Northern Goal

This week we look ahead to Aberdeen v Rangers after the Dons recorded another goalless draw at the weekend, this time time against Dundee United. What do they need to add in the transfer window? We also talk through another Ross County penalty area mishap, nine-man Peterhead's defeat to local rivals Cove, as well as what teams are set up to take Scottish Cup scalps this Saturday. 

In Northern Goal's final episode of 2020, our panel discuss Aberdeen's strong league position going into the new year and ask why they aren't playing the free-flowing football to go with it. Two games into the John Hughes era, Andy Skinner says whether he thinks their current winless and goalless run will end soon. There's also a preview chat ahead of Cove Rangers v Peterhead and reaction to a superb weekend in Scottish Cup action for the Highland League clubs.

We talk to former Aberdeen goalkeeper David Preece about spending the strange year of Covid with Ostersunds in Sweden, his Dons career under Ebbe Skovdahl, Steve Paterson and Jimmy Calderwood, walking into Teddy Scott’s kitroom in his pants to find Sir Alex Ferguson, the enduring quality of Jim Leighton, and his fears over the health problems which could come from multiple concussions suffered during his playing career.

John Hughes is now the Ross County manager, but has Stuart Kettlewell’s replacement shown in his management career he is capable of saving the rock-bottom Staggies from relegation? This week, we also discuss whether Aberdeen are in a good position from which to attack the second half of the season, whether Peterhead will overtake Cove Rangers in the League One standings and which Highland League sides will be looking forward to their Boxing Day Scottish Cup clashes.

This week - in addition to Derek McInnes' AGM bombshell over right-back Ronald Hernandez's future - we discuss Aberdeen's Premiership win over Ross County and whether Curtis Main is now the Dons’ main striker. On top of this, there's chat about whether Ross Stewart will move from the Staggies to Pittodrie, as we also look ahead to County's crunch games against Livingston and Hamilton over the coming days. Plus, as always, there's Caley Thistle, Peterhead, Cove, Elgin and reaction to the Highland League sides' Scottish Cup endeavours.

This week on Northern Goal, we discuss whether refereeing decisions or poor performances were to blame for Aberdeen’s poor run continuing at St Mirren. We look at this weekend’s clash with Ross County and whether the still-confident Staggies can win at Pittodrie for the second time in 2020. There’s also drooling over Caley Thistle’s goals at Queen of the South and an assessment of Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay’s playing career.

This week our panel review Ross County's stunning Betfred Cup win against Celtic at Parkhead and whether it can be the moment their season kicks into gear. There's also Aberdeen's dismal week, with a draw at Hamilton and loss at St Mirren raising red flags about their squad depth and desire. As well as this, there's the usual chat about our lower league sides and Callum Law talks us through the first weekend of the Highland League season.

This week we preview the Highland League season - who will win the title, who we think will be best of the rest, who has strengthened well and who will be top goalscorer - with input from our special guest, Highland football doyen Dave Edwards. Before all that, there's the SFA shambles which hit Aberdeen before their loss at Ibrox, Ross County's nightmare against Kilmarnock and Caley Thistle's season kick-starting win over Raith Rovers. Plus, of course, Cove Rangers, Peterhead and Elgin City.  

This week on Northern Goal, our panel discuss what a win away at Rangers could do for Aberdeen's season as the Premiership returns. We also ask whether Ross County, Peterhead and Caley Thistle's Betfred Cup showings will lead to them picking up much-needed points in their respective leagues.

On this week’s episode, our panel debates whether Aberdeen’s Andy Considine can expect to keep his place in the Scotland starting 11 for tomorrow’s Euro play-off final in Serbia. There’s also discussion of the Dons Premiership prospects for the rest of 2020, a debrief on all our teams’ Betfred Cup and league results, as well as general excitement at the impending return of the Highland League.