Scottish Premiership

Hearts will be the 1st team in the UK to carry the name of a national charity (Save The Children) next season ! pic.twitter.com/XyPrensL7e

— Hearts FC Supporters (@heartsfc74) April 1, 2015

Hearts are entering uncharted territory in British football for a good cause. 

The Scottish side will have their shirt sponsored for the next three years by a charity. 

"Save the Children" will be on the club's shirts after they were funded by an anonymous "group of philanthropists," as per the BBC. 

Respect. 

Hearts owner Ann Budge confirmed the move and the seven-figure deal and explained more, according to the same BBC report. 

Through their enormous generosity they have agreed to provide funds at a level which more than removes the need for a commercial shirt sponsor. 

(The group) indicated that they wanted to offer financial support to the club—and when they asked if there was a specific area in which they could help, the idea was born. 

These business people believe that we are promoting true family values and they want to help. 

It also demonstrates that—with a bit of lateral thinking—things can be done differently in football. We don't have to be constrained by the statement that we hear all too often: 'This is how things are done in football.' 

The club also said that they will use the funds for stadium repairs and to bolster their academy. 

[BBC]

Celtic picked up the first part of what will surely be a cup and league double this season by beating Dundee United in the Scottish League Cup final.

Kris Commons opened the scoring and routinely ran United's defence ragged. Commons had promised to not let the new deal he recently signed at the club result in a dip in his performances, per Daily Record & Sunday Mail writer Scott McDermott.

The 31-year-old forward certainly proved true to his word. His combination play with Norwegian attacking midfielder Stefan Johansen consistently found the Dundee back four wanting.

Despite missing cup-tied duo and ex-United stars in midfield playmaker Stuart Armstrong and winger Gary Mackay-Steven, Celtic produced a controlled display to thwart a Jackie McNamara-led United.

His squad was put in a hole when experienced defender Sean Dillon earned a straight red card barely 15 minutes into the second half.  McNamara's forward line had also been misfiring. That prompted the introduction of Estonian Henri Anier in place of a static Mario Bilate.

At least supporting striker Ryan Dow managed to pose The Hoops some problems. In fact, the 23-year-old's pace and movement caused the game's major moment of controversy.

Dow appeared to be felled in the box, following a clumsy challenge by Celtic midfield enforcer Scott Brown. But no penalty was given.

The STV Sport official Twitter account captured an image of the contentious incident:

With the luxury of a man advantage, Celtic boss Ronny Deila introduced James Forrest and John Guidetti for Commons and Leigh Griffiths. That was a painful reminder for United about the quality of their more illustrious opponent's squad.

The quality told almost immediately, when Guidetti cushioned a ball into the path of Forrest to convert the decisive goal. The winger even had the chance to make things look like a rout, but his late penalty was turned away:

Celtic's official Twitter feed showed Deila lifting his first piece of silverware with Celtic:

Given the game in hand Celtic now have over second-placed Aberdeen in the race for Scottish Premier League title, it surely won't be long before Deila gets his hands on another trophy.

Three seasons ago, John Guidetti appeared to have the world at his feet. He was contracted to Manchester City, who had high hopes for him, and was on loan at Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie to get some top-level European experience.

He bagged 20 goals in 23 games and became a hero with the fans. It was one of the most successful loan spells of recent times.

The player got games, his parent club watched on happily as he gained valuable experience and continued his development, and Feyenoord had one of the stars of the Dutch league. It’s exactly how loan spells are meant to go.

Since then, things haven’t gone to plan. A virus affecting his nervous system saw him sidelined and unable to train or stay fit due to loss of feeling in his right leg. He’s never looked quite the same player since, understandable given what he’s been through, but this season, in a bid to get back to some kind of fitness, he has enjoyed a period playing for Celtic in the SPFL.

It’s a move which has been mixed. Whereas his temporary switch to Stoke City last season, which saw him make only six substitute appearances, was a waste of time for Guidetti, his loan deal with Celtic has at least offered him regular first-team involvement, something he has long needed.

Eleven goals in his first 12 games for Celtic saw him become a hit with the club’s supporters; however, a 10-game drought followed. He’s back on the goal trail again now, though, having scored two in his last four appearances. He’s been consistently involved and looks to have benefited hugely from the experience.

But what’s the ideal scenario for him this summer?

City have progressed rapidly since Guidetti first joined the club, and his contract there is up in the summer. Celtic are surely interested, but given the promise he has shown during his career, he is likely to prefer a move to a higher-profile league.

Given his standing at Feyenoord and the fact that he enjoyed by far the best spell of his career there, a move back there seems like the best option.

And according to Keith Jackson writing in the Daily Record, the Dutch side remain keen admirers and are weighing up a summer move.

Martin van Geel, Feyenoord’s technical director, was in Glasgow to watch Celtic’s match with Aberdeen recently, and Jackson believes he was close to offering £5 million for the striker last summer only to be put off by the player’s past fitness problems. However, taking him on a free transfer is far less risky and a summer move surely beckons.

A source told Jackson: “There is a strong connection between Feyenoord and Guidetti and he is adored by the club’s fans.

“Van Geel is also a huge admirer and was close to making a big offer for him in the summer. But he’s been to Glasgow now in person which is an indication of the level of their interest.”

It would be the perfect solution for the 22-year-old. After more than three years of stalling, his career finally appears to be on an upward curve again.

Perhaps a move to the club where he performed so well and struck up such a wonderful rapport with the fans would provide him with the best possible boost ahead of the next chapter of his career.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.

The moment obviously warmed plenty of hearts, as the Scottish Professional Football League included it in their "Goals of the Month" compilation for the month of January.  

A move equal in class to Hamilton's decision to recognise Beatty's strike in their losing scoreline against Celtic. 

And just in case you want to relive the moment, just beware of the dust.

Update, February 15: According to Metro Sport, Jay looks like a big favourite to win the goal of the month competition.

Voters can pick their winner on the YouTube comments section, and a quick skim of the responses suggest that his goal is head and shoulders clear of the rest.

 Update, February 20: And sure enough, Jay has won the competition!

Former Celtic striker Giorgios Samaras was on hand to give him a personal message of congratulations to cap off a lovely story.

Update, February 21: The SPFL have now released touching video of Beatty watching himself win the award and Samaras' subsequent message. 

[SPFL, h/t Who Ate All The Pies]

Celtic travel to Dundee to take on Paul Hartley's high-flying side in the marquee fixture of the fifth round of the 2015 Scottish Cup, while Glasgow Rangers face a difficult afternoon when they host Raith Rovers.

Rangers are still reeling after the bitter loss against arch-rivals Celtic in the League Cup, and with issues surrounding the club off the pitch—the squad is making more headlines with the Dave King takeover than their actual performances, per BBC Sport—Sunday's match comes with some serious upset potential.

Dundee have been more than solid since winning promotion to the SPFL last season and caused the upset of the fourth round by eliminating Aberdeen back in November, so cup favourites Celtic will be warned. Here's the full schedule for the fifth round:

To access BBC's iPlayer, click here. For the Sky Sports Go app, click here.  

Celtic Will Struggle But Survive against Dundee

Scottish champions Celtic unsurprisingly lead the SPFL standings, having yet to lose a match in 2015, and look primed to add several trophies to their impressive collection of silverware in 2015.

The Hoops were among the more active teams during the winter transfer window, highlighted by the signing of Dundee United duo Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, per Sky Sports:

The Old Firm may no longer carry the same meaning as it did before Rangers' liquidation, but it's still arguably one of the highlights of Celtic's season. A relatively easy 2-0 win on Sunday means the visitors will travel to Dundee with plenty of momentum.

Despite all of that, fans shouldn't expect a walk in the park on Saturday. The Dees sit well outside the relegation zone, so the Scottish Cup is likely the club's main objective right now.

Manager Hartley told BBC Sport he knows Saturday's clash won't be easy, but after a strong first season back in the top flight, he's confident of Dundee's chances:

We know it's going to be an extremely hard game but it's one we're really focused on and looking forward to.

We're six games unbeaten, so we've been consistent over the last few weeks and we need to try and keep that going.

We've got a chance to progress to the quarter-finals and supporters always look forward to a good cup run.

Celtic will play Partick Thistle and St. Johnstone in the league before the highly anticipated Europa League fixture against Italian heavyweights Inter Milan, and with the Nerrazzuri struggling in Serie A, it's all too easy to get carried away with the club's current streak of good fortune.

Reuters' Jamie McGeever is just about on cloud nine right now:

Going into Saturday's match with that mentality could result in disaster, and fans better hope the players are taking this clash a little more seriously. Dundee are unbeaten since the derby against Dundee United on New Year's Day, and the hosts should not be taken lightly at all.

Controversy Will Doom Rangers against Raith Rovers

As if the Dave King takeover didn't provide Rangers with enough distractions, even more controversy broke out on Thursday. Chief executive Derek Llambias was forced to hold a press conference to deny claims the board is influencing team selections at Ibrox, per BBC Sport's Chris McLaughlin:

Those comments came in response to caretaker manager Kenny McDowall, who told reporters he is being forced to play five loan signings from Newcastle United, a club owned by Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley, via BBC Sport.

McDowall has already resigned from his post and is currently in charge of the squad on a 12-month notice period. To call the current situation at Ibrox "unhealthy" would be an understatement.

Sporting Life's Gavin McGrane is predicting an upset at the hands of Raith Rovers on Sunday, and it's easy to see why:

Rovers are built for a deep cup run, playing the kind of feisty, defensive football that can drive opposing teams mad. Last weekend, Hibernian spent the bulk of the second half trying to kill Raith off, only to watch striker Christian Nade score in injury time to conserve a point for his team.

Hibs were frustrated by Rovers' defensive resiliency throughout the match despite leading for the majority of the second half, and the result at Easter Road will give the visitors plenty of confidence ahead of their trip to Ibrox.

Add Rangers' struggles, question marks regarding McDowall's motivation, the controversial loan signings and the emotional impact of the loss to Celtic, and you have a recipe for disaster for the home side.

Follow @ReverschPass

Celtic and Rangers are proving that, above all, humanity trumps rivalry—no matter how historic, fierce and hated it gets, which is surely the case with Old Firm.

The Glasgow clubs are banding together in order to support Fernando Ricksen, 38, who revealed he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease in October 2013.

According to mndassociation.org, "Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting."

The site notes there is currently no cure for MND, which "can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe."

A team comprised of former Rangers players will face an all-star side that will be managed by former Ibrox defender Graham Roberts in a fundraising match for MND charities this weekend.

Ahead of Sunday's match, Celtic chipped in and donated £10,000 to the cause. Per Celtic's official website, Chief Executive Peter Lawwell explained the decision:

At Celtic, unfortunately we are all too familiar with MND and its devastating effects. Jimmy Johnstone, the man voted Celtic's greatest-ever player, fought bravely against this illness as did former player John Cushley, someone who gave so many years' service to the club.

Through Celtic FC Foundation and our wider charitable work, we are also in contact with a number of supporters who are facing this disease. We have had a long association with charities which work to tackle MND and through this event we are pleased to be able to offer our support again.

We would like also to take this opportunity to send our thoughts and best wishes to Fernando and his family.

[Celtic FC, h/t Reddit]

One of the most recognisable sights in European football in the 2000s was Italian midfield general Gennaro Gattuso sprinting, snarling and shouting his way into challenges and referees' notebooks.

The AC Milan legend, a two-time Champions League winner and World Cup champion with Italy in 2006, retired from playing in 2013 to begin his managerial career. Though it hasn't quite gone to plan so far, he hopes that a return to Scotland can show his worth in the dugout.

Gattuso has applied for the vacant spot at Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical, according to the Scottish edition of the Daily Mail, in the hopes that the league and team suit his style of management, making success for all.

John Hartson and Gennaro Gattuso have expressed interest in the Hamilton Academical job.

— Transfer Central TNC (@TransferNewsCen) January 16, 2015

As Player, As Boss

Scotland will be nothing new for Gattuso. Before making his name in Italy's biggest club at the time, he signed to Glasgow Rangers in 1997. He spent only a year-and-a-half at the club, coming in and out of the side and playing out of position at times, but his talents were already evident, and that difficult time no doubt contributed plenty to the player he would become.

An aggressive, combative midfielder, Gattuso's reputation was built on fighting for everything—something he would have had to grow into at Rangers, where game time was far from guaranteed and the rugged nature of the SPL would have been a million miles from the then-gorgeous overall style of Serie A.

A bit late, not like his tackles! HappyBirthday Rino #Gattuso #weareacmilan #noidelmilan pic.twitter.com/Mvc7koIqHs

— Jesmond Saliba (@SalibaJes) January 10, 2015

Gattuso retains family in Scotland and so is no stranger to the scenery or the league. He has intimated his familiarity with Hamilton, lauding the "great academy" and "impressive" results this season, per the Mail.

The Accies are fifth in the table at present, eight points off top spot but only two behind third-place Dundee United.

Struggles

Many notable players stroll into a relatively high-profile position when they move from playing to managing, but that hasn't been the case with Rino. Gattuso has already managed at Switzerland, the second flight in Italy and in Greece—despite only moving into management 23 months ago.

He lasted less than three months with Sion, the last team he played for before stepping up to coach, but as he was the fifth manager of the first team in the 2012-13 campaign, it was hardly a move that provided immediate stability.

Palermo was the first Italian side he managed. He took over in summer 2013 but he was gone by September. Again, Palermo are hardly renowned for managerial stability and longevity; they have had 12 different head coaches in just the past four years.

Gattuso's stint at Crete in Greece lasted close to seven months, his longest spell at a team to date. Financial problems seemed the root cause of his exit:

Gennaro Gattuso, who recently quit Greek side OFI Crete, had given 50k euros to unpaid players and for other team expenses, via @YanniRamone

— Ted Philipakos (@tphilipakos) January 10, 2015

It is not difficult to see, then, why Hamilton Academical might appeal to Gattuso. After struggling at poorly run, inconsistent clubs so far, joining a club with more stability and reputation for producing from within is no bad thing.

Scot Progress

Of course, Gattuso is focused on his career and improving his chances of being a top manager, not on helping Hamilton or Scottish football—but there's little doubt that doing well in Scotland can often be a pathway to better things.

The obvious frame of reference is Alex Ferguson, European champion with Aberdeen before moving to Manchester United, but the Scottish league and the wider football world is very different these days.

More recently, Celtic's successful boss Neil Lennon departed and eventually landed the job at Bolton Wanderers in the English second tier. Hamilton's own former boss, Alex Neil, also moved to the Championship just weeks ago, to Norwich City.

Being a success in the Scottish Premiership is far from a guaranteed route to a big club, but it can be a stepping stone to a better league and a more high-profile job. And in turn, sustained success can lead to better offers.

Having opted to take the road to the top by starting somewhere far below, Gattuso now needs to settle at one club and make his first steps toward being a success as a manager. Scotland might offer him the chance to do just that, much as it did during his playing days.

Follow @karlmatchett

Usually, if a manager and his assistant decide to leave a club to move onto a bigger challenge, its fans might feel a bit bitter or resentful.

That's not the case with the good people at Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership, though. 

Recently, their manager Alex Neil left to take over at Norwich City in the Championship, and on Saturday, his assistant and current caretaker Frankie McAvoy, will take charge of the team for the final time before joining him at Carrow Road. 

In honour of the occasion, Hamilton will charge just 10 pence to all fans for their match with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

They said in a statement on their website: 

Saturday’s match against Inverness CT at New Douglas Park on Saturday, 24 of January, marks Frankie McAvoy’s last game as an 'Academical.'

Both he and Alex Neil have given us wonderful service in their time at the Club, both of them served us for 10 years, and of course, Alex wore the number 10 jersey with distinction.

As a mark of the esteem we hold them in, we have designated Saturday’s game as a tribute to these significant 10’s, and will make the admission charge for all spectators, home or away, just 10 pence.

We look forward to welcoming all our loyal supporters, and perhaps some new ones, to send Frankie, (and Alex), off with the acclaim they deserve.

It's a fantastic gesture, and not for a meaningless game, either. Hamilton are currently fifth in the table, and Inverness are fourth. Both are in the chase for European football.

[BBC Sport]

Feeling a bit melancholy on a Monday? Watch the above video and cheer yourself up. 

Young Jay Beatty has Down syndrome and has had to work hard all his young life, but one thing that has always helped him is his love for Scottish champions Celtic. 

On Saturday, Beatty gave Celtic a team talk before their game with Hamilton. He was then allowed on the pitch to score a goal in front of the team's fans, who celebrated louder and more passionately for his goal than perhaps any other goal they've scored this season. 

His father, Martin, put the video up on Facebook and posted the following message:

I have left the best to Last...when Jay was born We hoped and prayed that People would treat him with respect, Because of his love of the greatest club in the world his life has become a Dream come true, we thought 2014 was just amazing but today was something else and to have a whole stadium including the Hamilton fans chanting your sons name will live with me forever. I will never forget it and cannot thank you all enough for making my Sons life...We are a club like no other with Fans like no other and we are so proud of you all...Hail Hail

You would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved.

[YouTube]

Rangers host Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox on January 16 in a match that is set to define the Scottish Championship title race. With first place and automatic promotion looming for Hearts, they travel to Glasgow with the intention to end the title hopes of their closest rivals. Kick-off is set for 7:45 p.m. GMT.

Rangers have struggled to keep up with the Edinburgh pace-setters this season, dropping points in matches they were expected to win, while Hearts remain unbeaten, winning 17 of their 20 games.

The importance of the clash has been evident in the heated build up to the fixture, as players on both sides have attempted to gain a psychological upper hand.

Per BBC Sport, in a recent interview, Hearts' new signing—Dutch striker Genero Zeefuik— announced, "If we beat Rangers on Friday then I think it's over." It's a confident assumption, but one this writer agrees with.

Should Hearts win on Friday, they will open up a 16-point gap over Rangers. Such a gap would only be surmountable if Hearts were to at least lose six of their 15 remaining fixtures, something that does not look likely given their form so far.

Rangers' Fraser Aird did not take kindly to such a statement, arguing that Rangers have the superior squad, saying, per the Daily Record: "I still think that we have a better squad than them and better individual players but we need to go out and prove that."

Such an opinion would have garnered weight at the start of this campaign, but Hearts have shown strength in depth to rival their higher spending counterparts as the season has gone on. Ahead of the clash with Rangers, Hearts were without Osman Sow, Kevin McHattie and Soufian El Hassnaoui but have not shown any signs of faltering in their absence.

The last time the two sides met was at Tynecastle in November of last year. Hearts ran out 2-0 winners on that day, negotiating a gruelling affair with greater tactical organisation and quality in the final third.

In a fiery encounter, Rangers lost their cool, with Steven Smith sent off for a rash challenge and several tackles from other players fortunate to be punished only with a yellow card. Rangers will need to show more discipline if they are to win on Friday.

However, their cause will not be helped by confusing off-field circumstances of late, with the club's ownership and future the subject of much uncertainty.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has loaned money to the club and has offered more, though a consortium of Rangers shareholders led by Douglas Park are said to be prepared to offer increased funding to prevent Ashley from gaining Ibrox as a security, per the BBC.

Difficulties off the field have been replicated on it, as Ally McCoist left the club following some poor results. The first match Rangers had under the tenure of new manager Kenny McDowall began equally inauspiciously, however, as they lost 0-4 to Hibernian.

Additionally, Rangers have a Scottish League Cup semi-final against Glasgow rivals Celtic in early February. It will be the first Old Firm derby in two years, and although it will excite Rangers fans and players, it may also prove a distraction to important league fixtures.

Hearts opened the season by travelling to Ibrox and beating Rangers 2-1, and a second away win would all but secure them the Scottish Championship.

The two teams will meet for a final time at Tynecastle on the last day of the season, but unless Rangers earn a win on Friday, Hearts will most likely enter that final showdown with the title already in the bag.