St Mirren face biggest trouble after five defeats in a row
The Football Show panel singled out St Mirren as the side in most danger, praised Dundee and asked how Hibs ended up bottom of the league.
By PLZ Soccer,
On The Football Show, the panel picked out St Mirren as the team that could be in the biggest trouble in the Premiership, with the club having lost five in a row ahead of their meeting with Dundee.
One panellist said there are periods in games when St Mirren look a quality side, noting from the highlights of their match against Aberdeen that they could have been ahead at half-time. The problem, he said, is the way they defend, describing them as "open and susceptible at the back".
The St Mirren manager, referred to on the show as Craig, was expected to be given time. But he was described as a young manager, "maybe a wee bit naïve in his thinking", who does not want to change or tighten up. The panel accepted that "When they're good, they're very good". It was also argued that a side low on confidence should not be asked to play "high-risk football", and that "You need to take the pressure off your team" by reverting to a more basic approach.
Dundee earn praise
Dundee, by contrast, were described as "flying at the minute", with one panellist saying: "I am really impressed with what Dundee are doing." Midfielder Ethan Hamilton, linked to Hearts and Hibs, was singled out, with the suggestion that Celtic and Rangers will be looking at him as well. As the praise piled up, the panel remarked that "there's a love-in here". The predictions were 2-1 and 2-0 to Dundee.
Hibs bottom and Kilmarnock's turnaround
Turning to Falkirk against Kilmarnock, the panel noted that the bottom four were all in the top half last season, while clubs such as St Johnstone and Dundee are "punching above their weight". On Hibs being bottom, one panellist said: "Hibs, the size of the club, should never be bottom."
Kilmarnock manager Neil was said to have been under severe pressure after a heavy defeat to Celtic, before winning at Easter Road. "That's the game that's turned it around for him," said one panellist, who expected the manager to treat the climb as "one building brick".
Falkirk were expected to hit their stride again under a manager who insists his players express themselves. The panel believed the match "will be closer than you think" and that "Falkirk could be fine". One panellist went for a draw and another for Falkirk to edge it 2-1.