1. Steven Dobbie (Queen of the South)
If Falkirk are still trying to punt those t-shirts which boldly claim Peter Houston is better than Zidane (at what exactly?) then we reckon they might need to significantly reduce them in the not-too-distant future. The Bairns were expected to challenge in the upper-echelons of the table this season, but have failed to impress with just one point from the first three fixtures. The opposite is the case for Queen of the South though, who have taken seven points from nine, thanks to this 2-0 win over a feckless Falkirk. Steven Dobbie was at it again, with his double making it four goals in four games since coming back to the Doonhamers, and with each passing week his signing becomes more and more impressive. With their next three fixtures against Dunfermline, St. Mirren and Raith, we’ll have a better grasp of Queens play-off aspirations in the coming weeks.
2. Jason Cummings (Hibernian)
With Hibernian’s forward options starting to bulge again with the recent signing of Brian Graham, Jason Cummings has picked a fine time to go on a scoring streak. His brace saw Hibernian home in a 2-0 win, but it was something of a breeze against Alex Rae’s Buddies, whose fans have started to revert to norm, with cacophonous booing all the rage once more. Little wonder though, because as difficult as it is to believe, St Mirren currently look as bad as they did under Ian Murray, with a non-existent midfield playing in front of a groaning, disjointed back-line. Hibs had already lost twice by this stage last term but look more clinical, if a little less less flashy, under Neil Lennon. Both of these managers regularly enjoy media work, but in Rae’s case that may soon be his primary source of employment.
3. Kyle Benedictus (Raith Rovers)
The Kingdom of Fife derby returned to Kirkcaldy at the weekend after an absence of three years, with the latest iteration having the added frisson as an unofficial play-off to find out who really was the worst Kilmarnock manager out of Gary Locke and Allan Johnston. First blood was taken by Locke and his charges with a 2-0 win, whilst real claret was almost spilled by Rovers’ Ross Matthews in the first-half as he attempted to rip Joe Cardle’s head clean off its moorings with a well executed drop-kick. Dunfermline were probably kicking themselves that they failed to turn territorial advantage into a win, especially since Raith goalkeeper Aaron Lennox pulled a hamstring after 15 minutes and could barely stand, making him the first one-legged goalkeeper to keep a clean-sheet in the fixture. That was partly attributable to Kyle Benedictus who, when he wasn’t dispossessing Cardle and Kallum Higginbotham, was also assuming goal-kick duties, like something from a primary-school fixture. With night’s fair drawing in, expect Raith’s form to plummet soon.
4. Jim Goodwin (Alloa Athletic)
We’re fairly certain that Dr Evil is due to do something particularly nefarious soon. Sure, he still nips opponents and kicked East Fife goalkeeper Willie Muir in the head at one point, but any two-bit cockamamie can do that kind of stuff. Where’s the tackles on the referee? Or an elbow drop? A maiming? We want blood, Jim! He may still rile oppositions fans like no-one else can, but in a purely footballing sense there were few other candidates as man-of-the-match as Alloa extended their 100% record in all competitions this season with a 2-1 win. East Fife almost hauled themselves back into it at the end, but losing is exactly what Gary Naysmith deserved for his decision to drop Mark Lamont. No man with hair that luxuriant should be forced to slum it on the substitutes bench.
5. Peter MacDonald (Clyde)
This is more like the Clyde we know-and-put-up-with. The pre-season title favourites now sit seventh in the table after this 3-2 defeat, and while some fans are taking the glass-half-full approach and claiming it’s too soon to worry, we’re fairly certain they’ve said that every season since about 2005. Admittedly there were things to admire about the performance. Dylan Easton’s assist for Peter MacDonald’s first was sublime, while MacDonald’s two goals suggest Barry Ferguson’s latest veteran signing could actually be a goodie. After losing a clutch of talent in the summer, Jim Chapman’s Annan have made a reasonable start to the campaign. If they can keep that up as they venture into the Angus triangle for their next three fixtures, then they may be playoff contenders this season.
6. Daniel Mullen (Livingston)
If Livingston’s form is anything to go on, getting fans to spy on future opponents is definitely the way ahead, as the Amber Machine went top of the table on goal-difference with this 4-1 win. Well, either that, or Stenhousmuir just aren’t very good, which is starting to look distinctly feasible with each weekly skelping. Saturday’s could arguably have been considerably worse, as such was Livingston’s dominance, the 4-1 scoreline felt like Brown Ferguson’s troops got off a little lightly. Daniel Mullen was the stick out, with his fourth and fifth goals of the season, meaning he’s already surpassed last season’s tally. Heady times for Livingston, but this could be a cheerless, grim campaign for the Warriors.
7. Ross Stewart (Albion Rovers)
With half an hour remaining on Saturday, Blue Toon boss Jim McInally was already contemplating his Saturday evening. 2-0 up and cruising against Albion Rovers, his mind drifted to post-game activities. A red pudding supper from Zanres probably, then up the road to watch a film. He’d managed to get Missing In Action Two off Amazon for £1.60, but it was still lying in his hallway, unopened, because he’d been in a hurry to leave the house that morning and those difficult-to-open cardboard sleeves require a bit more time than he felt he had. He’d enjoyed the first and was eager to see it, but was surprised when Simon Ferry informed him it was a prequel. He was worried he’d struggle to get his head around the fact the follow up occurred before the first one, but he’d persevere. He loves Chuck Norris.
Then Ross Stewart popped up, with two goals in the final thirty minutes, and Jim’s day started to unravel. He still went to Zanre’s, but the oil was needing changed and the chips were greasy. The red pudding didn’t really hit the spot either, with the batter sticking to their cheap, grease-proof paper, peeling away from the pudding as he prised it from the poke. He regretted not giving in to the late urge for a rump steak supper. Getting home he found his wife watching an episode of Casualty she’d Sky-Plussed from last week. She was supposed to be going out, but indigestion had gotten the better of her. Annoyed, he sloped off to bed. The Amazon package remained in the hall, unopened.
8. Jamie Robson (Dundee United)
There’s a disconcerting trend developing in Ayr United fixtures, in which their opponents generally enjoy a leisurely stroll each and every Saturday afternoon. The hyped-up signing of Gary Harkins was a good one, but based on this 3-0 defeat to Dundee United, they’ll need more, much more to stay in this tier. At times the match resembled a training exercise, as the Terrors got forward at will, with the three goal cushion barely reflective of the dominance they exerted. 18-year-old left-back Jamie Robson impressed again, grabbing the second goal in the process, and he’ll presumably follow the well trodden path which all teenagers take at Tannadice, which is either leave in the next twelve months or become awful.
9. David McGurn (Cowdenbeath)
Cowdenbeath gained their first league win of the season on Saturday against the still pointless Edinburgh City, but the manner of victory suggested Blue Brazil are a long way from challenging this term. In one of the most predictable sentences you’ll ever read, City were shorn of the talents of Craig Beattie through injury, but they could still consider themselves unfortunate not to take something from this 2-0 loss. That they didn’t was mostly down to David McGurn, who ably demonstrated why Arbroath and the Blue Brazil were involved in a tug-of-war for the ex-Raith ‘keeper during the summer. The last new league side to play at Meadowbank Stadium lost their first nine games in Scotland’s bottom tier in 1974. Edinburgh might just manage to pip that.
10. Joe Thomson (Dumbarton)
Jim Duffy’s masterplan of ending the season with 36 consecutive 1-1 draws is still on course after this third straight Morton fixture ended in that scoreline. While the previous two against St Mirren and Falkirk were considered decent points, this one was less impressive, with the Greenock side outplayed for long spells by Steve Aitken’s outfit, who’d been written off by many at the start of the term. The concern was that they’d become detached, but with the two Thomsons, striker Robert and on-loan midfielder Joe, looking the part at the weekend, Dumbarton are starting to look as good as one or two others in the division. At least they know 37 points will keep them just above Morton.
Written by Shaughan McGuigan