Bumper Scottish Football Review of 2020

2020 was a turbulent year for Scottish football, for people across the country and around the globe. There were highs, there were lows and lots of in between. Here is my rundown of the biggest Scottish football moments of the past 12 months. Good and bad.

Steve Clarke's Tartan Army Boogie Their Way to the Euro's

I couldn't really start a review of 2020 off with anything other than a moment which unified the nation like nothing I have seen in my lifetime. After a consistently solid run in the nations league Scotland boss Clarke had Scotland unbeaten for a run stretching 9 games and over a year. Confidence was slowly building.

A tense and hard fought match against Israel (yes, for the 300th time since 2018) at Hampden ended in a 0-0 draw. With Neither team able to find a winner in 120 minutes the tie was to be decided by penalties. Scotland's first ever shootout resulted in 5 perfect spot kicks and David Marshall proved the hero for the 'scots' with a crucial save to win the game, putting us into the playoff final. A nation was eagerly watching and hungry for victory.

[Scotland players celebrate beating Israel on penalties]

Next up was opponents Serbia away in Belgrade for Scotland. Undoubtedly the slight underdogs away from home and against a team containing some top players who have played at the very height of European football. Despite this Scotland looked a lot more comfortable than their opponents and if you were a neutral watching you mat have mistaken us as the team playing in their own backyard. A lovely Ryan Christie strike crashed off the post and nestled in the back of the net to put the whole of Scotland into a frenzy.

With only a few minutes left of the game Serbia won a corner with the match petering out. An excellent delivery missed by all players in blue was neatly headed home by substitute and Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic. We were all sentenced to another nervy 30 minutes of extra time which Serbia dominated, putting them in total control. It appeared that the dream was fading away. A world-class save from Marshall to deny Gudelj kept Scotland in the game by the skin of their teeth. Somehow Scotland managed to hang on by a thread and survive the Serbian onslaught.

It was penalties for the second time in a row. Another perfect 5 for Scotland and then stepped up for Serbia was Mitrovic with the scores at 5-4. 5-4 the game would remain after Marshall guessed the right way and with his save a nation rejoiced. The scenes all around the country showed how much it truly meant to Scotland fans of all ages, as well as the players. 'Yes sir, I can boogie' was belted out for weeks and months since and has shown everyone still has an appetite for Scotland to do well.

[The Scotland squad surround shootout hero David Marshall after saving crucial penalty[

This capped off the most successful year for the Scottish national team since 1998 and in such a difficult year provided something to celebrate and look forward to. Next summer should be a belter.

Celtic Lift 9th Title in a Row And the Quadruple Treble

While the first few months of the 19/20 season had the old firm a battling it out at the top, an abysmal run of form from Rangers in the league from December to the shutdown in March left Steven Gerrard’s side trailing Lennon's ‘bohys’ by 13 points with 8 (9 for Rangers) matches remaining. Due to the coronavirus pandemic there was very little choice but to end the season early and decide the outcome on a ‘points per game‘ basis (on the average points which each team had picked up per match that season) which led to a comfortable Celtic title win. The 9th in a row for the ‘hoops’ and while Celtic fans around the country may not have been able to celebrate in their usual fashion I’m sure it still felt just as nice as ever.

[Celtic Players Celebrate]

Celtic's dominance was not limited to the league as once again the green half of Glasgow celebrated another Scottish Cup triumph after a shootout victory over Heart of Midlothian. One of the most entertaining games of the year as Celtic went 2-0 up at half time and looked in Cruise control. Liam Boyce reduced the deficit on 48 minutes and then Kingsley tied the game 7 minutes after the hour mark. The teams couldn't be seperated during the normal 90 so extra time was up next. Super sub and Scotland marksman Griffiths nudged Celtic ahead again and it appeared that the game may be over in. Only 5 minutes into the second half of extra time and another substitute was the scorer but this time not for Celtic but infact Hearts as Ginnelly leveled the game. Penalties now and Conor Hazard was the hero in the shootout for Celtic as they won 4-3. The Northern Irishman staking his claim at the number one spot as neither Bain or summer signing Barkas have shown that they are outright deserving of that role.

[Celtic players celebrate winning the 2020 Scottish Cup]

Another year of dominance (as well as 2019's league cup) for Celtic and they have won the last 12 domestic trophies up for grabs, an incredibly impressive feat. Although it was slightly bittered by their form of late and the resurgence of Rangers who look back at their best this season.

Dundee United Come up - Hearts relegated

After the season was ground to an unexpected halt in March and then called off and was officially ended on the 18th of May 2020 after all 4 tiers of Scottish football voted. This was showered in controversy with Rangers, Hearts, Partick Thistle, Dundee United, Stranraer among others all in the limelight. After legal challenges and failed reconstruction talks it was decided that Dundee United would be promoted, with Hearts demoted to Scotland's second tier. Dundee United were 14 points clear of second place Inverness Caledonian Thistle when football was stopped and led for the vast majority of the season, with Robbie Neilson's side storming the division and holding the highest PPG (Points Per Game) at a whopping 2.11, firmly cementing their place back in the big time of the premiership. This was vastly overdue for United who had been stuck in the championship since 2016, far too long for a club of their size.

[Dundee United captain Mark Reynolds and Celtic player Odsonne Edouard challenge for the ball]

Hearts on the other hand were hit with the rather more unforgiving end of this system. Craig Levein and then Daniel Stendel's 'Jam Tarts' had a woeful season. The team from the capital hadn't recorded a victory outside of Edinburgh since 2019 and only managed 4 wins during the 30 matches played. This left them 4 points of off 11th placed St Mirren and lagging behind. Little fightback appeared to be building and when the season ended they were left with a measly 0.77 PPG. The worst in the division. Despite Ann Budge's best efforts to avoid relegation (legal battles and reconstruction talks) Hearts were relegated and sunk without trace. However, they did manage to poach newly-promoted Dundee United's manager Neilson who has history with Hearts, both playing and managing the side previously.

[Hearts forward Liam Boyce and Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan competing for the ball]

Overall, a Shankland-driven Dundee United side had a season to be proud of and will remember 2020 fonder than most (especially than those down the road at Den's park). Hearts undoubtedly had a year to forget and will look to put it past them after relegation and losing the Scottish Cup Final narrowly on penalties to Celtic as well as their neighbours in green having a pretty solid year. Although with the lows there were some highs such as the semi-final win against Hibernian at Hampden, the 2-1 defeat of Rangers and their 3-1 dispatching of Jack Ross's side at Easter Road.

This Season so Far

The 2020/21 season has been an enigma so far. With lots of turmoil and unrest it has certainly been a challenge for Scottish football fan, players and owners alike as well as a tough challenge for the SFA. Fans still haven't returned to stadium's yet as well as Covid-19 outbreaks all across the leagues.

Neil Lennon's Celtic have had a turbulent start to the season which has included Losing in the Champions League Qualifying stages after a shock defeat to minnows Ferencvaros. Subsequently finishing bottom of their Europa League group which involved humiliating back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Slavia Prague, being brushed aside by European giants and Serie A leaders AC Milan and a win and a draw against Losc Lille. As well as losing to Ross County at home in the League Cup 2-0. Add to that looking well off of the pace in the league, dropping points to St.Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Hibs as well as losing both Old Firm clashes. Combined with protests from fans outside of the stadium and the Bolingoli incident. The 'hoops' are in second place on 43 points after 19 games played and will need a strong 2021 campaign to pull off the elusive 10 in a row.

Rangers however have been unbeaten in the league sitting 1st in the Scottish Premiership table (19 points clear of Celtic, although the reigning champions do have 3 games in hand). They also topped their Europa League group which was against European teams - Standard Liege, Lech Poznan and 2 time Champions League winners Benfica. Despite a blip against St Mirren in the League Cup where the 'gers' lost 3-2 in Paisley, they look a force to be reckoned with under Steven Gerrard. After a long 9 years it would seem that Celtic have genuine competition from their fierce rivals once again, especially after winning both old firms as previously mentioned. Rangers have kept 18 clean sheets in the league this season already conceding 0.2 goals per game, and have scored 57 times already in the premiership alone.

Aberdeen's coronavirus scandal at the start of the season (as 8 players went to the pub after losing to Rangers 1-0 on the opening day) seems behind them as Derek McInnes's men are 3rd in the table at current time. They have won a respectable 11 out of their first 20 games, placing them 3 points ahead of 'Hibs'. The 'Dons' have only lost 3 games so far. However an early league cup exit to St Mirren was disappointing for Aberdeen fans.

Hibernian seem to have been given a new lease of life this season after finishing 7th on PPG last season. This partly due to some excellent summer transfer business (including bringing in Kevin Nisbet and Jamie Murphy among others) conducted by Jack Ross's side. The Edinburgh club started the season off in very strong form but have recently have hit a dip, sliding to 3 defeats on the trot and only one win in five. Hibernian face St Johnstone in the league Cup Semi-final at Hampden. The team in green have already scored 30 goals this season, and sit in fourth place. However, Aberdeen have 2 games in hand.

St.Johnstone have had a tricky start to the season as they sit in 9th under new boss and club legend Callum Davidson after Tommy Wright departed in the summer to the dismay of 'saints' fans after 7 years at the helm. While the performances have been good under the new boss, it seems a case of nearly but not quite enough for 'saints' who often enjoy the majority of the possession and shots (as well as having favourable expected goals) but seem to falter at the final moment. St Johnstone have only scored 19 goals this season, yet have the 5th highest 'big chances missed' in the entire league at 17. 'Saints' fans do have a league cup semi-final against Hibernian to look forward to.

Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell has gone and John Hughes replaced him in charge with the team sitting in last place (albeit only a couple of points from safety) after suffering from an awful string of games. The best moment of the season for the 'staggies' is surely that 2-0 victory at Celtic Park in the league cup. Defence has been a real issue for Ross County who have already conceded 39 leagues goals this campaign as they hope they can avoid the drop in 2021.

St Mirren had a poor 2019/20 campaign, barely staving off relegation. This campaign has seen significant improvement as while they endured a sluggish start to the season they have really picked up in recent weeks. The pinnacle of this was the 3-2 win against Rangers in the dying embers of the match, to send the 'buddies' to Hampden, where they will face Livingston in the League Cup Semi-finals. St Mirren are up to 7th in the table and have only conceded 22 goals this season in the league.

Newly-promoted Dundee United have had a good and underrated season to date under Micky Mellon. The 'Terrors' are definitely astute at the back only conceding 27 goals so far including 6 clean sheets, although Shankland has not hit the heights many may have predicted for the young striker who has only scored 3 goals in 17 appearances. Exiting the League Cup at the group stage after losing to Peterhead at Tannadice Park was a disappointing run out for Dundee United fans.

Motherwell have had a much worse 2020 than their rather successful 2019 and are far off of than where they may have expected to be at this stage of the season. After finishing 3rd in 2019/20 there were many who thought the team from Lanarkshire could have built on that impressive showing but things have not gone quite to plan. This has led to the departure of highly-rated Stephen Robinson who has been replaced by ex-Salford manager Graham Alexander which is promising for the 'steelmen', they lie 11th in the table as it stands. Motherwell haven't won since Halloween and have conceded 31 goals in the premiership this campaign to date.

Brian Rice's Hamilton Accies looked doomed early on, especially after losing 8-0 to Rangers, but have found their fighting spirit as they always do and are on a decent run of form, as they look to make it another year in the premiership, for the 6th successive season. They exited the league cup at the group stage, suffering embarrassing defeats to Stranraer and Albion rovers. 'Accies' have conceded a league high 45 goals this season, 6 more than the closest team Ross County.

Kilmarnock and manager Alex Dyer are enduring a sluggish campaign and are currently in 8th, after them and St Mirren had mass Covid-19 outbreaks which have involved forfeited matches (now set to be reviewed by the SPFL) hampering their progress.Losing star striker Eamonn Brophy to St Mirren on a pre-contract agreement is another blow to the squad, with speculation he could move as early as this month in a Lee Erwin swap deal. After an impressive draw against the reigning champions Celtic, 'Killie' have struggled to build on their performance and have conceded too many silly goals, such as the Danny Rodgers Own goal in the 91st minute against St Mirren last week. They have only kept 3 clean sheets this season.

Livingston have parted ways with Gary Holt after starting the season in bad form and struggling in the lower reaches of the table even sitting bottom for a brief spell. Although ,now under David Martindale, have put an impressive run of form together climbing up to 5th in the current league standings. The 'lions' have kept 6 clean sheets this season. They have also made it to the League Cup Semi-finals where they will play St Mirren at Hampden.

2020 was a topsy-turvy year for all of us and I'm sure many will recall fond memories of some moments from the past year however I think I speak for most when I say that I hope 2021 can be a large improvement, as well as finally seeing fans back in stadiums where they belong. Seeing Scotland at a major international tournament will be something many of us will have firmly marked in the diary.