and despite still barely sitting in 2nd place, have let teams catch right up with them. Morton still look more likely relegation PO candidates than promotion ones, but in this league it only takes a couple of wins to change which ones you focus on, and Gus MacPherson's side have found them of late. While a win for the Rovers could see them go clear in 2nd (considering their 2 biggest rivals for the spot play each other this weekend), a Morton win brings them right back into the mid-table fold, and just a couple points off of Raith and the play-off spots. The big game on the TV. Two teams that realllllllllly should be doing a lot better than they actually are, but are hampered with inconsistencies (and bad managers). Dundee come off a weird week where emotions hit peaks and troughs, but now sit in a relatively hopeful mood again thanks to a big win away to Alloa, only their 2nd away win and 4th clean sheet of the season. Dunfermline know the pains of bad away form well, with just one away win all season, all the way back in October 2020 (also against Alloa). Dunfermline are also coming off of a somewhat deflating shootout loss to Morton last night. However, the last time Dundee played the Pars at Dens after the latter lost a shootout in a Cup game, they squandered a 3-0 lead that they held as late as the 75th minute. Both teams desperately need consistency, and either winner takes a massive step forward to claiming 2nd spot, whereas a draw only stifles both and helps Raith (and Caley and QoS I suppose). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Should be a really juicy preview posted Saturday night or Sunday then for the Tuesday match. The Dees v Pars match result could really liven up the intensity of the Raith v Pars match. Fair chance this is the inflection weekend+ for this season for most teams. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 27, 2021 Author Share Posted March 27, 2021 I don't care much for this fucking league. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 27, 2021 Author Share Posted March 27, 2021 (edited) A to'er-and-fro'er down in Clackmannanshire today, as Ayr United slink away with a point. Despite taking an early lead, the Honest Men found themselves down 2-1 for a large chunk of the game before an Alloa own goal saved them from dropping all 3 points. Ayr now 4 points off 6th and a very tight play-off fight above them. What was it I said? "the Jambos will surely be out for blood against everyone left in their path"? Because this was the exact opposite of that. All credit to QoS for a great performance, particularly to Connor Shields for his 2 goals (specifically his 2nd, what a peach). Hearts looked to have shitfested their way to a point, but Andy Irving with a dreadful own goal gave the Doonhamers all 3 points today, and while still just 6th they're only out of the play-off spots by their awful GD. Hearts almost deliberately taking the piss out of their fans and the other teams at this point. It seemed like a fairly tight one up north today, but Neil McCann's Caley keep on rolling with yet another win, their 4th consecutive one in all competitions, and their 4th consecutive clean sheet in the league. Nikolay Todorov once again providing the goods and helps guide Caley to 4th place (as of me writing this, hopefully back down to 5th by the time I post this). Arbroath definitely now focusing on getting out of 9th than getting promoted. Game sounded like an utter snoozefest, but Raith get the late goal via Jamie Gullan and snatching the 3 points like the utter b*****ds promotion chasers they are. They now sit pretty, 3 points clear in 2nd, and can enjoy tonight's game a little bit more. Gives them good leeway going into their massive Fife derby on Tuesday against the Pars. Morton meanwhile don't look like catching up with the others above them, and a mid-table finish wouldn't be the worst for them at this point. Well, this certainly was a wild one! After 6 minutes Dunfermline looked pretty with a 2-0 lead, but Dundee outperformed them for the remainder of the game and came away with a vital 3 points. Dundee are now joint 2nd with Raith on 33 points, while Dunfermline all of a sudden are looking vulnerable to keep their play-off spot at all. Edited March 27, 2021 by RossBFaeDundee 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Given the overall tight grouping for the playoffs, and the fact that Raith will be looking at The Pars and Dees having a game in hand versus us, at least 1 point will be necessary to maintain any realistic challenge for second. Ending up joint second with 33 points, and one more game played would, not be a comfortable situation for our hopes. Looks to be fun. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 (edited) Just the one game on this Tuesday, but what a game! Live on the telly, it's a Fife derby with potentially huge consequences for 2nd spot and maybe the play-offs as a whole. Raith claimed their first league win in a month yesterday in a tight contest with Morton, and find themselves in 2nd place above Dundee on GD. Dunfermline meanwhile have suffered three defeats this week in all competitions, and their slow fall seems to be continuing. They're now 4th, and a loss to their rivals by 2 or more goals would see them drop below Inverness CT. However, the Pars have had the edge in the derby this season, with a late comeback at their last visit to Stark's Park stealing a point and the game at East End Park finishing as a dominant 4-1 win. Dunfermline's 2021 away record of 1 point out of 15 however is a big worry for them. A win for Stevie Crawford's men would see them likely back to 2nd via GD over Raith & Dundee, but would leave all three stuck on the same points with the Pars and Dees having a game in hand against each other in Dunfermline. A Raith win meanwhile sees them climb 3 points clear of Dundee and gives them yet another good chance to claim 2nd spot for themselves. A draw is not really helpful at all for either, and possibly best for Dundee in the long run. Definitely worth a watch this Tuesday night! Edited March 29, 2021 by RossBFaeDundee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
true_rover Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Just the one game on this Tuesday and the only Championship game for a wee while amidst the upcoming cup games, but what a game! Live on the telly, it's a Fife derby with potentially huge consequences for 2nd spot and maybe the play-offs as a whole. Raith claimed their first league win in a month yesterday in a tight contest with Morton, and find themselves in 2nd place above Dundee on GD. Dunfermline meanwhile have suffered three defeats this week in all competitions, and their slow fall seems to be continuing. They're now 4th, and a loss to their rivals by 2 or more goals would see them drop below Inverness CT. However, the Pars have had the edge in the derby this season, with a late comeback at their last visit to Stark's Park stealing a point and the game at East End Park finishing as a dominant 4-1 win. Dunfermline's 2021 away record of 1 point out of 15 however is a big worry for them. A win for Stevie Crawford's men would see them likely back to 2nd via GD over Raith & Dundee, but would leave all three stuck on the same points with the Pars and Dees having a game in hand against each other in Dunfermline. A Raith win meanwhile sees them climb 3 points clear of Dundee and gives them yet another good chance to claim 2nd spot for themselves. A draw is not really helpful at all for either, and possibly best for Dundee in the long run. Definitely worth a watch this Tuesday night!A wee while? There are two Championship games on Saturday - granted only the four teams not good enough to make it through to the 3rd round of the cup [emoji6] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, true_rover said: A wee while? There are two Championship games on Saturday - granted only the four teams not good enough to make it through to the 3rd round of the cup That's fair, couldn't imagine any Championship team relevant to this thread not making it to the 3rd round! Edited March 29, 2021 by RossBFaeDundee 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raith_Raver Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 15 hours ago, RossBFaeDundee said: A draw is not really helpful at all for either, and possibly best for Dundee in the long run. Definitely worth a watch this Tuesday night! You mean "'Mon the draw"! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 14 minutes ago, Raith_Raver said: You mean "'Mon the draw"! I would never be so bold to back anything this early. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossBFaeDundee Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 Oh also, while Dunfermline can't win away from home, Raith can't win during the midweek, so that's fun! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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