Scottish Premiership
Rangers v Bilbao, The Split and Scott Arfield’s Fairytale of Falkirk
On the Warm-Up this week, we have an immediate reaction to Rangers battling draw with Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League and a split preview from Kris Boyd and James McFadden.
Gordon Duncan is flying solo this week but has his baby-sitters in Boyd and McFadden to steer through another busy week in the SPFL.
The full episode is available on the Warm-Up YouTube channel and can be found here.
Liam Kelly’s to lose
James McFadden thinks the jersey is Liam Kelly’s to lose at Rangers; “It’s the biggest game of Rangers season at that point, so you’re saying the position is now Liam Kelly’s to lose, that’s football. I thought he would maybe go with Jack Butland with his form in Europe, you’re talking about Liam Kelly coming in before, that’s the life of a number 2 goalkeeper, be ready to be called upon knowing that even if you play 3 or 4 games, you might come back out.”
Rangers have to go up and win the game
Despite the draw against Bilbao, Kris Boyd explains that the pressure doesn’t come off in the league; “Rangers fans demand you win every single game, do you think they’re going up to Pittodrie for a holiday? No chance. They need to go up there and win the game, they’ve already been up there and lost this season, they need to go up, put in a performance where at least the fans come away and say ‘there’s a bit of fight there, there’s a grit, determination’ ahead of what is a huge game in Bilbao.”
Fairytale Story
Scott Arfield’s return has been a ‘Fairytale’ for Kris Boyd, but he’s also delivered; “Those young boys looking up to him saying ‘He’s still performing at that level in training at that age, we can only learn off him.’ John McGlynn and Falkirk deserve a lot of credit for doing the deal, but it was a fairytale story, but you’ve still got to deliver, Scott Arfield’s done that.”
Motherwell looking over their shoulder
Kris thinks Motherwell will be looking up as we reach the split, but need to be wary of the chasing pack; “They would be more worried about what’s going on behind them. Kilmarnock have started to win games here and there, Dundee look as if they’re going to score goals, Ross County, you don’t know what you’re going to get with them, I think St. Johnstone are down, but I think for me with Motherwell, their attention is on beat Hearts, hope St. Mirren drop points, but if it doesn’t go, that switches straight away; We need a victory, we need to find a victory from somewhere.”
The Warm-Up is William Hill’s weekly SPFL preview show hosted by Gordon Duncan. You can find the full episode on The Warm-Up YouTube channel, where episodes premiere every Friday. We would kindly appreciate if you would credit The Warm-Up in copy and link to the full show.
For more information, follow The Warm-Up on social media;
