HIBERNIANSO IT'S over – no Uefa cup slot for Hibs this season as our hopes of finishing in third spot were halted with the 2-0 defeat to Celtic on Sunday.
We lost a poor opening goal to non-existent marking at a corner, whic
h was all the more frustrating as we had just returned to full strength following some repair work done to Chris Hogg.
That Hibs were ever in the hunt for third place is testament to the drive and determination of Mixu Paatelainen. Taking a paltry two points from 24 over the winter period left most Hibs fans staring at the bottom six and a battle with the hat kickers from Gorgie, but Mixu put some grit and fight back into the team . In that respect, Hibs supporters have got to be happy with the results in what has been a season of upheaval.
Mind you, that grit and fight has seen us collect more than a few red cards of late, Martin Canning and Ian Murray being the latest to go. It's a pity Murray didn't kick Aiden McGeady just that little bit harder…
Eddie Hendersonwww.hibs.net
FALKIRKAT LAST the penny has dropped and the whole world gets to see what I have been barking on about for months – yes, the chronic standards of our top-flight referees.
Of course it's taken live coverage of a vital game, but the truth is, the kind of blunder witnessed at Ibrox has been going on all season, and it's the provincial clubs that are hurt most.
Let's face it, Dundee United were robbed blind and it's their players and club that have lost out on the chance of European football and the financial rewards that brings. There is little doubt that Falkirk have been robbed of ten to 12 points by disastrous referee errors – that would put us third in the table! Something needs to be done now and all clubs and managerial teams should not fear speaking out.
On the football front, the Bairns clocked up another very pleasing win against Inverness, so now seventh place is back on if we grab the points at Kilmarnock on Saturday. A record SPL points total is also possible.
Brian Guthriewww.bairnstrust.com
ST MIRRENYET more tedium on Saturday as we once again failed to score against Gretna. It was probably as bad a game as our previous two, the only difference being we at least managed to get a late winner and earn an extra few points in the others.
Saturday's game at Caley Thistle should have been our last of the season before the SPL decided to re-jig the fixtures to suit Rangers and annoy everyone else.
That is unless you are a Rangers fan, of course, in which case it's nowhere near enough and further proof that the Scottish Premier League treat them differently to every other club. Good that they've finally realised that fact!
This is probably the bit where I, as a supporter of a diddy team, am supposed to wish Rangers all the best for tonight seeing as they're representatives of Scottish football. No chance. Their behaviour in trying to get their fixtures moved all over again was pathetic. For once, the SPL made the correct decision.
Stuart Gillespiewww.saintmirren-mad.co.uk
RANGERSTODAY'S the day, then. The culmination of a glorious European adventure and a day that no Ranger will ever forget. Congratulations to Walter, the backroom boys and the players. One big effort here and you will be immortal. And as for the fans, what can you say? The mad scramble for tickets now just about over, Manchester is preparing for a friendly red, white and blue invasion. 100,000 of us will make the journey, and the stories will live on forever.
We kept our title hopes alive with two big wins in the last week, the second tarnished by some petty, nasty chat from defeated Dundee United.
Yes, the ref had a bad day but to impugn his reputation was a preposterous way to behave. Funnily enough, I don't recall Craig Levein having a go at the officials when Daniel Cousin had a perfectly good goal disallowed in October which would have got us a point.
But let's not let that detract from today. Come on Bears – you can do it!
David Edgarwww.theRST.co.uk
INVERNESS CTTHE trip to Falkirk turned out to be another of those typical end-of-season affairs as Inverness couldn't produce anything worth watching.
After hitting the target six times last week against Gretna, our forwards were shot shy and could only produce one effort on goal. Ross Tokely didn't appear to do much rousing in the captain's role and Craig Brewster was unimpressed by their lack of sharpness.
Surely, Craig, that's your responsibility to ensure this doesn't happen. We found it difficult to string more than three passes together and keeper Michael Fraser seems to enjoy throwing the ball back to the opposition.
Even the fans at the game seemed to be on holiday too as the 5,631 folk inside Westfield didn't fancy creating any kind of atmosphere.
Our final game of the season is at home to St Mirren next week. I have no doubt the biggest cheer of the day will be for those intrepid ICT fans that have walked back from Falkirk for charity.
Dave 'Gringo' Wilsonwww.caleythistleonline.com
CELTICA SUNNY afternoon, a fantastic game of football, end-to-end play, goal-mouth action, entertainment from both teams and a couple of red cards to boot. I don't think this will ever catch on. The only thing missing against Hibs was a Saturday afternoon kick-off.
Barry Robson rightly won man of the match but was closely supported by his team-mates in every department. Now we have to wait and see how others deal with the pressure.
Interestingly, while Craig Levein was raging about events elsewhere, he quite clearly said he was not talking about Celtic but what had happened at Ibrox, a point lost on the press. When will the media realise that there is no Old Firm, we are not the other side of their coin and continually repeating the lie won't make it true.
I would like to wish Rangers well in the Uefa Cup final against the self-proclaimed racists Zenit St Petersburg, but I would rather tell the truth. Hope they both get beat.
Tommy Dornanwww.celticsupporterassoc.co.uk
DUNDEE UNITEDSATURDAY'S 3-3 draw was a fair result and a fine example of how teams outwith the Old Firm now enjoy non-partisan refereeing performances when playing Rangers or Celtic….*cough*!!!
Craig Levein asked Mike McCurry 'should we just take the players off and go home' after the second of the referee's myriad disgraceful decisions. What exactly is the point of playing against 12 men at Ibrox for any of the smaller clubs? We currently have an SPL where it's considered 'exciting' if either Rangers or Celtic have a chance of winning it… year in, year out. The rest of us are meant to be content to fight amongst ourselves for the scraps – and they are scraps.
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith is 'disappointed' that United have the audacity to even imply any Scottish referee might not be impartial. I'm awaiting David Murray's next indignant statement that Rangers are furious with Uefa for refusing to allow John Greig to referee the Uefa Cup final!
Hamish Mackintoshwww.dundeeunited-mad.co.uk
KILMARNOCKA WIN at Tynecastle is always a good result, but let's not kid ourselves it was a good game, not until we scored at least.
Prior to the opening goal both teams struggled to put on any kind of performance but after 'Bert' Murray headed home a well-taken corner, they seemed to wake up a bit and the closing minutes were far easier on the eye.
Credit to Hearts for lowering the admission prices and at least making an effort to attract fans to what was in effect a meaningless game.
Off the field, the club's main sponsors were treated to a sneak preview of the new kit for next season. The home strip is pretty much what you would expect but the away strip is an all-purple effort and the reasoning behind that is a mystery to me. Red used to be our 'third colour' and then that was abandoned in favour of yellow.
We have also ditched kit manufacturer Lotto and created our own '1869' label but it has not been made clear who will actually be producing them. Expect them to be on sale in June… 2009.
Barry Richmondwww.killiefc.com
ABERDEENI SUPPOSE the expected Dons response to events at Fir Park on Saturday would be for me to demand the immediate introduction of goal-line technology and bemoan a bad decision costing us a Uefa Cup slot and lost revenue.
But the truth is it was our dreadful league form, like picking up one point on the road to our fellow top-six clubs all season, that cost us third place rather than one bad decision that means we won't be abusing our livers in foreign climes come autumn.
As for the bad line call, well part of what makes football the beautiful game is it's imperfections.
That said, it's rare that we find common ground with Dundee United fans but we've a long history of suffering at the hands of referee Mike McCurry so good luck to United with their complaint about his showing at Ibrox. Although I think it'll just be swept under the SFA carpet.
In fact, it would be no real surprise to see him take charge of the Rangers game at Pittodrie next Thursday.
Mark Alexanderwww.aberdeen-mad.co.uk
HEARTSBY THE time you read this, Hearts' season will be over and I think most supporters will be pleased that this is the case. Hearts finished their home league campaign with am inept display against Kilmarnock and surely things can only get better when it all starts again in August.
On a brighter note, Robbie Neilson's testimonial game was a more cheerful occasion, a good crowd turned up to see some good football at times as well as a few lighter moments.
On the football side the goal from Fernando Screpis was unstoppable, while Rudi Skacel finally scored his first goal at the Gorgie Road end. On the lighter side, the look on Robbo's face when Stephane Adam played a perfectly weighted pass down the wing for him to run on to was priceless.
Last week this column mentioned Robbie's 'Hall of Fame' award, this was wrongly accredited to the Kick out Bigotry campaign while the honour was actually from Show Racism the Red Card – apologies.
Derek Watsonwww.homst.com
GRETNATHAT was that, Gretna's last game in the SPL and possibly their last ever as a club. D-day looms and with a buyer yet to be found for the club it is looking increasing likely that the club will fold, 62 years after it was formed and just two years, almost to the day, since the historic Scottish Cup final against Hearts.
Plans are being made to reform the club in non-league football should the worst come to the worst, just six years after Gretna were granted entry into the SFL.
The penultimate game at St Mirren saw some pride restored after the drubbing at Inverness CT.
Greg Fleming was the hero with some good saves and whilst Gretna rarely threatened themselves, Brendan McGill did hit the bar and the point was certainly well received.
So yet again, a big game against Hearts but one that could be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Fingers and every other part of Gretna fans' bodies remain crossed that last night wasn't the last game ever for Gretna Football Club...
Scott Leslie www.gretna-mad.co.uk
MOTHERWELLIT'S official, Motherwell will be in the Uefa Cup next season.
There was a terrific atmosphere at Fir Park on Saturday and the joyful celebrations in the stands which were signalled by the referee's final whistle reflected the admiration that the fans have for the team's efforts throughout this bittersweet season.
Our success has been recognised by many fans beyond Lanarkshire and internet boards have carried messages of congratulations from supporters of Dundee United, Hibs and Aberdeen, our rivals for third place. It is heartening to see that despite the high stakes, football fans can see the bigger picture and act in a sporting manner.
Confirmation of our third place came when Scott McDonald scored the second against Hibs at Parkhead. We might take the opportunity to restore the balance this weekend when we have a chance to take points from Rangers. How good would that be?
John Wilson www.firparkcorner.com
The full article contains 2155 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
