The Bairns of Autumn

Yesterday was the autumnal equinox, which can only mean one thing -- Falkirk is coming.  The Bairns visit Cappielow today for the first of four league matches agin the Ton. Morton is at the top of the table, but everyone else in the division is near the top of the table, so it's an important game for both sides, not to mention the other eight division members, and much of the Scottish population as well.

Today is also the first round of the Scottish Cup. 34 non-League sides compete for the honour of being slaughtered by professionals in some later round. Included are the bulk of the Highland, East of Scotland and South of Scotland leagues plus four junior clubs: the holder of the Scottish Junior Cup (Auchinleck Talbot), and the champions of the East Super League (Bo'ness United), West Super League (Irvine Meadow), and North Premier League (Culter). Of prime interest to us at Plenty of Nothing is the match between Dalbeattie Star and Inverurie Loco Works, two red and black teams.

Like Morton, the Bairns have had a lot of roster change since 2010-11. Much of last year's squad went off to England, Bradford City alone picking up three Falkirkites. To date the current Bairns have amassed a decent league record of two wins, three draws and a loss, and are still in both the Ramsdens Cup and the Scottish Communities League Cup competitions. Round Three of the League Cup was played midweek, the eight winning clubs being Ayr United, Celtic, Dundee United, East Fife, Falkirk, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, and St Mirren. Craig Brown describes Aberdeen's surprise loss to Second Division side East Fife as the worst game of his managerial career. Aberdeen are not doing well and if they don't turn around soon they are strong contenders for relegation come Spring. Hearts also unexpectedly bowed out, losing on penalties to Ayr. But the huge upset of the round came in Ranger's 3 - 2 loss to . . . Falkirk. So, having wrangled with giant-killers last weekend in Dumfries, the Morton meet another bunch today at Cappielow.

[Morton win 3 - 2! Goals by MacDonald (2) and Jackson. Morton is still in first place by two points. In Scottish Cup action: Inverurie Loco Works 6, Dalbeattie 1.]

Comments

[Alan]

More like Deedbeatie!

[Douglas]

But what can you do against Inverurie? Those guys are loco!