The halfway (or slightly beyond) report..

[Glenmavis Diamond]

Whilst Raith have done well so far in completing for top spot with Dundee Utd, I expect the latter to win the league with. Game or 2 to spare. Yes, Utd have a questionable manager, but their playing squad, and likely squad additions this month, should see them through. 

Rovers have done well with swinging results in their favour in the last 10 mins quite a fee times this season. But that's not exactly an approach that can be sustained IMO, as proven when Airdrie beat them for the 2nd time on Saturday. Murray's tactics are there to be nullified and more teams will suss them out sooner rather than later. 

As for Airdrie, I'm just enjoying the journey. It's been superb so far and as muvh as we could go on a bad run at some point, I also know we are capable of even better. All in all though, I'm loving it so far! 

[BigMacIain]

3 hours ago, FLDiamond said:

Mid-season review from The Herald

Unsure if it will let you see the full content but a good analysis on the teams 

Need to be a subscriber to read that. Any chance you could copy/paste the text here, please? If it's not against the rules.

[AuldReekie]

5 minutes ago, BigMacIain said:

Need to be a subscriber to read that. Any chance you could copy/paste the text here, please? If it's not against the rules.

Don't think you do. I'm not a subscriber and read it earlier. Try cleaning out cookies or try in incognito mode. 

[btb]

14 minutes ago, BigMacIain said:

Need to be a subscriber to read that. Any chance you could copy/paste the text here, please? If it's not against the rules.

The Scottish Championship rarely disappoints. It's a division producing engrossing entertainment that far outweighs the column inches and television coverage it receives. Come the end of the season there'll be just three positions not resulting in promotion, play-offs or relegation for goodness sake.

Not convinced? Well, consider a second consecutive 15-plus goal weekend, an unexpected title challenge, a painful relegation battle, oh and the small matter of a goalkeeper scoring the surefire goal of the season last weekend - all while playing as a striker.

There's an intangible magic surrounding the Scottish Championship, no more evident than this season with stories from the peak to the foot of the table.

Take league leaders Raith Rovers for example. A forgettable 1-0 defeat to Airdrieonians aside it has been a season of revival for the club both on and off the pitch.

Long gone are the dark days of mismanagement on and off the pitch that left the reputation of the Kirkcaldy club in tatters.

 

By all accounts, Raith Rovers are now doing things the right way both with results under capable manager Ian Murray and in the offices with a revamped boardroom.

Think back to the summer, in some quarters the league title was already clad in orange and black and en route to Tannadice. Raith Rovers have halted any procession to the title with a charge of their own.

But in Scotland's second tier things are rarely simple with flourishing manager Rhys McCabe's Airdrie claiming an impressive triumph at the Excelsior courtesy of Nikolay Todorov's first-half finish.

The Diamonds are charting a thrilling course for their season to having only reached the Championship through the play-off last term and sitting inside the play-off spots again this term.

There's absolutely no doubt at the halfway point that Airdrie can hang with the best in the division - it's simply now a matter of whether they can last to the end of the season where anything can happen in the play-offs. McCabe's stock is certainly rising, and at just 31, he could have a long future in the dugout.

For Dundee United, with a game still in hand over Raith Rovers, it was an opportunity missed to go top of the table as the club suffered defeat to Morton in a ding-dong battle.

The Tannadice club have been wisely sensible, not sensational, this term with Jim Goodwin recruiting experienced pros in the summer capable of catapulting the club back into the Premiership.

Boasting a stunning plus-32 goal difference United have been free-scoring and rarely conceding this season but face stiff competition from Raith Rovers - and results like a 3-2 defeat at home to Morton only serve to intensify a punch-counterpunch title contest.

A George Oakley hat-trick claimed triumph with the winner hit two minutes from time and seconds after Craig Sibbald was sent off for the hosts.

Standout Scotland youth international Kai Fotheringham was again on the scoresheet for United, as was Louis Moult.

In the case of Morton, it's now seven games unbeaten in the league with back-to-back wins in recent weeks under Dougie Imrie. 

A horror start to the campaign is long in the rearview mirror and Imrie - another coach earning plaudits - has his side motoring. With a game in hand, Morton could take a spot in the play-off places - and in current form they're hard to bet against come the end of the season.

While Raith Rovers and Dundee United slipped up, there were no such struggles for Kris Doolan's Partick Thistle. The Glasgow Jags enjoyed a 4-0 rout of Arbroath in their last home outing for six weeks - in doing so consolidating their spot in third.

After an agonising end to last season, defeat in the play-off final to Ross County, Thistle have avoided following season-syndrome and have instead put together another strong push for promotion.

Brian Graham, Aidan Fitzpatrick and a Tomi Adeloye double ensured a second victory on the bounce for the Firhill side. A few sticky results aside and Thistle appear to have a 'boing' in their step with another promotion push looking evermore likely each week.

 

READ MORE: Leeann Dempster to leave Queen's Park after three years

The same cannot be said of Arbroath with fortunes yet to really change since Dick Campbell's resignation and Jim McIntyre's arrival to the Championship basement boys.

The Thistle drubbing makes it seven conceded in the last two with zero scored. This season, unlike in stunning seasons before, Arbroath must simply strive for safety.

Campbell's exit signalled change at the club - they can only hope it won't also make a difference to their division come May.

If ever there remained questions over the entertainment value of the Championship, look no further than Duncan Ferguson as Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager - and he's making a decent fist of it.

A 3-1 triumph over Ayr - Billy McKay scoring and Morgan Boyes netting a brace to render Logan Chalmers' effort a consolation - lifts Inverness over their opponents and to seventh in the table.

Ferguson has been steady and looks to have ended a dire run which was spiralling out of control before his arrival. It could still go two ways, though, just four points off the bottom and six off the play-offs it's very much a case of watch this space in the Highlands.

 

Now winless in four, Ayr have slipped down the division with Lee Bullen's side in serious danger of being dragged into a relegation dogfight.

Bullen had impressed after his arrival in 2022 and looked to have recruited a blend of experience and youth at Somerset Park. However, he now faces a puzzle to drag his side to the right end of the table.

The Scottish Championship weekend kicked-off on Friday night with BBC's televised coverage of Queen's Park against Dunfermline. 

Despite a somewhat drab first-half, those who persisted on telly or inside Hampden were treated to a breathless second 45 minutes which could be a turning point for both clubs.

The Spiders ended a dire four-and-a-half month wait for a league win, thanks to strikes form Ruari Paton and Dom Thomas. It was a first win for Paul Nuijten - aided by new interim addition David Hopkin in the background - and for the club's sake must spark a revival in form to avoid the automatic or play-off relegation spots.

For Dunfermline, situated in the middle of the pack, defeat was only worsened by further injury blows as Aaron Comrie and Alex Jakubiak limped off at Hampden.

The injury crisis has been branded the worst captain Kyle Benedictus, also sidelined through injury, has seen throughout his career with near-enough a full XI capable of competing in the division in the treatment room.

Barring miraculous recoveries for a host of players, James McPake could be forced into the market this month to stop his side slipping down the table.

 

Regardless, nothing beats seeing football live in the flesh. If there's one thing to do during the winter break with top-flight action paused, and even when it's not, then it's check out the Championship, you won't be disappointed.

[BigMacIain]

Thanks for that.

[Ranaldo Bairn]

18 minutes ago, btb said:

The Scottish Championship rarely disappoints. It's a division producing engrossing entertainment that far outweighs the column inches and television coverage it receives. Come the end of the season there'll be just three positions not resulting in promotion, play-offs or relegation for goodness sake.

Not convinced? Well, consider a second consecutive 15-plus goal weekend, an unexpected title challenge, a painful relegation battle, oh and the small matter of a goalkeeper scoring the surefire goal of the season last weekend - all while playing as a striker.

There's an intangible magic surrounding the Scottish Championship, no more evident than this season with stories from the peak to the foot of the table.

Take league leaders Raith Rovers for example. A forgettable 1-0 defeat to Airdrieonians aside it has been a season of revival for the club both on and off the pitch.

Long gone are the dark days of mismanagement on and off the pitch that left the reputation of the Kirkcaldy club in tatters.

 

By all accounts, Raith Rovers are now doing things the right way both with results under capable manager Ian Murray and in the offices with a revamped boardroom.

Think back to the summer, in some quarters the league title was already clad in orange and black and en route to Tannadice. Raith Rovers have halted any procession to the title with a charge of their own.

But in Scotland's second tier things are rarely simple with flourishing manager Rhys McCabe's Airdrie claiming an impressive triumph at the Excelsior courtesy of Nikolay Todorov's first-half finish.

The Diamonds are charting a thrilling course for their season to having only reached the Championship through the play-off last term and sitting inside the play-off spots again this term.

There's absolutely no doubt at the halfway point that Airdrie can hang with the best in the division - it's simply now a matter of whether they can last to the end of the season where anything can happen in the play-offs. McCabe's stock is certainly rising, and at just 31, he could have a long future in the dugout.

For Dundee United, with a game still in hand over Raith Rovers, it was an opportunity missed to go top of the table as the club suffered defeat to Morton in a ding-dong battle.

The Tannadice club have been wisely sensible, not sensational, this term with Jim Goodwin recruiting experienced pros in the summer capable of catapulting the club back into the Premiership.

Boasting a stunning plus-32 goal difference United have been free-scoring and rarely conceding this season but face stiff competition from Raith Rovers - and results like a 3-2 defeat at home to Morton only serve to intensify a punch-counterpunch title contest.

A George Oakley hat-trick claimed triumph with the winner hit two minutes from time and seconds after Craig Sibbald was sent off for the hosts.

Standout Scotland youth international Kai Fotheringham was again on the scoresheet for United, as was Louis Moult.

In the case of Morton, it's now seven games unbeaten in the league with back-to-back wins in recent weeks under Dougie Imrie. 

A horror start to the campaign is long in the rearview mirror and Imrie - another coach earning plaudits - has his side motoring. With a game in hand, Morton could take a spot in the play-off places - and in current form they're hard to bet against come the end of the season.

While Raith Rovers and Dundee United slipped up, there were no such struggles for Kris Doolan's Partick Thistle. The Glasgow Jags enjoyed a 4-0 rout of Arbroath in their last home outing for six weeks - in doing so consolidating their spot in third.

After an agonising end to last season, defeat in the play-off final to Ross County, Thistle have avoided following season-syndrome and have instead put together another strong push for promotion.

Brian Graham, Aidan Fitzpatrick and a Tomi Adeloye double ensured a second victory on the bounce for the Firhill side. A few sticky results aside and Thistle appear to have a 'boing' in their step with another promotion push looking evermore likely each week.

 

READ MORE: Leeann Dempster to leave Queen's Park after three years

The same cannot be said of Arbroath with fortunes yet to really change since Dick Campbell's resignation and Jim McIntyre's arrival to the Championship basement boys.

The Thistle drubbing makes it seven conceded in the last two with zero scored. This season, unlike in stunning seasons before, Arbroath must simply strive for safety.

Campbell's exit signalled change at the club - they can only hope it won't also make a difference to their division come May.

If ever there remained questions over the entertainment value of the Championship, look no further than Duncan Ferguson as Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager - and he's making a decent fist of it.

A 3-1 triumph over Ayr - Billy McKay scoring and Morgan Boyes netting a brace to render Logan Chalmers' effort a consolation - lifts Inverness over their opponents and to seventh in the table.

Ferguson has been steady and looks to have ended a dire run which was spiralling out of control before his arrival. It could still go two ways, though, just four points off the bottom and six off the play-offs it's very much a case of watch this space in the Highlands.

 

Now winless in four, Ayr have slipped down the division with Lee Bullen's side in serious danger of being dragged into a relegation dogfight.

Bullen had impressed after his arrival in 2022 and looked to have recruited a blend of experience and youth at Somerset Park. However, he now faces a puzzle to drag his side to the right end of the table.

The Scottish Championship weekend kicked-off on Friday night with BBC's televised coverage of Queen's Park against Dunfermline. 

Despite a somewhat drab first-half, those who persisted on telly or inside Hampden were treated to a breathless second 45 minutes which could be a turning point for both clubs.

The Spiders ended a dire four-and-a-half month wait for a league win, thanks to strikes form Ruari Paton and Dom Thomas. It was a first win for Paul Nuijten - aided by new interim addition David Hopkin in the background - and for the club's sake must spark a revival in form to avoid the automatic or play-off relegation spots.

For Dunfermline, situated in the middle of the pack, defeat was only worsened by further injury blows as Aaron Comrie and Alex Jakubiak limped off at Hampden.

The injury crisis has been branded the worst captain Kyle Benedictus, also sidelined through injury, has seen throughout his career with near-enough a full XI capable of competing in the division in the treatment room.

Barring miraculous recoveries for a host of players, James McPake could be forced into the market this month to stop his side slipping down the table.

 

Regardless, nothing beats seeing football live in the flesh. If there's one thing to do during the winter break with top-flight action paused, and even when it's not, then it's check out the Championship, you won't be disappointed.

I bailed out after the factual error on the second line, FFS.

[cb_diamond]

17 minutes ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

I bailed out after the factual error on the second line, FFS.

It's the third line. Can understand the confusion with your team still being in the third tier an aw that.

[Ranaldo Bairn]

1 hour ago, cb_diamond said:

It's the third line. Can understand the confusion with your team still being in the third tier an aw that.

Not on my pc screen you simpleton.

[cb_diamond]

51 minutes ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

Not on my pc screen you simpleton.

No honestly, Falkirk will still be in the third tier on your PC screen too.

[Cappiecat1.2]

3 hours ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

I bailed out after the factual error on the second line, FFS.

You must be absolutely delighted that your team haven't had to play in the championship for all these years then.

[Ranaldo Bairn]

57 minutes ago, cb_diamond said:

No honestly, Falkirk will still be in the third tier on your PC screen too.

Not bad tbf.

19 minutes ago, Cappiecat1.2 said:

You must be absolutely delighted that your team haven't had to play in the championship for all these years then.

Eesht.

[TheScarf]

11 hours ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

Not on my pc screen you simpleton.

I laughed out loud at this.