Reflecting on another difficult European midweek has become a familiar Sunday routine for Scottish football. This time, however, Motherwell and Hibernian head into their return fixtures with genuine hopes of advancing, even if they are competing in the third-tier Conference League qualifiers.
Motherwell will aim to complete the task after earning a 1-1 draw away against HJK Helsinki. The Lanarkshire club continue to receive praise for the playing philosophy introduced last season by Jens Berthel Askou and refined by new manager Alfred Johansson.
Before then, though, they must improve their recent record against Falkirk. The visitors have won on each of their past three trips to Fir Park and remain unbeaten in six meetings with Motherwell.
Since defeating Motherwell 1-0 at Falkirk Stadium in May, John McGlynn’s team have suffered four successive Premiership losses.
Hibernian had to work hard for their 2-1 victory over North Macedonian opponents Shkendija, although it represented an improvement on their opening home defeat by Motherwell.
They now travel to Glasgow with the chance to become the first team to secure back-to-back league victories at Ibrox, having won 2-1 at the venue in May.
Hibernian have, in fact, triumphed on two of their previous three league visits. Another success would intensify the pressure on new Rangers manager Derek McInnes following Thursday’s loss in Poland.
The pressure could increase further if Celtic, who may be without O’Neill despite the manager leaving hospital, record a ninth consecutive victory over Kilmarnock and extend their overall league winning run to nine matches. Such a result would give them a useful early advantage over their title challengers.
That outcome appears likely given Kilmarnock’s opening defeat by St Johnstone and the fact that the Ayrshire club have failed to win either of their first two top-flight fixtures in 12 of the past 15 seasons.
Hearts likewise cannot afford a third straight league loss. After being beaten by Celtic in last season’s decisive contest and then losing their opener against Aberdeen, another setback would damage their hopes of matching the challenge mounted under McInnes last term.
Hearts have failed to beat Dundee United during the visitors’ past three trips to Tynecastle. A fifth consecutive defeat would therefore bring further scrutiny for new head coach Wouter Vrancken.
Vrancken’s team have conceded 14 goals across those four matches and must also cope without suspended centre-back Stuart Findlay. Dundee United have defensive concerns of their own, having gone 17 Premiership away fixtures without a clean sheet and registered fewer shutouts on the road than any other team since the beginning of last season.
Tynecastle could therefore host a high-scoring encounter.
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