SPFL weekly awards: Airdrie | Dundee United

New Airdrie manager Gary Bollan. Picture: TSPL

Dundee United pick up their first ‘Bad Weekend’ Award after a plethora of positive Awards in recent weeks with Motherwell, St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Livingston, Dundee, Ayr United, Annan and Peterhead being commended.

Good weekend for – Gary Bollan (Aidrieonians)

Bollan has tasted success for the first time as manager of the club at the bottom of League 1. The Diamonds came from behind to defeat Arbroath 2-1 at the Excelsior Stadium on Saturday and not only has the win done wonders for confidence it has made survival in 2014 a real possibility.

Airdrie now sit only 2 points behind the Gayfield side and 5 behind East Fife in the total safety of eighth.

Bad weekend (well few days) for – Dundee United

Dundee United being involved in 4-1 and 3-0 games is nothing new of late, however in a reversal of fortune they have went down by these scorelines in their last two games. St Mirren enjoyed a 4-1 success on Boxing Day over the Tannadice side and on Sunday a Stevie May inspired St Johnstone handed out a 3-0 defeat.

McNamara made 8 changes from one game to the next and do not be surprised if he makes a similar number for their meeting with Aberdeen on New Year’s Day.

Team of the week – Motherwell

A 1-0 away win at Pittodrie on Boxing Day was followed up with a 5-1 success at Partick Thistle to hand Motherwell the Team of Week Award and second place in the Premiership table. It is now four wins in a row for the Fir Park side and the dark days of defeats from Dundee United, Albion Rovers and Celtic are beginning to become fading memories.

Manager of the week – Stuart McCall (Motherwell)

McCall’s side played things right to secure a ‘smash and grab’ win at Aberdeen where the home side attacked and Motherwell soaked things up before hitting on the break to devastating effect.

At Firhill McCall’s side lost an early goal however they were 3-1 ahead by half time and the end scoreline has put Motherwell’s goal difference back into the black.

Premiership Player of the week – Stevie May (St Johnstone)

The emergence of talent on Tayside has been an often talked about subject in recent months and Stevie May popped up on Sunday to remind everyone that he is the original new kid on the block.

The highly rated Dundee United youngsters arrived at McDiarmid Park looking to bounce back from their defeat in Paisley, however May showed that he was the original talent of the season.

The 21 year old netted an early penalty before shooting home with power for his second goal of the afternoon and then chipping in for his hat-trick and the match ball as a late Christmas present.

Premiership Goal of the week – Jamie Hamill (Hearts)

Any Hearts goal that secures a point at this stage of the Tynecastle club’s season is to be enjoyed and Jamie Hamill’s strike at Paisley was an easy goal to enjoy on its own merits.

With the Paisley side leading one nil Hamill sent a 20 yard shot flashing past Marian Kello to restore parity and take Hearts closer to the positive points mark.

With Ross County and Partick Thistle losing all is not lost for maroon supporters.

Championship Player of the week – Marc McNulty (Livingston)

Striker McNulty scored one and involved in another as Livingston produced a highly commendable 3-0 success over manager John McGlynn’s former club Raith Rovers. After seeing a number of transfer windows open and shut and McNulty remain a Lion everyone in West Lothian will be hoping that remains the case over the next few weeks.

Championship Goal of the week – Kevin McBride (Dundee)

The Match Officials at Dens Park appeared to call it wrong with a header from Dumbarton’s Bryan Prunty was not given as a goal despite strong calls that it was over the line, however there was no doubting McBride’s strike.

The midfielder lashed home from 22 yards out to make it 2-0 for Dundee and help ensure that the Championship leaders saw off the Sons with Peter MacDonald adding a late third.

League 1 Player of the week – Michael Moffat (Ayr United)

Moffat attracted headlines recently when the SFA started an investigation into claims that Moffat was gambling on football and had bet on games involving the Honest Men. Ayr have stuck by their former Girvan Juniors goal-grabber and been rewarded with goals.

He was at it again on Saturday as he grabbed the double that saw off East Fife 2-0 as he knocked the ball home after his penalty had been saved in the first half before slamming in his second later in the game.

League 1 Goal of the week – Jamie Longworth (Stranraer)

Longworth’s goal was probably not the best in League 1 in recent days however it has attracted most of the headlines and is the only one that is likely to a be the answer to a quiz question.

The High School PE teacher was the man who ended Rangers hopes of going through the entire season winning every game when he scored in injury time on Boxing Day.

League 2 Player of the week – Kenny Mackay (Annan)

Jet paced Mackay has been a late winner of two games in recent days as the Galabank side have seen off Montrose and then Elgin.

Mackay struck in injury time to put his side one goal up at Links Park and was promptly booked for his act of bravery in taking his top off in late December in Montrose.

Not content with that Mackay set up a second for Josh Todd.

On Saturday Annan were a goal down to the Borough Briggs side at Galabank with 10 minutes left. Scott Davidson scored a penalty to bring them level and Mackay again showed that he is the man for the late occasion as he popped up with a winner to move Annan into a play-off place.

League 2 Goal of the week – Rory McAllister (Peterhead)

McAllister again showed his prowess from set pieces on Saturday at Shielfield against Berwick Rangers. With the score tied at 1-1 the in-form striker thumped home a dead ball to put the league leaders back in control.

With McAllister in this form you can expect both him an Peterhead to pick up more awards between now and the end of the season.

SPFL weekly awards: Airdrie | Dundee United | Motherwell