Kasper Høgh Announces His Arrival In Scottish Football
Kasper Høgh arrived at Celtic for a club-record fee with expectations inevitably high.
His debut against Dundee did not immediately deliver the fairytale start. The Dane was unable to find the net and joked afterwards that he needed some “extra shooting practice”.
Whatever work Høgh put in during the week certainly paid dividends.
At Rugby Park, he responded in emphatic fashion, scoring a first-half hat-trick as Celtic cruised to a 5-1 victory over Neil McCann’s side.
The goals showcased precisely what Celtic were investing in when they broke their transfer record to bring the striker to Glasgow. Høgh’s hat-trick was the work of a genuine penalty-box striker, with two excellent headers sandwiching a low, driven finish.
Yet it was not simply the goals that stood out.
Høgh’s hold-up play and ability to link with those around him offered further evidence that he can bring a different dimension to Celtic’s attack. Even on the occasions when he is not finding the net, his physical presence, movement and ability to bring teammates into the game could prove invaluable.
For Celtic, the challenge now is to ensure Høgh is not an exception to the rule when it comes to their approach in the transfer market.
The club’s board have faced criticism for failing to invest sufficiently in the quality required to take the team to another level, particularly when it comes to European competition. Høgh represents a compelling counterargument. Celtic identified a player they wanted, committed significant money to the deal and have already seen the potential reward.
But supporters are right to demand more recruitment of a similar calibre, particularly when the club has significant financial reserves available.
There is an old sporting principle that you strengthen when you are strong. Celtic are in precisely that position.
They remain the dominant force domestically, possess considerable financial muscle and have a squad capable of competing for honours at home. The next step is to translate that dominance into greater success in Europe.
Høgh can be an important part of that process, but one high-quality signing cannot transform Celtic’s European fortunes alone.
If the club can add a few more players of Høgh’s quality and profile, they will not only strengthen their position as the team everyone wants to beat in Scotland, but also give themselves a better chance of making a genuine impact on the continent.
For now, though, Høgh has made his statement.
The shooting practice appears to have worked.
Derek McInnes Off To Nightmate Start At Rangers
Derek McInnes was supposed to represent a safe pair of hands for Rangers.
His appointment in the summer was greeted with considerable fanfare. After taking Hearts to within touching distance of the Scottish Premiership title last season, McInnes arrived at Ibrox with a reputation as one of the country’s leading managers outside the traditional big two.
The appeal was obvious for Rangers and for McInnes himself.
He knew the league, understood Scottish football and had just demonstrated at Hearts that he could build a team capable of challenging Celtic without the resources available to Rangers. There was also the personal connection. McInnes spent five years as a Rangers player between 1995 and 2000, had grown up supporting the club and understood the expectations that come with the job.
His appointment was therefore heralded as a major step forward.
The early evidence, however, is anything but encouraging.
Rangers have taken just one point from their opening two league matches after drawing with Dundee United at Tannadice last week before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian. They are already five points behind Celtic, who have won both of their opening fixtures.
Sandwiched between those disappointing domestic results was another defeat in Europe, with Rangers losing 2-1 away to Jagiellonia Białystok in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier.
Three competitive matches. No wins.
The defeat to Hibs was particularly damaging. Rangers had home advantage and desperately needed a response following the draw at Dundee United and, even more so, after the European setback. Instead, they were beaten by a stoppage-time winner, with the Ibrox crowd responding with boos at full-time.
This is not about declaring McInnes a failure after three games. That would be ridiculously premature.
However, Rangers appointed him precisely because he was supposed to provide certainty. He was supposed to know the league, understand the club and bring a team capable of challenging Celtic from day one.
Instead, his Rangers side have started the season without a victory and already find themselves playing catch-up domestically – five points behind Celtic after just two games – while facing a European deficit.
Of course, there is plenty of time for McInnes to turn it around but the appointment that was heralded as a logical and significant step forward for Rangers has begun with a nightmare.
For a manager brought in to restore stability, Rangers currently look anything but settled with only a few weeks of the transfer left to allow any room for remedy.
How patient Rangers fan will be if things do not improve quickly remains to be seen.
Steven Pressley Continues To Impress At Dundee
Steven Pressley is quickly making the decision to extend his stay at Dundee look like a very sensible one.
When Pressley was appointed last summer, he was widely regarded as one of the favourites to be the first Scottish Premiership manager to lose his job. Instead, he guided the Dark Blues to an eighth-place finish, earned praise for their style of play and was rewarded with a new contract in July.
The early signs this season suggest Dundee are ready to build on that progress. They were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to reigning champions Celtic on the opening weekend before responding with an impressive 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Dens Park.
Pressley was “running out of superlatives” to describe his players after the win, telling BBC Scotland: “It’s the proudest I’ve been since coming to this club.”
That pride was understandable. Dundee were the better side throughout, creating numerous chances while keeping Aberdeen at arm’s length.
With Pressley now backed with a new deal and his team showing clear signs of improvement, Dundee appear to be in safe hands to make steady progress this season.
Worrying Times for Morton and Ian Murray
Back-to-back defeats without scoring a goal is never a good way for any team to start a season, and there are now genuine reasons for concern at Greenock Morton.
Losing to promotion favourites Partick Thistle was hardly a shock. Mark Wilson’s side have since backed that result up with a 2-0 victory over Livingston on Friday evening, underlining why they are expected to be challenging at the top end of the Championship.
Morton’s second defeat, however, should worry Ian Murray and the club’s supporters considerably more.
A 2-0 loss away to Stenhousemuir is the kind of result that will raise eyebrows, particularly given the circumstances surrounding both clubs.
Stenhousemuir had not played in the Championship since 1976 before winning promotion last season under Gary Naysmith. Having made the step up, they were widely regarded as one of the sides most likely to struggle this term.
Their part-time status and relative lack of experience at this level meant Marvin Bartley’s side were expected to be involved in a battle for survival.
Instead, they have started life in the Championship by comfortably defeating Morton in week two.
That result will only increase the belief within the Stenhousemuir camp that they can compete at this level, while simultaneously increasing the pressure on Murray.
For Morton, the concern goes beyond two disappointing results.
There appears to be a lack of squad depth, while the club also seem to lack the financial muscle required to bring in the number of players needed to strengthen several key positions.
Championship seasons can be unforgiving, particularly when injuries and suspensions begin to test the depth of a squad. Morton cannot afford to find themselves relying on the same group of players week after week if the current squad is already lacking quality in important areas.
Murray therefore needs reinforcements, and quickly.
The loan market could provide an obvious solution. Murray has been around Scottish football long enough to have built up connections across the game, and those relationships could prove invaluable in bringing Championship-quality players to Cappielow without placing an unrealistic financial burden on the club.
Morton do not necessarily need a complete overhaul. They need fresh blood, competition for places and players capable of raising the level of the squad.
Two games should not define a season, and there is plenty of time for Morton to turn things around.
But the early warning signs are there.
A defeat to Partick Thistle can be explained. A 2-0 loss to a newly promoted, part-time Stenhousemuir side is considerably harder to ignore.
Ian Murray now needs to find solutions, because if Morton fail to strengthen and the performances continue in this direction, those early concerns could quickly become a much bigger problem.
Hamilton Accies Finally Have Cause For Optimism
In recent seasons, Hamilton Accies have been defined as much by their off-field turmoil as their football.
Financial uncertainty, points deductions and a painful temporary move away from their traditional home left the club facing questions about its future, both on and off the pitch. Last season, playing home matches at Cumbernauld’s Broadwood Stadium only added to the sense that Hamilton were a club searching for stability.
Now, the picture looks very different.
Hamilton are back at New Douglas Park, their familiar home once again providing the backdrop to their football. They have an owner in Rob Edwards who has made a point of communicating openly with supporters, while, on the pitch, they have made a blistering start to life in League One.
Two games have produced six points, six goals and, most impressively, not a single goal conceded.
There is a long way to go, of course, but the early signs are encouraging and much of that optimism can be traced back to an impressive summer recruitment drive.
Andy Ryan has returned to the club from Northern Irish champions Larne with a pedigree that immediately raises expectations. The experienced striker was instrumental in helping the Invermen reach the UEFA Conference League group phase and enjoyed considerable success during his time in Northern Ireland, winning three Irish League titles.
Hamilton have also strengthened with players who played in the Scottish Championship last season. Cameron Blues, Dom Thomas and Stuart Bannigan all featured in the second tier last season and bring experience, quality and an understanding of the demands of Scottish football.
It is the kind of recruitment that suggests Hamilton are no longer simply trying to survive. They are building with a clear objective.
Ross County have made an equally strong start and, given their resources and experience, will surely provide a formidable challenge in the race for promotion. Hamilton will know there is plenty of work still to do before they can seriously talk about returning to the Championship.
But there is a significant difference in the narrative surrounding the club now.
For too long, Hamilton Accies were being dragged into conversations about financial difficulties, points deductions and uncertainty over where they would actually play their football.
Now, they are back at New Douglas Park, supporters have greater clarity around the club’s direction and the team is sitting proudly at the top of League One.
The season is only two games old, but Hamilton are looking upwards again.
For a club that has spent too long looking over its shoulder, that represents genuine progress.
EFL Season Up and Running with League Cup Curtain Raiser
The return of the EFL has arrived, although league football itself will have to wait another week.
Rather than immediately diving into the Championship, League One and League Two campaigns, the English season has taken a familiar Scottish route, with the Carabao Cup providing the opening act before the league action gets underway.
It is a format that Scottish football has embraced for years, with the League Cup traditionally beginning before the league season and giving supporters an early competitive glimpse of their teams. England now seem to have embraced that idea in their own way, with the opening round of the Carabao Cup providing plenty of drama, goals and penalty shootouts before the serious business of the league campaign begins next weekend.
There was certainly no shortage of excitement.
Millwall progressed after a 1-1 draw with QPR at Loftus Road, winning 2-0 on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Lukas Jensen. The Dane was making his return after a 15-month injury absence and marked it in spectacular fashion, saving all four of QPR’s penalties.
Preston also required spot-kicks to overcome Huddersfield, winning 4-3 after a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. Jusef Erabi’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued Preston after Lewis Gibson had been sent off, while Daniel Iversen saved two penalties in the shootout.
Burnley were another side to survive a penalty drama, defeating Notts County 4-3 from the spot following a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor, with Kyle Walker converting the decisive kick.
Elsewhere, Norwich defeated MK Dons 4-1, Luton beat Gillingham 3-0 and West Brom overcame Rotherham 4-1. Leicester began Russell Martin’s competitive reign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Northampton, while Sheffield Wednesday edged Bolton by the same scoreline.
Blackburn came from behind to beat Burton 2-1, Stoke defeated Oldham 2-0 and Birmingham and Fleetwood both recorded 1-0 victories over Swansea and Chesterfield respectively.
There was further penalty drama between Shrewsbury and Salford, with Shrewsbury eventually prevailing 4-3 after a 1-1 draw and an extraordinary nine missed penalties. Reading, Doncaster, AFC Wimbledon and Barnsley also progressed via shootouts.
Lincoln produced one of the round’s eye-catching results by winning 2-1 away to Derby, while Watford left it until the 99th minute to defeat Crawley through Marc Bola.
Cambridge, Leyton Orient, Crewe and Cardiff were among the other winners, while Charlton, Southampton, Blackpool, Bradford and Peterborough also secured their passage into the next round.
For the supporters, it was a welcome return to competitive football. For the clubs, it was an opportunity to build momentum, test new signings and give managers their first meaningful competitive minutes of the season.
The Carabao Cup has therefore served as England’s curtain-raiser, just as the League Cup does in Scotland.
Next weekend, the league campaigns finally begin with the stage now set for the long road ahead.
Callum McFadden 