SPFL Awards: Celtic | Annan | Arbroath

It has taken 20 years to be appreciated however Fergus McCann has finally achieved some recognition from the fans and he has also picked up a Scotsman Weekly Website Award into the bargain.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes. Pic: Ian Rutherford

After a couple of days of negative headlines there are no surprises over the destination of the ‘Bad Week’ award this week - Peterhead - it’s not all bad news though, as their players continue to shine despite the problems off of the park.

Also featuring positively are Annan (twice), Aberdeen (twice), Celtic, Hamilton Accies, Arbroath and Airdrie.

Good week for – Fergus McCann

Bunnet sales went up in the east end of Glasgow last week as Celtic fans took time out to remember Fergus McCann’s contribution to their club that began 20 years ago.

Though he was once booed as a league title flag was unveiled at Celtic Park, the passage of time has allowed appreciation of the Scot-Canadian, bunnet wearing business man, who stepped in to rescue Celtic just before they were forced into bankruptcy. Events across Glasgow have also allowed a better perspective of McCann’s ‘here is what I am, here is what I am going to do, here is what I am going to make and here I am out of here’ approach.

A statue next perhaps as the love for Fergus grows?

Bad week for – Peterhead

Some fans of Peterhead felt that they should take a trip back in time and pick on a player for the colour of his skin in their team’s match with East Stirlingshire at the weekend by allegedly making monkey noises.

This is not big, certainly not clever and is just a throwback to 40 years ago.

Picking on a 17-year-old schoolboy will hurt the reputation of the football club they claim to support and hopefully the culprit(s) will be man enough to stick their hands up and own up.

Either that or their fellow fans will stand tall and advise the authorities as to who it was – could these fellow fans of Peterhead then be up for the Good Week for Award next week?

Team of the week – Annan Athletic

Two wins out of two this week with seven goals scored and only two conceded. What makes Annan’s success all the more noteworthy is that their Tuesday night win against Queen’s Park was an against the odds one.

A goal down and a man down to a sending off they hit back to win 3-2 and built on that on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Berwick Rangers.

There is a top of the table clash with Peterhead tomorrow – could the League 2 title race take a dramatic twist?

Manager of the week – Derek McInnes (Aberdeen)

Aberdeen never used to have the bottle to win big games and on the rare occasion they did they would then flop in the next game however under Derek McInnes they appear to be made of sterner stuff.

The Dons ended Celtic’s unbeaten league run on Tuesday night with a 2-1 Pittodrie win to build on their recent Scottish Cup success at Celtic Park and Scottish League Cup semi-final success over St Johnstone.

It would just be like the Dons of old to crumble in their next league game however they ground out a 1-0 win over St Johnstone.

Talk of a new deal with McInnes has emerged and if he wins silverware in a fortnight expect Stewart Milne to have the pen out before the Dons leave Parkhead.

Premiership Player of the week – Leigh Griffiths (Celtic)

Griffiths scored his first ever Premiership hat-trick at the weekend and Celtic defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-0. The striker also scored at Hearts last Saturday and is now well on his way to becoming a darling of the Celtic fans.

Premiership Goal of the week – Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen)

The only consolation for Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster is that his new Scottish league shut-out record was ended by a cracker of a goal. Hayes hit home a shot that swerved and dipped from 30 yards to put Aberdeen one up against Neil Lennon’s side last Tuesday.

Forster must have known as soon as it left the Dubliner’s boot that his run was ending.

Championship Player of the week – Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Accies)

Gordon is an unsung hero at Hamilton however he shone in the 3-0 win over Alloa at Recreation Park.

The product of the youth system at New Douglas Park not only kept the Wasps’ forward line quiet he charged forward at every opportunity and was brought down for the penalty that put his side two up.

Gordon, who is Scottish by birth but has a Polish background, will be sitting on the fence this Wednesday when his two international sides meet.

Championship Goal of the week – Mark Millar (Falkirk)

Millar sealed Falkirk’s 4-2 at Raith Rovers with a late free kick that made the game safe. His curling effort from the edge of the box left home goalkeeper Lee Robinson rooted to the spot and sent the Bairns’ fans into song.

League 1 Player of the week – Bobby Linn (Arbroath)

Alive and kicking would appear to be bottom of the table Arbroath’s song after they defeated Brechin 4-2 to show that they are not going down without a fight.

Linn laid the foundations when he kept cool in the home box twice before the midway point of the first half to establish a two goal cushion for the Red Lichties.

League 1 goal of the week – Craig Barr (Airdrie)

Craig Barr, who goes by the name of ‘Mango’, scored a sweet over the shoulder volley to send the Diamonds into the lead against Ayr United. It was only the defenders second game for the club and put Gary Bollan’s side on the road towards a 3-0 win over Ayr United that lifted them to eighth place.

League 2 Player of the week – Dean Cowie (Peterhead)

League 2 leaders Peterhead were without centre backs Ross Smith and Scott Ross through suspension against East Stirling and midfielder Cowie was pressganged into service in an unfamiliar role despite being out for a month with a toe injury.

He stood tall throughout and kept the Shire at bay in his side’s 4-0 success.

League 2 Goal of the week – Scott Davidson (Annan Athletic)

Davidson’s solo strike happened in the second half against Queen’s Park last Tuesday. The former Falkirk and Stirling Albion front man had already forced his side in front with a close range goal before he darted forward on the left and passed two Spiders’ on his way.

He then cut in from the wing and sent a curling shot high into the far corner of the net to put the ten men 3-1 up.