Scottish Premiership fan views: 'Best I've seen in 40 years' and 'wake-up' calls

AOL
 
Scottish Premiership fan views: 'Best I've seen in 40 years' and 'wake-up' calls

It's not unusual for a Scottish Premiership weekend to end in controversy, but this time it was because of a postponement caused by a poor pitch rather than action on the field of play.

Five games did go ahead on Saturday and here's a taste of the fan reaction from those - as well as that Sunday call-off between Dundee and Rangers:

Rangers fans were as annoyed as their club and management at Sunday's wasted trip.

Kim: Dundee should be made to forfeit the match if they are unable to play the match. That's the fourth time the Dundee pitch is unplayable this season. If their stadium is not up to standard then they should be made to install water drainage underground. Do fans get their money back for travel?

The postponement means Rangers were denied a chance to go back to the top of the table ahead of Celtic, who eased St Johnstone aside 3-1 the day before. A result and performance that has given renewed hope to their fans that the title can be retained.

Patrick: We looked competent. They knew the goals would come. Forty-five seconds into the second half and it was done, yet with minutes left, we were still pressing for more. Much better.

Steven: Good performance. Definitely a step in the right direction. [Nicolas] Kuhn and [Tomoki] Iwata stand-out performers for me - hopefully no more injuries during the break and go from there.

Chic: I thought Celtic were dominant throughout and showed good levels of determination. However, the tempo and fight needs to go to another level. Accuracy of passing must improve.

Christopher: Impressive and positive result for us. We can't change the fact we have nobody to blame but ourselves for how the season has went, but all we can do is win every game until May. [Daizen] Meada, [Nicolas] Kuhn and Kyogo [Furuhashi] were impressive, but there are still individuals who are suspect at in our back line.

Peter: Three points is all that matters at this stage. Could not care less how team plays if we win remaining eight league games. It's a results-driven business. It would be great to play and win with style, but you do not get any bonus points for doing so.

Christopher: Celtic have been lacklustre all season, but this performance had real promise. A great position to be in for the title run-in.

John: We never looked like conceding until Cameron Carter-Vickers was subbed. Barring any mishaps, he will play for the rest of the season. After the international break, we will be at full strength. There's a vast improvement in [Nicolas] Khun, who now looks settled and Tomoki [Iwata] has done well having clocked more minutes.

The result of the weekend, though, was at Rugby Park, with Kilmarnock fans left stunned by their side's comeback from two goals down to win 5-2.

Scott: From ridiculous to sublime. Team-mates bickering with each other, a team lacking fluidity and creation deservedly booed off at half time. St Mirren were shell shocked with five goals in 20 minutes. What a day to be a Killie fan.

Anon: First half, we were slow and predictable. Felt we didn't have the fight that we have had all season. A lot of credit needs to go to the manager for that result. He has us in a very good place.

Jim: I thought that was the best second half of football I have seen at Rugby Park. Every player played their socks off to a man. There was a massive crowd in and fair play to St Mirren bringing down 2,500 supporters. All in all, it's another three points towards the top six.

Anon: Genuinely believed that this was going to be a heavy defeat. Did not foresee us getting to that level of performance in the second half. It just goes to show what we can do when we keep the ball on the deck and stop lumping it up the park.

Ryan: Tactical change seemed to affect us first half, and maybe some nerves, but what a turnaround. Winning crucial games like this at a pivotal point in the season makes you believe something special is happening.

Grant: A poor first half, Killie never really got started, but the second half - I am struggling to think of a better 45 minutes I have seen in over 30 years of following Kilmarnock. Great reaction from the team and David Watson's goal was Messi-esque.

Andrew: Long ball never worked in first half. Clever goals by Saints, blocking players, but poor defending. Unbelievable second half. Passed the ball the way we can, superb attacking play and well-taken goals. Best of the bunch by young David Watson. Best I have seen in 40 years.

In contrast, St Mirren fans were left shell-shocked by their team's collapse.

William: One of the meanest defences in Scotland were all at sea in this game. Credit to Killie, but alarmingly this could have been more of a defeat. Hopefully the players can reflect on this defeat and get back to winning ways against Motherwell

John: A very disappointing result from being 2-0 up. As long as we finish in the top six, it will be a good season.

James: St Mirren brought their biggest support to an away game for a long time and abjectly folded in the second half. Kilmarnock were bound to be better in the second 45 minutes. The battle for fourth is not over, but the Saints need to stay in the fight - this time they didn't.

Anthony: Absolute bottle job - they do it every game they have a lead in, sit off teams and invite them to score, but that was the worst by a country mile.

Mark: I have been a lifelong St Mirren fan and have never witnessed a collapse like at Kilmarnock. Stephen Robinson is doing a fantastic job at St Mirren, but particularly after the first half performance and leading comfortably at half time, I thought we would consolidate and go on - alas, not. Here's hoping we will get top six but was a real wake-up call.

After easing aside bottom-of-the-table Livingston 3-0, Hibernian are now above Dundee in sixth place and only four behind fifth-placed St Mirren.

James: Quick, incisive passing and movement from the off. We took chances missed in previous weeks. Nectarios Triantis, Adam Le Fondre and Joe Newell all excellent.

Anon: I thought it was a great game and it was so unfortunate that Chris Cadden got injured, as he was playing great. I thought that the second half was a bit slower, but the first was great. I thought it was a great game and we deserved it.

George: I'm being greedy, but three up after 22 mins, surely we bang in more? But, positivity - we scored three, kept a clean sheet. Some more positives in that [Chris] Cadden is back and he's up for it and [Nectarios] Triantis looks the business playing further forward in central midfield. But Livi are bottom for a reason. Ship is steadying - top six looks on.

John: Fine margins stopped us from scoring many more. The middle to front now starting to gel. Looking forward to many more goals by the end of the season.

Anon: Perfect first-half performance and nice to see three well-worked team goals. [Adam] Le Fondre's clever movement in the box makes a massive difference. Second-half was a bit disappointing as we should have scored more against a weak Livi team who were maybe feeling the effects of a sickness bug. Overall, good display and delighted we're back into the top six.

Allan: That result has been coming. Only disappointment was that we didn't score more. Livingston got bodies behind the ball, but the creativity, movement and composure from Hibs was first class. Looked like we had more intensity to our game too. Good day at the office and the players and staff should be delighted with that performance going into the break.

Anon: With a credible forward threat and a defence maturing with each game, Hibs are quickly becoming a tough prospect for any Scottish Premiership opposition. We head to Ibrox with far more potential to disrupt the script and take something from that game.

Motherwell fans were brought back down to earth as their side lost at home to Aberdeen and missed a chance to close on Dundee.

Hugh: Shocking game. How can you play against Rangers the way they did then play so badly against Aberdeen? Nobody took ownership of the game.

Andrew: What is the point of winning at Ibrox if we cannot take anything at home from a side that hadn't won in 11 games? Once again the fans have been let down by the management. Rather than pushing on, once again we look over our shoulders. This situation will never change unless there is a clear-out at the top.

Kevin: Typical Motherwell. If any team is on a long losing run, you can be sure Motherwell will gift them three points. Beat Rangers at Ibrox. Get beat at home by Aberdeen. Gutless performance and no excuses, just poor. Could have played for 180 mins and not scored.

Stuart: I was at the game then watched the replays on TV. How VAR can get away with chopping off a goal and denying a stonewall penalty is bizarre. The league is really tight and every point could be vital.

Aberdeen, though, were delighted with the three points under interim manager Peter Leven that took their side above St Johnstone.

Anon: Good defensive performance, good to keep a clean sheet and win the match. Hopefully a turning point in the season.

Ann: Leave [Peter] Leven in charge - should never have appointed [Neil] Warnock. Leven could have just taken the team until a manager was found. Warnock was only here for the money. At least Leven cares about the team and club.

Richard: Good result at Motherwell. Hope it be the turning point in what has been the poorest season in a long time. If they survive in the top-flight, it will not be because of how they have been led by the Aberdeen board. The next manger appointment is critical to the whole club's future.

Andrew: My son and I were were part of the 1097 jubilant Dons fans at full-time at Fir Park. It wasn't another six-goal thriller like the previous two games, but a hard fought win, which will raise the mood of the players and the fans. A team performance to be proud of. Night and day compared to Dundee midweek. Onwards and upwards.

Justin: A massive three points, but the players need to be fully cognisant of the task at hand - it's not over. This must be seen as a stepping stone.

Paul: Finally. Next two games are crucial. Our new manager must be better and have full control over the team. [Dave] Cormack has been dreadful for this club.

Niall: The pressure is now on. Finally some real fight and drive. [Leighton] Clarkson and [Jack] MacKenzie were outstanding and there were signs of a team performance. However, this is one game and three points. Results elsewhere demonstrate that this dogfight will not be in our hands. The next match against a resurgent Ross County is huge.

Fred: A good performance. Let's see if they can maintain this level in the next games. Good fight and determination, but our forwards do not seem capable of scoring. The club needs a major overhaul of the playing staff if we have any hope of making an impact next season.

Andrew: Solid team performance - defensively a bit more composed. Still edgy at times, but [Angus] MacDonald is steady. Got a break from VAR. Persist with this formation.

Ross County remain three points behind Aberdeen after a 2-1 home win that left Heart of Midlothian fans particularly critical of their defence - and the third-top side's reliance on striker Lawrence Shankland.

Chris: Refereeing once again poor - you become numb to it. [Toby] Sibbick proving once again he's a liability. Got what we deserved - nothing.

Fraser: Prior to the game it was [Toby] Sibbick and [Nathaniel] Atkinson who were making me nervous and post-match I realise these nerves were justified. Amazed at Atkinson continually making the [Australia] squad. Sibbick is great in patches for Hearts but all too often let's me down. New right-back needed ASAP.

Ian: No point in moaning about VAR when you defend as badly as we did. If [Lawrence] Shankland doesn't score, we toil. As well as needing the other forwards to score more, where are the attacking midfielders? I expect the points gap between us and whoever finishes fourth to become smaller in the next couple of months.

Bob: Disgusting decision from the referee. We cannot seem to go one week [in Scotland] without easily avoidable controversy. That said, we were bad and defensively inept. Early in the game, our back line performed poorly and we were lethargic in attack. It cost us dearly.

David: Disappointing result but should be taken in context of the good run we have had of late. Frankie Kent is a big miss and, for me, [Nathaniel] Atkinson, [Toby] Sibbick and Jorge Grant are not to the required standard.

County remain in the second-bottom relegation play-off place, but their fans were heartened by a victory that lifts them to within a point of St Johnstone.

Alistair: Great result, Victor Loturi continues to improve and impress. Simon Murray gives 110% as usual - such a hard-working player. The County players are becoming a team, a good team well led by both Don Cowie and Jack Baldwin.

Iain: Excellent performance, everyone stepped up. [Jack] Baldwin put in one of his best performances. [Don] Cowie has got them all working together and starting to show their ability after the shambolic Derek Adams era.

Alistair: I want to apologise to the Ross County team. Before the game, I would have snatched your hand off if you offered me a draw. Having been at the game, I can only say Hearts were flattered by the result. The home support came to life too. Well done all of you.

Livingston fans, though, are beginning to lose patience with their long-serving manager as defeat by Hibs leaves them 10 points adrift and staring relegation in the face.

Matt: David Martindale "takes the blame" for the dismal showing, but in truth, if these were genuine sentiments, he would have realised it was time to leave several weeks if not months ago. The continued peddling of "we've enough in the building to stay up" no longer holds any weight. The sooner the club act to prepare for the Championship the better.

Del: Players are unwilling to take responsibility. Many of them appear to be uncommitted to the club.

Malky: The manager says "I take the blame". We don't have to hear it Davie, we already know it.