SPFL February Team of the Month

Despite February being the shortest month of the year, there was still a plethora of action in the Scottish Premiership in the second month of 2022. 

There was a total of five rounds of fixtures packed into a busy three and a half week period and today, I’ll putting together an eleven of the best performers from said time frame. 

As ever, there are no restrictions over specific positions or tactics. The formation will be a basic 3-4-3. Let’s begin. 

Goalkeeper - Benjamin Siegrist

As it stands, Dundee Utd are currently engrossed in the battle for fourth in the Scottish Premiership and in February, the Arabs had the best defensive record in the league, conceding just two goals. Goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist kept three clean sheets in this period and also had quite a few dazzling displays along the way. The Swiss played a significant part in his team’s 1-1 draw with Rangers, denying both Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos from extremely close range. Furthermore against Aberdeen, Siegrist helped to prevent a halcyon homecoming for Sir Alex Ferguson as United held the Dons to a one all draw. The thirty year old made some key interventions in the match however a key concern going for Dundee United fans going forward will surely be Siegrist’s contractual situation. His current deal expires at the end of the 21/22 campaign meaning any team could approach him just now in order for Siegrist to join them in the summer. 

Defender - Nicky Devlin

Livingston have really hit some form in the month of January and David Martindale’s side are only one point away from a European place. Due to this, three of their players make up my eleven best Scottish  Premiership performers for the month of February. The first of said trio is their captain, Nicky Devlin. The Scot has played at right back in a back four in all of Livingston’s five matches in February, helping his side to two victories and two draws. Devlin has been well-founded at the back yet dangerous in attack, helping himself to two assists. He set up Bruce Anderson at the Tony Macaroni Arena against St. Mirren as he played his part in a well worked move which saw some great interplay on the right hand side. Devlin received from Joel Nouble and flashed it across goal for Anderson who done the rest. The twenty eight year old then combined with Anderson the next weekend in Livingston’s trouncing of Dundee, once again getting to the bye line and crossing for Anderson who, this time, scored into an empty net. The Livingston captain has been nothing but reliable for his side this season, having missed just one league match and will be aiming to help Livingston to a top six finish for the second season in a row. 

Defender - Rocky Bushiri

Hibs didn’t get off to the best start under Shaun Maloney however in the month of February, their results have slightly improved. Apart from 1 and 2-0 defeats to St. Mirren and Rangers respectively, the Hibees will be relatively happy with the past few weeks and although he’s rather prone to a yellow card or two, Rocky Bushiri has been a standout in their backline. The Belgian has been compared to Vincent Kompany and was brought in on loan from Norwich with Hibs having an option to make the move permanent. Bushiri is a rather imposing defender who has taken up the right centre back role in Shaun Maloney’s 3/5 at the back system. He is adequate with the ball at his feet and has been a consistent performer in a Hibs defence that kept clean sheets against the top and third-top attacking sides in the league in February. Should Bushiri keep up his recent form, it will be interesting to see whether Hibs proceed to purchase the twenty two year old permanently or not. 

Defender - Ross Graham 

As mentioned, Dundee United’s defence was the best in the Scottish Premiership in February and therefore, it will come as no surprise that one of their backline makes it into my team of the month. After being recalled from his loan spell at Dunfermline, centre back Ross Graham has firmly established himself as one of the first names on the Dundee United team sheet. Graham was yet to make a senior appearance for United prior to his recall however he has taken like a duck to water in orange and black in recent weeks. The twenty one year old has combined defensive solidity with a threat going forward and was one of the best players on the field as Dundee United earned a point against Rangers. Graham opened the scoring with a commanding header that beat Alan McGregor and was unfortunate not to net the following weekend against Aberdeen as his thunderous volley was palmed away by Joe Lewis. The race for the top six is certainly hotting up and it will be intriguing to see what lies in wait for Tam Courts’ Dundee United side and one of his most promising youngsters, Ross Graham. 

Midfielder - Connor Ronan

Although he was sent off in his most recent match, Connor Ronan still makes it into my team of the month as a result of his stately displays prior to his red card. The Irishman has been a key part of a St. Mirren side that lost just one match in February, becoming somewhat of a talismanic figure for the Buddies at the beginning of the month. His out-swinging corner met the head of Alex Gogic against Motherwell however St. Mirren proceeded to concede a last-gasp equaliser in that match. Against Hibs at Easter Road the following weekend, Ronan managed to get his name on the scoresheet, capitalising on a Ryan Porteous mistake to hammer into the roof of the net. Ronan then kept his cool to convert past Zander Clark from the spot to help St. Mirren to a crucial 2-1 victory over St. Johnstone. Despite dropping off in the last few games of February, Connor Ronan was still an ever-present impresser in the month.  He is only on loan at St. Mirren and it will be luring to see if the deep-lying midfielder can go back and challenge at Wolves ahead of the 22/23 season. 

Midfielder - Liel Abada 

Particularly at the beginning of the month, Liel Abada was on red-hot form. The Israeli scored two and set up three within the first six days of February. In the Glasgow Derby against Rangers, Abada laid off Reo Hatate for Celtic’s second of the night. Abada then helped complete a first half rout when Hatate returned the favour to the twenty year old by sending a dangerous cross into the box which the winger latched on to. Less than a week later against Motherwell, Abada was central for Celtic yet again as he played a part in three of Celtic’s four goals that day. He and Hatate combined once more to give Celtic an early lead with Abada calmly slotting home from close range after the Japanese picked him out in the box. Abada then worked well with Tom Rogic to provide the Australian with two goals. Firstly laying him off for a wonderful long range effort and secondly playing a cut-back cross for Rogic to fire home from a few yards out. After these splendid performances, Abada went somewhat quiet although we must remember, he is just twenty years old and to be putting up the numbers like he is, is particularly impressive. 

Midfielder - Regan Charles-Cook

I feel like every team of the month article I’ve written this season has featured Regan Charles-Cook in it although after all, he is the league’s top scorer. The Grenadian added three more to his tally this month as Ross County moved a massive nine points clear of the foot of the table. Charles-Cook got his first goal of February in a weighty game in Dundee. After missing a penalty earlier in the match, Charles-Cook redeemed himself when he finished past Adam Legzdins with ten to play. Admittedly, the twenty five year old did have a few muted performances after this game but he came back to the fore in a real relegation six-pointer in Dingwall against St. Johnstone. Charles-Cook drew his team level in the first half with a sublime, curled effort into the far corner. He then made it 2-1 to County in the second forty five with a high, looping effort that beat Elliott Parish. It is fair to say Regan Charles-Cook has been a standout performer this season never mind this month. He has been a key figure in an attack which is the best in the league outside the Old Firm and he continues to be Ross County’s talisman. 

Midfielder - Alan Forrest 

It is no surprise that this is the second  Livingston player to appear in my team of the month after the Lions lost just one game in February and made their way into the top six. One of their midfielders who particularly caught the eye in said time frame was Alan Forrest. The twenty five year old appears to be central to the majority of Livingston’s attacks and managed to score two goals and register two assists in his five appearances in February. The winger flashed a ball across goal for Bruce Anderson to convert in Livi’s only loss of the month. Forrest then scored two in two, firstly against Aberdeen when he latched on to Christian Montano’s through ball to smartly finish past Gary Woods and secondly to earn his side a point in the Highlands against Ross County as his left footed effort from outside the box found the bottom corner. Finally away to Dundee, Forrest disposed his creative abilities once again as he played in centre back Jack Fitzwater who finished with composure into the bottom corner. Rather surprisingly, Alan Forrest has more goals and assists in the league this season than his brother James. He has certainly stepped up his game in the last few months and his decision to remain at Livingston and not make the move to St. Johnstone in January looks to be the correct one. 

Forward - Alfredo Morelos 

Alfredo Morelos has found some prodigious form for Rangers of late after returning from International duty with Colombia. The striker failed to score in only one of his Scottish four Premiership appearances in February in which he netted four times and assisted twice. He put in a tremendous display against Hearts on the 6th of February, tapping home to give his side an early lead and then doubling Rangers’ advantage just after half time, curling a left-footed effort into the far corner. Furthermore, Morelos was able to set up Glen Kamara in the same game as he nicely linked the play to put the Finn through on goal. Then against his previous opponents city rivals, Morelos was on the scoresheet once again. He latched on to a line-breaking James Tavernier pass to eminently finish past Matt Macey. Morelos then had to wait a while for his next Scottish Premiership goal after his strike against Hibs. Rangers faltered against both Dundee United and Motherwell yet it was against the latter where the twenty five year old was most prominent. He contributed to both Gers goals in the 2-2 draw, scoring with a header and then setting up Fashion Sakala moments later. As we enter the run in, Alfredo Morelos will undoubtedly be chasing the crown of top scorer in the Scottish Premiership. He currently sits just one behind Regan Charles-Cook in the charts, who we spoke of earlier. 

Forward - Bruce Anderson

The third and final Livingston player in my February team of the month is a man who scored just under half of the Lions’ nine goals in the past month - Bruce Anderson. The Scot bagged his maiden goal of the month against St. Johnstone, pouncing on Alan Forrest’s low cross ball. Anderson failed to net against Aberdeen and Ross County however he was back among the goals when St. Mirren came to West Lothian. The striker finished off a tremendously worked goal with yet another front-post finish that initially ricocheted off the post. Finally against Dundee at the Kilmac Stadium, Anderson played his part in a magnificent Livi display as he bagged a brace in the Lions’ 4-0 win. Both of his goals were typical of his play style. The twenty three year old was in the right place at the right time on two occasions to tap in from close range. The signing of Bruce Anderson is yet another inordinate piece of business from Livingston. They were able to get the striker in on a free transfer and Anderson has undoubtedly delivered for his side, scoring 11 goals and setting up a further 3 in the league this season. 

Forward - Callum Hendry 

St. Johnstone enjoyed a slight upturn in form in February however they do still occupy a relegation play off spot and are just two points ahead of bottom side Dundee in the Scottish Premiership who have a game in hand on the Perth side. In spite of this, a positive for Callum Davidson has been the goalscoring form of Callum Hendry. The striker was recalled from his loan spell at Kilmarnock in order to provide more attacking firepower for St. Johnstone ahead of the run in and he has assuredly understood the assignment. Hendry scored an admirable header in St. Johnstone’s maiden win since the 30th October in their  first match in February. He then followed this up with another goal just over a week later in Paisley as he converted from the spot despite a St. Johnstone loss. Hendry was on the scoresheet the next midweek at Pittodrie, finishing from close range after a number of loose balls in the box. Then in the Highlands, Hendry was dominant aerially as he rose above Keith Watson to head home from close range. Going forward, you feel the goalscoring form of Callum Hendry may be crucial to any St. Johnstone survival however the Perth Sainties do posses the likes of Nadir Gifctci and Theo Blair in their ranks. 

That caps off my latest SPFL Team of the Month. 

Do you agree with my picks? Let me know in the comments below. You can also get in touch with me on Twitter @Josh_Footblog for more Scottish football content. 

Thanks for reading!