Monday SPFL verdict:top players, teams and managers

Jon Daly celebrates one of his four goals during Rangers' 8-0 rout against Stenhousemuir. Picture: SNS

This week we have a hat-trick hero with a difference, a special mention for Morton manager Allan Moore, another treble scorer from one half of the Old Firm and a four-goal forward from the other ,as well as three players scoring crackers as they found the net for the first time ever in their senior careers. Enjoy and discuss!

Good weekend for

Terry Butcher and Inverness Caledonian Thistle

The league leaders lost for the first time this season last weekend when Aberdeen beat them 1-0, but anyone hoping that the Highland bubble had burst was disappointed. Butcher’s side travelled to Championship side Dundee and won 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup last Tuesday and followed that up with a comprehensive 3-0 win over a Hibs side that had been climbing the table. Inverness have made a habit of soundly beating Hibs at Caledonian Stadium over the years, and it was one-way traffic on Saturday as Butcher’s side proved themselves worthy of their lofty league position.

Bad weekend for

Stenhousemuir and Martyn Corrigan

Corrigan rather controversially picked up the SPFL Manager of the Month Award for August ahead of Rangers’ Ally McCoist on Thursday but quickly found out the new monthly awards appear to carry the same legendary curse that often befell recipients of the IRN-BRU Monthly Awards. Stenhousemuir, who had been in decent form and were just five points behind runaway league leaders Rangers, crumbled spectacularly at Ibrox and were walloped 8-0. Rangers are now eight points clear of third-placed Stenhousemuir and remain five clear of second-placed Dunfermline.

Team of the week

Dunfermline Athletic

Jim Jefferies’ young League 1 squad, who have been through a turbulent year, are showing week-on-week improvement under his leadership. The Pars kept hold of second place by thrashing Ayr United 5-1 as East End Park players finally handed out the ‘lesson’ to opposing teams that Jefferies has been predicting in recent weeks. A mouth-watering top of the table clash with Rangers beckons in less than a fortnight.

Manager of the week

Allan Moore (Morton)

Morton celebrated a famous 1-0 victory over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday night to give them their first win at Celtic Park in 41 years. Manager Moore’s joy was short-lived as he tragically lost his brother the following day when he passed away suddenly on holiday in Turkey. The Cappielow boss turned up for work on Saturday and although his side lost 3-1 to Dundee no-one who would deny him this week’s nomination.

Premiership Player of the week

Georgios Samaras (Celtic)

The Greek had a stormer at Rugby Park and his performance was described as “world class” by his manager Neil Lennon in the Celtic Park side’s 5-2 win over Kilmarnock. In the first half the striker volleyed home his first after an Adam Matthews cross was not dealt with, and then slid home an unselfish pass from Kris Commons for his second. The treble was complete when a Charlie Mulgrew free kick was headed home after the break and Samaras - who has so often proved to be a talisman for Celtic in European competition - ow has the chance to build on Lennon’s praise in the Champions League against the might of Barcelona.

Premiership Goal of the week

Sean Clohessy (Kilmarnock)

Samaras may have been the man of the match at Rugby Park but the goal of the game, and indeed the Premiership Goal of the Week, belonged to Kilmarnock’s Sean Clohessy. Killie had been losing however boosted by Sammy Clingan’s fine free kick Clohessy charged forward and exchanged passes with Michael Gardyne before shooting low past Fraser Forster.

Championship Player of the week

Callum Fordyce (Livingston)

The Livingston defender deserves recognition this week for scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 win over Cowdenbeath at the Energy Assets Arena. It is not often defenders go home with the match ball and it is even rarer that they do it after scoring with three headers.

Championship Goal of the week

Kris Faulds (Falkirk)

Falkirk looked to be on the end of a second 1-0 defeat from Raith Rovers this season until Kris Faulds decided to announce himself in the senior game. Deep into injury time the Bairns substitute let fly from 30 out and his effort went over David McGurn in the home goal to tie the game at 1-1. Not a bad way to grab your first ever goal.

League One player of the week

Jon Daly (Rangers)

Rangers striker Daly scored four times as the Ibrox side demolished Stenhousemuir 8-0. You can only score against the teams that are put in front of you and former Dundee United player Daly did that with two headed goals in the first 16 minutes. A third goal came from another header just after the break before Daly tapped home his fourth and Rangers’ sixth after set up play from Nicky Clark.

League One goal of the week

Alex Whittle (Dunfermline)

The Pars’ Whittle was another player to grab his first ever goal at the weekend and he did it in style against the Honest Men. With the game tied at 1-1 midway through the opening half former winger Whittle decided to fire in an effort from 25 yards out that flew high into the net. It makes you wonder why he has not done it before!

League 2 player of the week

Michael Bolochoweckyj (East Stirlingshire)

The Shire defender kept his side at the top of the table with the only goal of the game against second placed Berwick Rangers. Bolochoweckyj scored early against one of his former sides and then stood strong in his defensive role as the Borderers looked to get level.

League 2 Goal of the week

Darren Miller (Albion Rovers)

Our third first-time goalscorer is Darren Miller of Albion Rovers. The midfielder, who was playing amateur football last season, curled home a fine free kick to draw his side level against Peterhead to break his duck in the senior game.