2:55 Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian and Aberdeen.
Boyd: “I’ve been impressed with Ross McCrorie. We always knew he could get about the pitch but he was making things happen against Hibs. He allowed other players to flourish too. The back three look solid and there was a confidence and buzz about them. We’ve spoken about the eight players who got the club into trouble but it seems to have galvanised them. Interestingly, when they have that big, physical striker, they want to go long but they played a lot of attractive football against Hibs.”
Walker: “Aberdeen are doing it without Sam Cosgrove, too – a player who’s given them a regular supply of goals. We know there’s been interest in Cosgrove but will anyone come in for Scott McKenna in the heart of their defence? They’re another club who’ll want to get the transfer window out of the way but been very impressed with them and their winning mentality.”
Subscribe on Apple | Spotify | Castbox
Ross County
Boyd: “They got off to a fine start against Motherwell and then getting the three points from Hamilton but since it’s been two losses and two draws. We said it was going to be a long season for them. Yes, they’ll pick up points here and there but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them start to fall down the table – I hope not. The big one for them will be what happens with Ross Stewart because he seems to be carrying them.”
Walker: “You always like to see a manager who’s been given an opportunity get off to a good start. I think they made a good decision in making Stuart Kettlewell No. 1. But I think success for them is to survive.”
St Mirren
2:58 Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and St Mirren.
Walker: “The manager has identified that they need to be a bit stronger in every area. Jim Goodwin knows what he is doing; Richard Tait from Motherwell has a lot of experience; he gives you a seven, eight out of 10 every week.
“The problem has always been whether they can score enough goals. It’s getting that chemistry right. I know they were hanging around the bottom of the table for long spells last year but I think they’ve improved enough to be mid-table. I like the look of this squad.”
Boyd: “They’ve tried to get two strikers on the pitch, Jonathan Obika and Junior Morais, but you saw when Joe Shaughnessy was missing, they ended up losing; if any of their key players get injured, we might see them fall down the table.”
St Johnstone
Walker: “Getting that win against St Mirren last time out and seeing Stevie May get on the scoresheet was a big boost to them. We’ve seen Callum Hendry, I like the look of Danny McNamara – it was a big disappointment to see Liam Craig get sent off the other week – so I like the options they have, with Craig Conway and Michael O’Halloran too. It was a struggle for them to get points early on but I can see them climbing the table.”
Boyd: “They were creating opportunities, it was just a matter of them taking them. If May can find form, St Johnstone could be another one fighting for a top-six position.”
Dundee United
2:59 Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Dundee United.
Walker: “It’s been a great pity that Lawrence Shankland has missed so many games but the focus – you hear it from Micky Mellon – is trying to give young players a chance to be Scottish Premiership players. I really like the look of Lewis Neilson. They have another youngster, Luke Bolton, on loan from Man City and he looks a really decent prospect. It’s getting that mix but I think they’ll be ok – they’re my surprise tip to maybe get involved in the top six.”
Boyd: “They’ve got that bounce from coming up. I’ve been impressed with them – but they don’t really look like scoring for me. They had over 60 per cent possession against Kilmarnock, 18 attempts on goal and failed to score. They will definitely want Shankland back and then see where they go from there.”
Kilmarnock
Boyd: “If Kevin De Bruyne had scored the goal Rory McKenzie scored against Dundee United, it would have been shown everywhere! What a finish. It was a big win for Kilmarnock and hopefully that’s their season up and running.”
Livingston
Walker: “It’s been a strange season already. They’ve lost Lyndon Dykes to QPR but they’ve brought in Anthony Stokes, which is an interesting signing. He’s got a brilliant record in the division – can he hit the ground running? They need a focal point for their attack.
Boyd: “It depends which Stokes turns up. There’s no doubt there is a talented footballer in there.”
Hamilton
Walker: “They have some experience in Lee Hodson but it’s a tall order for their young players to make an impact. But time and time again Hamilton come up with results you just don’t see. They do have options – David Templeton has experience too – but I do think this is a season where they will struggle.”
Boyd: “It will be tough but, as Andy says, they will always spring a surprise. You look at their fixtures coming up – Livingston, Kilmarnock, Dundee United – and you wouldn’t be surprised to see them get something. But they need to start picking up points at home.”
Motherwell
Walker: “It’s a big surprise to see Motherwell struggling badly. I look at the individuals, especially from middle to front. I know they’ve lost Turnbull but when you’ve got Chris Long, Tony Watt, Callum Lang, Jordan White, Jake Hastie, that’s a number of good options; you’d think they’d be much more of a threat. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to get out of a losing habit. They’ve set a high standard over the last few years. I do think they have the squad to get it right.”
Boyd: “I can’t see them in the bottom two either but you look at the fixtures coming up… every game’s difficult and the pressure starts to build. There’s something not right at the moment. Everyone seems to be looking after themselves.”
Sourse: skysports.com
