Scottish football back where it left off – Partick 0-0 Dundee United
Thistle would have enjoyed their first match back in the Scottish Premiership regardless of the outcome, and after this match they will have loved it even more! Outsiders have already written off Alan Archibald’s side, yet the club are insisting they can not only survive, but thrive in the top tier of Scottish football. Personally I think they will struggle to emulate the success Ross County had last season upon promotion, but certainly not for the lack of trying. Partick last appeared in the SPL’s 2002-2003 season, much has changed since then, the most surprising of which being they are now (unofficially) Glasgow’s second biggest team – well done.
Dundee United will be happy with their display throughout 2013 so far, including an impressive 1-0 win away at Wigan last month which to my surprise meant a lot to everyone involved with the side. Anyway… a Europa League spot is a realistic aim for the Arabs to strive on achieving with Rangers and Hearts not in the way. Motherwell have enjoyed a rare European tour after finishing second in 2012/2013 (just the 16 points behind Celtic) and are likely to be targeting the same again.
The first match of this season in Scottish football didn’t have any goals to offer us on BT Sport as it was a match the goalkeepers won if anything. Several key saves from both keepers, notably Radoslaw Cierzniak in net for the visitors who had 2,100 travelling down to support them on this opening day. Those fans would have been relieved to have left with a point after the hosts put on a show for the masses watching at home – at times even the odd good bit of football. Goodwillie was unlucky with a few chances over the 90 minute, yet struggled to show much productivity as arguably Dundee United’s best player. A fight broke out between the two sides which resulted in 2 yellow cards being shown, evident of the tussle culture this match was based upon.
Clearly it’s very hard to tell if either side will live up to their own personal expectations at this very premature stage, yet if their man between the sticks stays on this kind of form, who knows.
Who said Scottish football was dead? Because it isn’t, not yet.
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