In a perfect world no game would be cancelled, the sun would shine and the TV companies would consider the needs of supporters when they drew up their schedules. But in the real world generations of fans have faced the realities of Scottish winters and made the best of it.
We still retain one of the highest average attendances as a percentage of population in Europe despite the weather. The summer football idea is floated as regularly as every postponement yet that offers no guarantee. Football clubs were born in communities as a form of entertainment – a diversion from work and a spectacle to brighten winter’s gloom. It would be a huge gamble to rock the boat.
The results of the games that did survive the storms were probably as good as Motherwell fans could expect. The teams immediately above and below us in the league table played out a 1-1 draw that leaves Dundee United half a dozen points adrift. Kilmarnock now join Partick Thistle and Inverness with a two point advantage over us and the importance of the outstanding game at Firhill is obvious.
We can amuse ourselves debating whether the postponement is to either team’s advantage but our focus now has to be on the visit of Dundee.
Scottish Cup
Cove Rangers and Formartine United settled their cup tie with a replay in Inverurie. A convincing 4-1 win for Cove sets up the fourth round cup tie at Fir Park early in January. Fingers are crossed that the weather will be kind.