The Monday Stickler
Scotland are back in the mix
It’s a very chilly start to the week. Maybe it’s been snowing where you are.
Strange timings with the international break and Scotland playing on a Friday and Monday. Let’s go back to Hampden on Friday.
Not sure Scotland deserved the win but international football is a results business and this breaks the string of winless games. John McGinn got the late winner after great work for young upstart Ben Doak.
At the time I thought this was going to be disallowed for Lyndon Dykes hanging about the goal line but thankfully not. Ben Doak was absolutely the stand out player for Scotland and gave Man City superstar Joska Gvardiol a torrid time. It didn’t end there.
Jeezus, imagine seeing Ben at the end of your bed. That is the stuff of nightmares.
Pragmatic Steve Clarke has said that Doak’s minutes must be managed and that he needs to be protected, hinting he might not start against Poland.
Is this Steve bluffing or falling back to his natural tendencies. We shall see.
I don’t know the ins and outs of what is needed tonight. Scotland need to win for sure and given how it went against Hungary I have deliberately avoided the permutations. What will be will be.
I watched a fair bit of SWPL action on Sunday. Hibs v Hearts was a crushing bore although it threw up the fact that women’s games are usually on the fake pitches so Tynecastle would feel a bit different. Doesn’t feel like a good thing that it’s that way.
Celtic v Rangers was on the Hamilton Accies plastic. I only caught the second half which was a barnstormer with everything you’d want from a Scottish game. Rangers prevailed 3-2 with the winner being an absolute stunner from Chelsea Cornet.
A goal fit to win any game.
There was loads of other sport on that I saw bits and pieces of - egg chasing wins for South Africa and France, Luke Littler v Gary Anderson in an epic darts semi final, my Bears losing to the Packers in a new way, the Bills beating the horrible Chiefs, Ramirez beating Billam Smith in the cruiserweight boxing. One thing I didn’t watch was the sports event with the biggest audience - Jake Paul v Mike Tyson on Netflix. What a load of old shite.
I’ve added some new items to my shop for Christmas. Three more squads have arrived - Kilmarnock, Dundee and Dundee United.
I’ve made all the seven squad designs available on white t-shirts for children too.
And finally, ‘Pick Your Own Player’ where you can get a T-shirt, mug or coaster with your favourite player from the 145 guys that appear across the squad designs. So if you’ve always wanted a Marley Watkins mug or a Lennon Miller coaster now’s your chance.
All available at Fitbatweets.com
Back tomorrow with a good news, bad news or hard luck story about Scotland’s adventure in Poland tonight.
Keep warm.
Keith