For those of a certain age, the top end of the Scottish Premiership table has a warm, nostalgic glow. There are shades of the 1980s about the way Aberdeen are up there challenging, with Dundee United not a million miles behind.
Each of them earned another three points at the weekend, scored a few goals and, in a throwback to the times when together they were known as the New Firm, consolidated their positions in and around Celtic and Rangers.
Of course, they are a long, long way from recreating the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean, whose cups and titles covered the best part of a decade. This season alone, they will have a tough time keeping it going when they lose the element of surprise and a long, hard campaign takes its toll.
But there is no mistaking their shared progress, which serves as a reminder of the two clubs’ scale and potential. They haven’t often got it right in recent years, but when they do, their supporters respond.
Aberdeen’s average attendance at Pittodrie last season was 16,230. This season, it is more than 18,000. Their last four home matches have attracted sellout crowds of more than 19,000, the most recent of which was on Saturday night, when they beat Dundee 4-1.
Seven days after their 6-0 humiliation by Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup, goals from Ante Palaversa, Topi Keskinen, Vicente Besuijen and Kevin Nisbet gave Aberdeen their 10th win from 11 league games and quickly regained the momentum that has captured their supporters’ imagination.
Jim Goodwin enjoyed a 3-0 victory against Ross County that kept his team fourth in the table
Luca Stephenson celebrates scoring his third goal of the season at Tannadice on Saturday
Besuijen and Nisbet scored in a 4-1 win against Dundee that regained Aberdeen’s momentum
United, too, are bringing back the crowds. Since returning to the Premiership last summer, they have averaged 10,686 at the gate, which would be their best figure since the 1990s. Against Ross County on Saturday, they attracted 8,349 to Tannadice, almost all of them decked in tangerine.
That’s what happens when decent-sized clubs do the simple things well. It has taken United far too long under the ownership of Mark Ogren to get the basics right, but finally they seem to be benefiting from a spell of stability that started with Jim Goodwin’s appointment 18 months ago.
Bruised and battered from his experience at Aberdeen, Goodwin could not prevent relegation, but he was given a two-year deal and made full use of it, taking them back to the top flight at the first time of asking. Last week, he signed a contract extension to 2026.
At a club that has spent far too much on far too little these last few years, Goodwin signed no fewer than 13 players in the summer, most of whom have fitted in nicely.
Against County, striker Sam Dalby, on loan from Wrexham, scored his fourth goal in five games. Luca Stephenson, whose parent club is Liverpool, got his third of the season. Will Ferry impressed on the left. And Vicko Sevelj did a power of work in midfield, where another recent acquisition, David Babunski, brings a wealth of experience.
There are emerging options too. Australia international Ryan Strain is finally putting behind him an injury that came shortly after his surprise signing from St Mirren. And United ended the County game with an attack comprised of three academy products, one of whom — 17-year-old Owen Stirton — scored.
Before United’s fans get too carried away, it should be stressed that the table is tight, with the potential to mislead. Yes, they are fourth in the league, but they are closer to the foot of it than they are to second-placed Aberdeen. And fifth-placed Motherwell have a game in hand.
At the very least, however, Goodwin and his players appear to be heading in the right direction. Like their old rivals in the North East, United are finally pulling their weight, which is more than can be said for one or two others in Scotland’s top flight.
Caley keep fighting
Despite going into administration, losing their manager and being deducted 15 points, Inverness Caley Thistle haven’t given up on staying in League One. They got only their third win of the season on Saturday when they beat Cove Rangers with goals by Adam McKinnon and Keith Bray.
It knocked Cove off the top of table and put Inverness into positive numbers at the bottom. They are now ‘just’ 11 points off Dumbarton, who are second bottom. They couldn’t could they?
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari must address his team’s poor defensive record
Defensive lapses stunting Simo’s style
Simo Valakari has transformed the way St Johnstone play. In just about every category — from possession and corners to shots on target and expected goals — his team are performing better than they did under his predecessor.
But it will count for nothing if he cannot eliminate the defensive weakness that was the Perth club’s biggest problem before he arrived last month. They have conceded 27 goals in their 13 games this season, more than anyone else in the Premiership.
The latest came in a 2-1 defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, when Tawanda Maswanhise and Tom Sparrow all too easily put the home side two up. A penalty by Nicky Clark was as much as the visiting side could muster in response.
In a tight, evenly-contested game, Motherwell were the better team in both boxes. Which is where it matters most.
