1. Danny Rogers (Falkirk)
That Falkirk’s 2-1 win over Rangers was greeted with such surprise, possibly suggests that some people haven’t been paying too much attention to the Championship this season. Not only have Falkirk lost just two matches to date, they were just moments away from winning at Easter Road last weekend. Why couldn’t they top-trump a Rangers side which suddenly looks limp, lumpen and lackadaisical? They may already have a player in the top-ten thanks to Will Vaulks’s bravura performance, but with three top-notch saves before his incredible last-minute penalty stop from Martin Waghorn, Rogers also deserves his inclusion. We surely don’t have a three-way title fight on our hands, do we?
2. Will Vaulks (Falkirk)
It’s impossible to dislike Will Vaulks. His driving performances from midfield are admirable enough, while his jack-of-all-trades-master-of-most nature is a handy talent to have, and as for those summersaults, (insert an emoji with hearts for eyes here) Admittedly, his flips and tricks may be slightly more difficult to take to if he’s winning penalties against your side before battering in a goal, as was the case on Saturday against Rangers, but you’d imagine they’d still be impressed by his acrobatic celebration at the very least. Once they’d stopped swearing and making wanker gestures at him, obviously.
3. Andy Murdoch (Cowdenbeath)
In the opening credit scene of 1970’s sitcom, The Fall And Rise of Reginald Perrin, Leonard Rossiter, playing Perrin, strips off and marches into the sea intent on not making the return journey. All after realising that while his life was being lived, it certainly wasn’t being loved. Thankfully, Gary Bollan didn’t sprint to the nearest beach after Airdrie’s 3-0 loss to Cowdenbeath on Saturday, but he did throw in the towel and head to Forfar, which is kind of similar. The defeat was hastened by the performance of loan-Ranger, Andy Murdoch, who has gone from strength-to-strength during his spell at the Fife Racewall. His goal, Cowdenbeath’s second of the match, was a real goal-of-the-season contender, as he pumped it past Neil Parry from 30-yards. At least that’s how it appeared, although it was difficult to tell as the action seemed to be captured on a steam iron. 2015 hasn’t been kind to Cowden, but they’ll be hoping their current form is a precursor to a more uplifting 2k16.
4. Shane Sutherland (Peterhead)
After going 14 league games unbeaten, it’s now three consecutive defeats for Ian McCall’s misfiring Ayr United team, after a second-period collapse at Balmoor saw them lose 3-0 to Peterhead. Forward Shane Sutherland was the player who applied the gloss to the victory, with two late goals following some calamitous defending from the Honest Men, who appear to be a far inferior outfit without the brawn and energy of Ross Docherty in midfield. It’s now six games unbeaten for the Blues, who have regained their composure since the mortifying three-nil-up-to-four-three-down match against Stenhousemuir. On this form, Jim McInally’s men would be a good bet to win the play-offs, never mind qualify for them.
5. Lawrence Shankland (St Mirren)
We won’t be naive enough to comment on the possibility that the Buddies have turned a corner, again, but Alex Rae’s era began in a satisfactory manner on Saturday. The 2-0 win over Alloa was effective rather than pretty, but it helped put to bed any suggestion that St Mirren could potentially be in a tawdry grapple for bottom spot. With two new managers taking charge of their first game in Rae and Jack Ross, only one was able to walk away with the completely fictitious, “new-manager-bounce” which, partly thanks to Shankland’s exquisite opener, left Ross as the dejected newbie.
6. Liam Fontaine (Hibernian)
Liam Fontaine may well have made the top-ten for his performance in general, but for his wonderful cage-rattling tactic of refusing to bow to the gentlemen’s agreement of giving the ball back in the final minute, he’s lifted up a notch or two. The incident eventually led to the game’s only goal and a giant, post-goal melee after King Dom Malonga grabbed the contentious late strike. As funny as the incident was, unless you’re a Doonhamer of course, the reactions afterwards were even more mirth-inducing. From Alan Stubbs claiming the Queens player simply didn’t challenge for the drop-ball, to Derek Lyle having some kind of meltdown, challenging all and sundry to a square go and mimicking the playing of a flute. Anyone who claims they don’t want to see similar levels of bampottery at the upcoming Rangers v Hibs match is clearly weird.
7. Ross Callachan (Raith Rovers)
Raith Rovers determination to drum up the longest injury list in Scottish football probably reached its nadir a few months back, when Ross Callachan somehow managed to dislocate his shoulder whilst on a family walk. No, we’re none the wiser either. However, now that the midfielder has returned to action, it’s easy to see just what the first-team have missed in his absence and it isn’t just a fantastic fake-tan. Callachan’s game doesn’t particularly lend itself favourably to a wide position, but with Ray McKinnon’s summer signing policy somewhat central-midfield-centric, Callachan has been forced out there. That didn’t stunt his bristling, energetic performance though, as Rovers went from turgid to not-bad in the space of a half-time interval. It says a lot about the standard of the league that a so-so performance can snatch you an away win at the home of a play-off contender, but Callachan’s equaliser was the catalyst for the come-from-behind 2-1 win.
8. Callum Crane (Berwick Rangers)
Amongst the hullabaloo and hubbub of an exciting weekend of Scottish football, Berwick’s 4-0 win over East Stirling would barely register as a blip on most folks radars. However the win, John Coughlin’s first since returning to take charge in November, was enough to lift the Wee Rangers out of the play-off position as East Stirling slipped below them. He may not have grabbed a goal but 19-year-old left-back Callum Crane put in an impressive shift after recently joining on loan from Hibernian. He defended diligently and pressed forward whenever possible, adding a dimension to the side which has been sorely lacking during this abysmal Berwick campaign. Admittedly he wasn’t facing up to the sternest of challenges, with the Shires only shot on target coming in the final minute, and from the half-way-line to boot. But the youngster did supply the cross for Finn Graham’s opener. Berwick fans should enjoy him while they can however, as Crane’s loan deal expires at the end of January.
9. Sean Murdoch (Dunfermline Athletic)
Stenhousemuir have managed to find all manner of means to lose to Dunfermline over the last few seasons. They’ve lost huge leads, had late collapses, conceded late goals and been absolutely humped. On Saturday, they managed to lose despite enjoying the upper-hand for large swathes of the match, with only Pars goalkeeper Sean Murdoch standing between the Warriors and a notable scalp. Dunfermline’s performances have tailed off of late, with opponents now carefully side-stepped rather than smashed to a damp, bloody pulp. On Saturday, Murdoch was one of the few Pars to gain pass-marks. While his saves were smart, rather than snappy, his handling, positioning and alertness off his line were a bugbear to Stenny’s hopes throughout. The Kingdom’s second best side eventually ran out 1-0 winners.
10. Frazer Wright (Dumbarton)
Dumbarton are starting to resemble the giant planet devouring Galactus’ character from the Marvel comic universe. Except rather than a destroyer of worlds, they simply pummel managers’ careers. This 1-1 draw with Livingston saw Mark Burchill bodied by the Livi board – which is hardly surprising, as a coach’s shelf-life in West Lothian is about the same as a pint of milk. Admittedly, the Amber Machine’s recent wins over Morton and Raith Rovers and a draw against Rangers now seems like nothing more than a positive blip. They were effectively shackled by an obdurate Dumbarton side at the weekend and in particular, Frazer Wright, who continues to impress since leaving St. Johnstone. While his spell at the Sons didn’t necessarily start off well – at one point he was involved in the world’s slowest ever race for the ball with Jon Daly – but he’s since proved to be an integral part of Dumbarton’s recent revival. With Falkirk next up, Peter Houston would probably be as well emptying his office into cardboard boxes in the next day-or-two.
