McFadden On Football: The Monday Review is your weekly look back at the biggest stories from the weekend’s football. From the key talking points across the Scottish Premiership, Championship and beyond to the standout performances and moments that mattered, I will aim to offer analysis and opinion on the headlines shaping the game.
Each Monday, the column will also cast an eye further afield, examining the major stories from across Europe and the wider football world that have caught my eye.
Here are my five biggest talking points from the first weekend of what I’m sure will be another pulsating campaign across the SPFL.
Rangers still searching for a winning start
For the fourth consecutive season, Rangers failed to win their opening Premiership fixture after a 1-1 draw away to Dundee United. It was hardly the beginning Derek McInnes would have envisaged, although the new manager was keen to stress afterwards that his side would accept the point and continue building while further additions are made to the squad.
There was plenty of intrigue surrounding Rangers’ summer recruitment. Lawrence Shankland arrived from Hearts as both the club’s marquee signing and its new captain, while Cammy Devlin followed him to Ibrox on a free transfer. Both players have built reputations as consistent performers in the Scottish Premiership, yet neither was able to influence proceedings at Tannadice in the way Rangers supporters would have hoped.
The bigger concern may have been Ben Godfrey’s injury. Centre-back is already an area where Rangers lack experienced depth, and losing another defensive option so early in the campaign would leave McInnes with difficult decisions before the transfer window closes.
The performance also highlighted another issue. Rangers lacked natural width and creativity in the final third. McInnes has already spoken about wanting reinforcements in the wide areas and it is easy to understand why. Shankland has repeatedly shown throughout his career that, with consistent service, he is one of the Premiership’s most reliable goalscorers and capable of reaching the 20-goal mark. Creating those opportunities consistently will be crucial if Rangers are to mount a sustained title challenge.
St Johnstone and St Mirren answer the doubters
Before the season began, I was asked by Track Radio to give my thoughts on the new Scottish Premiership season.
I questioned whether St Johnstone and St Mirren had enough to comfortably avoid a relegation battle.
Both responded in emphatic fashion.
St Mirren produced one of the most impressive away performances of the weekend by defeating Falkirk 2-0, with Killian Phillips scoring both goals. Phillips became one of Stephen Robinson’s most influential players when the Irishman was in charge in Paisley and he has continued to perform under Craig McLeish since he took over the reigns of the club late last season.
It is therefore no surprise that he is attracting interest from a range of clubs. If St Mirren can keep hold of the Irish midfielder and he maintains this level of form, they may prove many people wrong, myself included.
St Johnstone’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Kilmarnock was arguably the game of the weekend. Kai Fotheringham’s late winner was a fantastic goal that secured the victory for Saints on a day where they looked dangerous every time they attacked but equally vulnerable defensively. The same can also be said for Kilmarnock who had plenty of moments of their own within the game too. That balance will need to improve for both sides, but there were encouraging signs.
McDiarmid Park was once one of the toughest venues in Scottish football during Tommy Wright’s successful spell in charge in the mid 2010’s. Sure that is some time ago now but if St Johnstone can recreate that atmosphere and make home advantage count once again, they have every chance of establishing themselves back in the Premiership following promotion.
Consistency, however, will ultimately determine whether they can achieve that.
Partick Thistle look every inch promotion contenders
Following yet more playoff final heartache for Thistle last season, Mark Wilson has embraced the tag of Championship favourites and his side made the ideal start with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Morton at Cappielow.
After speaking to Wilson following the match, it is clear he believes he has assembled a balanced squad capable of sustaining a promotion challenge across the season. That confidence has only been strengthened by the return of midfielder Ben Stanway.
Stanway was one of the Championship’s standout performers last season and many expected him to leave Firhill this summer. Instead, he completed a surprise return and could yet prove to be the division’s defining player.
If he can replicate, or even improve upon, last season’s performances, Partick Thistle will be extremely difficult to stop.
Just as importantly, opening the campaign with both three points and a clean sheet sends an early message to the rest of the Championship.
League One promises a fascinating title race
The teams in League One wasted no time reminding everyone why it could be the most competitive division in the SPFL this season.
Ross County began life in the third tier with a professional 1-0 win away to Peterhead, while East Kilbride announced themselves in spectacular fashion by thrashing Queen of the South 5-1 after last season’s League Two title success.
Hamilton Academical were equally impressive, winning 5-0 away at Montrose, traditionally one of the division’s more difficult away fixtures.
Those three clubs were already among my favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked. After the opening weekend, nothing has changed. If anything, the evidence suggests we could be in for one of the most entertaining League One title races in recent memory with three teams who could be in the title fight for the long haul.
Whittaker makes an encouraging start
Steven Whittaker’s appointment at Stirling Albion caught my attention from the moment it was announced.
Although this is his first managerial role, he arrives with valuable coaching experience from both Scotland and England following an outstanding playing career at the highest level.
His recruitment has also been impressive. Josh Mullin brings proven quality from higher divisions, while Kevin Waugh and Jordan Allan both have excellent League Two pedigree. Allan, in particular, previously demonstrated what he can do at this level during his productive loan spell with Clyde.
Stirling’s opening-day 2-0 victory over Dumbarton offered an encouraging first glimpse of what Whittaker is trying to build.
That said, the League Two title race also looks set to be fiercely contested. Darren Young has assembled another competitive Clyde side after they opened with a convincing 3-1 win over Stranraer, while Dougie Samuel’s Spartans produced one of the comebacks of the weekend by recovering from 2-0 down to beat Annan Athletic 4-2 away from home.
If the opening weekend is anything to go by, there will be no shortage of drama across all four SPFL divisions this season. The sample size remains small, but the early signs suggest several fascinating stories are only just beginning.
Callum McFadden 