SPFL Team of the Matchweek

There was a total of five games in the Scottish Premiership this weekend; Aberdeen took on St. Mirren at Pittodrie, Motherwell travelled to Easter Road to play Hibernian, Rangers faced Dundee at home, Celtic made the trip to Tannadice and Livingston hosted Hearts. 

There is traditionally six games in a round of fixtures however St. Johnstone’s clash with Ross County was postponed as a result of a waterlogged pitch. 

There was a plethora of standouts from the aforementioned games and today, I’ll be putting the best performers of the seventeenth round of fixtures in Scotland’s top flight into a starting eleven. 

The formation will be a 3-4-3 with no restrictions over specific positions, tactics and the like. Let’s waste no more time and begin. 

Goalkeeper - Craig Gordon

Craig Gordon reinforced his status as one of the Scottish Premiership’s top goalkeepers this weekend. The veteran was a huge contributor to Hearts’ victory over Livingston on Sunday, making copious saves. In the first half, Gordon made a tremendous triple save to heroically deny Livingston from taking the lead. He also stopped Alan Forrest from equalising for Livi in the second forty five. In total, Gordon made six saves in the game as he kept his sixth clean sheet for the Jambos in the league this season. 

Defender - Carl Starfelt

Swedish centre back Carl Starfelt was man of the match for Celtic against Hearts on Thursday evening and the twenty six year old was stable in the Celtic defence once again against Dundee United on Sunday. Starfelt was also confident on the ball as he continued his well founded form. His partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers continues to blossom. 

Defender - David Bates

Despite the fact a clean sheet evaded Aberdeen’s grasp forty two minutes into their match against St. Mirren, I felt centre back David Bates had a more than ample display in defence. The twenty five year old put his body on the line on several occasions and also made a crucial sliding tackle to stop Eamonn Brophy from finding the back of the net after the former Kilmarnock man was slid through by Joe Shaugnessy. Bates scored his maiden Aberdeen goal midweek against Livingston and followed it up with a solid display at the heart of defence against St. Mirren. 

Defender - Borna Barisic 

Although he didn’t get forward as much as his right back counterpart James Tavernier, Borna Barisic still had a resolute display. The Croatian helped his side to a clean sheet and had an overall stout defensive display. Barisic also played a part in Rangers’ second goal, working well with Joe Aribo on the left hand side whose cross met Ryan Sweeney who directed the ball into his own net. Barisic remains a stick on in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers team. 

Midfielder - David Turnbull

David Turnbull scored his first goal since mid October as Celtic cruised to victory in Dundee on Sunday. The Scotland International missed a sitter early on in the game however he soon made up for it after controlling Callum McGregor’s sublime pass to round Benjamin Siegrist and finish into an empty net. Turnbull also created countless chances for his teammates and also drew the foul which should’ve saw Calum Butcher’s dismissal.  

Midfielder - Tom Rogic

As I spoke of in my player ratings from the match, Tom Rogic had one of his greatest displays under Ange Postecoglou’s tenure as Celtic manager on Sunday. The Australian’s strike was one that could undeniably win goal of the season; Rogic weaved his way past several Dundee United players to fire into the bottom left corner. Driving runs were also a key feature of Rogic’s game on Sunday as the twenty eight year old rolled back the years. 

Midfielder - Joe Aribo

Joe Aribo has been one of Rangers’ standout performers so far under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Nigerian kept up his rich vein of form against Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday. Aribo got Rangers going nine minutes from half time with a deflected strike although it has to be said, the home side should’ve been much more in front by that point. Ten minutes into the second forty five minutes, Aribo’s cross was put into his own net by Dundee defender Ryan Sweeney; a goal which ultimately ended all hopes of a Dundee comeback. Aribo was replaced by Juninho Bacuna seven minutes from time and left the field with a standing ovation from the Rangers support. 

Midfielder - Josh Campbell 

Starting as a link between the midfield and frontline for the fifth time in a row, Josh Campbell very much caught the eye for Hibernian. The twenty one year old sent a lovely cross in for Kevin Nisbet to take on the volley and put Hibs in front thirty three minutes in as well as having several opportunities to get on the scoresheet himself. Campbell had a thunderous effort rattle the cross bar late on and moments after this, set up Kevin Nisbet whose weak strike was easily stopped by Liam Kelly. The attacking midfielder is beginning to establish himself as a regular starter at Easter Road after having loan spells at Airdrieonians, Arbroath and Edinburgh City. 

Forward - Tony Watt

The Scottish Premiership’s top scorer got his name on the scoresheet yet again this weekend. Tony Watt had a plethora of opportunities to score for Motherwell yet put one of the most difficult away. The ball fell to Watt at the edge of the eighteen yard box and he dispatched, with pin point accuracy, into the bottom left corner, off the post. In addition to his goal, Watt’s all round play was of high quality. The twenty seven year old was the most fouled player in the match according to FotMob. Watt’s significance to Motherwell cannot be underestimated. 

Forward - Christian Ramirez

It was the first few goals since the end of October for Christian Ramirez as he helped Aberdeen to a convincing victory over St. Mirren on Saturday. The American bagged himself a brace despite having the least touches of any outfield player in the match. Ramirez’s first was a terrific goal that he scored on the spin after he was played in by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas; question marks remained surrounding the legitimacy of the goal however after St. Mirren appeals for offside were waved away. The thirty year old grabbed his second nineteen minutes from time when Teddy Jenks put it on a plate for Ramirez to tap into an empty net. This capped off a more than sufficient day at the office for Ramirez who now has eleven goals in all competitions for his side. 

Forward - Marley Watkins

Marley Watkins was nothing short of immense alongside Christian Ramirez in the Aberdeen attack on Saturday. The Welshman was able to triple his goal tally for the club with a double against St. Mirren. Watkins gave his side the lead seven minutes in after his own header was weakly palmed back to his feet by Jak Alnwick. His second was a much more clinical strike. The thirty one year old was played through by Ryan Hedges and fired the ball past Alnwick and into the bottom right corner. It seems Aberdeen are beginning to find some form ahead of the tough December schedule and the developing partnership of Ramirez and Watkins will be nothing but beneficial for the Dons. 

That concludes my team of the match week for round seventeen of the Scottish Premiership 21/22 season. 

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