CHARLIE CHRISTIE - Scottish clubs are far behind elite in Europe
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
There can be no disputing that Scottish club results in Europe so far this season have been hugely disappointing.
Four points from a possible 36 on offer from 12 group matches so far tells its own story with last week’s round of fixtures involving our three representatives giving an aggregate score of three goals for and 15 against.
Whilst Celtic and Rangers have both shown promise in the early stages of their Champions League matches, the results at full time have been hard to accept for their supporters where the challenges of competing in Europe’s elite club competition have all too often been laid bare.
The knockout phase of the Champions League is now out with the reach of our big two.
But third place in the group would give entry into the last 32 of the Europa League and that must now be the aim for both.
Given the income that a European match at Parkhead or Ibrox produces it would be a significant blow to miss out on European football after Christmas for both clubs.
Hearts, competing in the less celebrious Europa Conference League, are the only Scots’ club to achieve a group stage victory so far.
But their heavy defeat in Italy last Thursday at Fiorentina makes it highly unlikely that they will progress through to the knock-out phase of that competition.
Given that it is the Edinburgh clubs’ first sojourn into European competition for six years it is perhaps more palatable for their support that they have not performed better.
But it will certainly have whetted their appetite for more European nights at Tynecastle in the future.
n In the Scottish Championship I was delighted to be invited by Cove Rangers chairman Keith Moorhouse through to Balmoral Park last Saturday to enjoy their hospitality and take in the league match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
I must give huge credit to Cove and their committee for the progress they have made as a club and the hospitality, hosted by TV and radio presenter Richard Gordon, was excellent.
On these occasions the result often overshadows the performance and Billy, his staff and the players would have been delighted to have made the trip back home along the A96 with another three points in the bag.
ICT entertain Raith Rovers tomorrow and, whilst we are not being helped by an ever-increasing injury list, it is vital that we get back to winning ways.
We have only won two of our five home matches so far this season and we will need to improve on that record if we are to be up there challenging for the title.
