STINGS
Glasgow
I Race Days Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday. Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. There are ten races in each meeting. starting at 7.45pm. £2.
Edinburgh
I Race Days Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday. Powderhall Stadium. Beaverhali Road. Edinburgh. Each meeting includes ten races. starting at 7.30pm. £2.50 Stand. Race programme free with admission.
FOOTBALL Saturday 26
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Motherwell v Hearts Fir Park. Motherwell. 3pm. The Cup-holderstake on the League leaders in an intriguing encounter. with Motherwell beginning to find their way after an early exit from Europe.
I Rangers v Failtirir lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm. Should be a home formality for the Gers. but Falkirk‘s mercurial Englishman Simon Stainrod could pose a few problems.
I St Mirren V CeItic Love Street. Paisley. 3pm. A new brighter. fresher Celtic should take old boy David Hay‘s team to the cleaners.
FIRST DIVISION
I Dundee V Morton Dens Park. Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm. Will Dundee‘s boardroom troubles be reflected on the field? Not against Morton surely?
I Kllmarnocit v Clydebanit Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Montrose Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Particlt Thistle V Ayr UnitedFirhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Stlrllng Albion v Reith Rovers Annfield. Stirling. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Albion Rovers v Stenhousemulr Cliftonhill. Coatbridge. 3pm.
I Clyde V East Stirling Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton Central Park. Cowdenbeath. 3pm.
Sunday27
SKOL CUP FINAL
I Dunlennllne v Hibs Hampden Park. Glasgow. 3pm. A refreshingly East Coast feel to the final. with Hibs hot favourites to do the business. if only because the thought of Dunfermline in Europe istoo much to contemplate.
Tuesday 29
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Airdrie v Duntennllne Broomfield. Airdrie. 7.30pm. One of those desperately unsexy midweek games the new-look League has thrown up in abundance.
I Dundee Utd V Rangers Tannadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 7.30pm. This is more like it. Hopefully United will at last have their two exotic Argentinians fit and putting the champions under pressure.
Whatwith RU-mania and Rumania recently, one imminent football fixture has been somewhat overshadowed. The Easter Road and East End Park faithful won’t have forgotten though, that when the Skol Cup final is contested at Hampden on 26 October, there won’t be a Glasgow team in sight.
Rangers’ domination of the competition was ended by Hibernian, this season’s revelation, and hot favourites to take the trophy. Possibly goaded by being written off in the newspaper columns from the beginning of the season (present company more guilty than most), Hibs have made a thoroughly impressive start, not just in the results they’ve achieved, but In the mannerthey’ve been accomplished, playing a
all too rare in the Premier Division.
Recent guest Kenny Dalglish won’t be in the side for Hampden, but with Keith Wright in regular scoring form. Mickey Weir providing the touch of unpredictability, and Murdo MacLeod and John Burridge offering experience in defence and in goal he shouldn’t be missed.
This all sounds like Dunfermline are only there to make up the numbers, which might be something of a premature judgement. Their path to the final has been less than convincing, propelled there by a dubious refereeing decision and a penalty shootout. In the League, their early form was disastrous, and morale, low since the departure of Jim Leishman, deteriorated with the unpopular sacking of lain Munro. Of late, there have been a few glimmers of hope, with some solid performances in the League, although the results still aren’t going their way. Under Jocity Scott, they have tightened up defensively, and if the erratic Hungarian lstvan Kozma is on song, they could well spring a surprise. As last year’s Cup Final demonstrated, the Hampden air seems to raise the spirits of underdogs.
Whatever the result (and logic still suggests a Hibs triumph) it is refreshing to see two clubs from outside the ‘Big Five’ contesting the trophy, perhaps indicating that the strength in depth of the Premier League goes furtherthan we’ve been led to believe. lbrox fans might disagree, but it can only be a good thing that the first Scottish club to quality for Europe this season won’t be Rangers for once. (Tom Lappin)
The Sirol Cup Final is at Hampden Park on Sunday 27 October.
FIRST DIVISION
I Aer Dundee Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 7.30pm.
I Clydebanlt V Forfar Kilbowie Park. Clydcbank. 7.30pm.
I Morton V Meadowbank Cappielow Park. Greenock. 7.30pm.
I Raith Rovers v Partlck Thistle Stark‘s Park. Pratt Street. Kirkcaldy. 7.30pm.
Wednesday 30
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Celtic v St Johnstone Celtic Park. Glasgow. 7.30pm. Celtic‘s run of form has coincided with a spate ofeasy fixtures cynics might say. but it should continue against a St Johnstone side who have yet to match the heights scaled last season.
I Falitirir v Hibernian Brockville. Falkirk. 7.30pm.
I Hearts V St Minen Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 7.30pm. Another chance for the impressive Hearts
i srde to get a couple oftitle pornts In the
bag.
FIRST DIVISION
I Hamilton v Stirling Albion Douglas Park. Hamilton. 7.30pm.
Saturday 2
PREMIER LEAGUE I Airdrie V FaIIIIrIt Broomfield. Airdrie.
' 3pm. Salt-of-the-earth the clubs may be. 3 but top flight football it ain‘t. . IHlbsvHearts Easter Road Stadium.
Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. Another
; Edinburgh derby contested between two
sides flying high in the league. and playing good football with it. Perhaps this could rise above the usual hard-fought dullness
of recent all-Edinburgh encounters.
I Rangers V Celtic lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm. Auld Firm time again. with Rangers looking a little shaky oflate due to escalating injury problems. This could be the game to set them back on course to retain the title.
‘ t J I StMirrenvMotherweil Love Street. Paisley. 3pm. 1 composed and skilful brand of football FIRST DIVISION
I AVTV Kilmarnocit Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 3pm.
I Clydebanit v Morton Kilbowie Park. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Dundee v Raith Rovers Dens Park. Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Stirling Albion Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Particit Thistle v Hamilton Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Alloa Athletic v Brechin City Recreation Park. Alloa. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Oueen's Park Boghcad. Dumbarton. 3pm.
I East Stirling v Stranraer Firs Park. Firs Street. Falkirk. 3pm.
Wednesday 6
UEFA CUP SECOND ROUND SECOND LEG , I Celtic V Neuchatei Celtic Park. Glasgow. 7.30pm. Scotland‘s last European survivors take on the Swiss side in their return leg. Swiss league clubs are less impressive than their national side might suggest. and Celtic should progress to the third-round draw.
HERE;- Saturday 2
I Edinburgh Musseiburgh Racecourse. Musselburgh. (‘lub £7. paddock £3.50. One of the last flat meetings from the twisty seaside track.
Tuesday 5
I Hamilton Parit Races Hamilton Park Racecourse. Bothwell Road. Hamilton. Club £10. Paddock £5 (£3). Your last chance to recoup some of those disastrous losses you‘ve made this flat season. before turning your attention to the frustrating business of picking a winner over the sticks (Morley Street for the Champion Hurdle. you read it here first).
RUGBY
RUGBY WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL
I Scotland v England Murrayfield Stadium. Edinburgh. The European semi-final. with the opportunity to play fancied Antipodeans in the final. Scotland should have the edge. boosted by the
; considerable home advantage they‘ve
enjoyed throughout the tournament. and Finlay Calder's let‘s say rumbustious tacklingtechnique. Will Carling’s boys aren’t the force they were two years ago. and Scotland beat them then as well.
? STOCK CAR RACING ‘ Saturday 26
I Racing Racewall. Cowdenbeath. 7pm
Formula 25. Saloons. Hot Rods and Mini . ' shake their little engines on the Fife
track‘s racewalk.
Saturday 2
5 I Racing Racewall. Cowdenbeath. 7pm
I
More thrills and spills on the Fife track .i
Formula 2s. Saloons. Bangers and Mini~ trundle around at almost high speed.
The List 25 October— 7 November Ii)". {35: