Monday SPFL verdict:top players, teams and managers

Lionel Ainsworth wheels away after scoring against Dundee United. Picture: PA

The Awards this week are widespread to reflect a number of notable events and of course fans will have their own views. We may have some that agree and some that disagree but we would be happy to hear supporters’ own thoughts and alternatives.

This week we have our first refereeing ‘winner’ with Livingston getting two honourable mentions with Albion Rovers also winning alongside players from Aberdeen, Ross County, Motherwell, Raith Rovers, Queen of the South, Brechin City, Stenhousemuir, Queen’s Park and Stirling Albion. Enjoy and discuss!

Good weekend for

Scott Vernon (Aberdeen)

The big Aberdeen striker Scott broke a barren goalscoring run that stretched back more than six months. The Englishman had drifted out of favour at Pittodrie, but Derek McInnes turned to him with 13 minutes left with the game against league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle deadlocked. Vernon accepted a Peter Pawlett headed pass and turned on the spot before lashing home to inflict the first defeat of the season on Terry Butcher’s men.

Bad weekend for

Andrew Dallas

The referee’s performance in the League Two game between Queen’s Park and Elgin City at Hampden caused great controversy. Things began badly after 13 minutes when Dallas awarded the Moray men a free-kick after Ally MacKenzie had been brought down at least a yard in the box.

The whistler then only booked Ciaran McLean when he felled the Spiders’ Blair Spittal who was straight through on goal eight yards out in what could only be described as a goalscoring opportunity. Dallas again had a different view of things as MacKenzie got away with a blatant barge into the back of Gavin Mitchell with the Borough Briggs side awarded a throw in as the ball came off the flattened home defender.

As Queen’s made their protests Shane Sutherland used an arm to set the ball up for Paul Harkins to drill home.

At the half time whistle Dallas left the pitch to the echo of boos from the 342 crowd in the National Stadium.

It wasn’t a good weekend for under-pressure St Mirren manager Danny Lennon too as his side’s struggles continued in a 2-0 defeat against Hibernian at Easter Road, nor his left-back Danny Grainger. The former Hearts man was heckled throughout the 90 minutes due to his Tynecastle past, then picked up two yellow cards in succession to be sent off in the closing stages as he let frustration get the better of him.

Team of the week

Albion Rovers

The Coatbridge side deserve major credit for their 4-1 League 2 success at East Stirlingshire. Rovers had lost their last two games and were facing the league leaders. However, in something of a ‘coupon buster’ they raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time and ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Manager of the week

John McGlynn (Livingston)

Livingston’s new manager led the West Lothian side to their first Championship win of the campaign. Livingston travelled to face Ian Murray’s Dumbarton and won 2-1. Former Hearts boss McGlynn had spent his first full week working with the players and still plenty to tell them at half-time as they trailed 1-0 to Mitch Megginson’s 44th minute opener. Whatever he said worked as Marc McNulty’s double turned the game on its head and hauled Livingston level on points with Morton in a tightly-packed bottom half of the table.

Premiership Player of the week

Richard Brittain (Ross County)

Ross County’s captain kept going until the final whistle against Hearts. Setting up a last-gasp equaliser for Melvin De Leeuw was not enough for Brittain, who then headed in an even later winner to leave Gary Locke’s young side shellshocked. It was an incredibly cruel twist for Hearts - who had deserved a victory - but Brittain kept spurring his team on and got his reward in spectacular style.

Premiership Goal of the week

Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell)

Two crackers in the one game to choose from following Dundee United’s pulsating 2-2 draw with Motherwell at Tannadice. United’s Andrew Robertson charged up the pitch and let fly to put his side 2-1 up after 57 minutes. The Steelmen hit back three minutes later with a fine goal of their own when Lionel Ainsworth sent home a fierce, swerving drive from 30 yards. The award goes to Ainsworth due to the power and accuracy of his shot.

Championship Player of the week

Joe Cardle (Raith Rovers)

Rory Low of Falkirk was a candidate until his own manager Gary Holt said he has been ‘hopeless’ so the winner is Cardle! Two goals and one assist from the winger helped the Kirkcaldy side defeat Alloa 4-2 and move into second place.

Championship Goal of the week

Derek Lyle (Queen of the South)

Prolific striker Derek Lyle is the winner for his 22-yard effort that sealed Queen of the South’s 2-0 win over one of his former clubs Morton. Both clubs will be in action this midweek in the League Cup - Queen of the South travel to face Hearts in their third round tie on Wednesday, while Morton are at Celtic 24 hours earlier.

League 1 player of the week

Paul McLean (Brechin City)

Paul McLean of Brechin City who scored an injury time leveller for the 10 men of Brechin City at Ayr United. A man down and two goals down at half time gave Brechin a mountain to climb and defender McLean had the desire to turn up in an area he should have been nowhere near to stab the ball home.

League 1 goal of the week

John Gemmell (Stenhousemuir)

Striker Gemmell likes a spectacular goal and he added to his collection with an overhead effort in his side’s 4-3 win at Arbroath.

League 2 player of the week

Tony Quinn (Queen’s Park)

Queen’s Park skipper Tony Quinn who played a lead role as the Spiders got their first point of the season. Quinn rolled in a penalty before heading in Joe Jordan style at Hampden in his side’s 3-3 draw with Elgin City.

League 2 Goal of the week

Dave Weatherston (Stirling Albion)

David Weatherston’s first ever goal for Stirling Albion came at Berwick Rangers when he accepted a fine pass from Mark Ferry and sent a low shot fizzing into the far corner of the net. There was a sting in the tail for the Binos, however, as Berwick salvaged a point with an 89th minute equaliser.