SPFL awards: Kenny Shiels | Derek Adams | Tony Stokes

Morton manager Kenny Shiels. Picture: Robert Perry

No relegation or play-off spots were sealed at the weekend across the SPFL however there are plenty of Award winners out there.

The Premiership has competition for European places and competition for the play-off place – just a pity about the title and relegation.

In the Championship Dundee fell off top spot with only two points now separating leaders Hamilton and third placed Falkirk with the Dark Blues squeezed in-between.

Queen of the South edged ahead of Dumbarton in the race to extend their season positively whilst Cowdenbeath refused to accept their relegation play-off place by thumping Livingston.

No-one appears to be in a rush for the two promotion play-off places in League 1 although Airdrie and Brechin City are glad to be clear of relegation trouble of all sorts.

Whilst in League 2 East Stirling’s promotion hopes ended as Berwick increased theirs with a 1-0 win over the Shire.

Next weekend could be very interesting indeed!

Good week for – Kenny Shiels (Morton)

There has not been much for the former Kilmarnock boss to smile about since taking over at Cappielow at the turn of the year. However Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of a Dundee side that started the game as table-toppers against Shiels’ relegated Greenock men will have had the Ulsterman smiling.

It is of course far too little and far too late however Shiels has put some pride back in the Tail o’ the Bank side.

Bad week for – Derek Adams (Ross County) and Hibs (again)

If your team losing and falling to the dreaded eleventh spot was not bad enough for Dingwall boss Adams he also had the indignity of being put on his backside by Hearts defender Joe Hamill in one of the weekend’s more bizarre events.

A year ago Adams was a man in demand as he led County to fifth place (some 6 points ahead of Dundee United) and he will be hurting, in a number of ways, after Saturday’s defeat.

As for Hibs they do sit in the safety of seventh place however 5 defeats in a row is hard going for their fans and one more defeat could see them start tumbling downwards.

Would Hearts really want to do that next Sunday?

Team of the week – Falkirk

The Bairns have sneaked in at the top of the Championship under the cover of radar and they would go top next weekend if they beat Morton and Hamilton as well as Dundee lose.

Five wins in a row have moved Gary Holt’s side from rank outsiders to challengers with their last defeat coming in the ‘ice-bucket’ game against Alloa when Phil Roberts was dismissed.

He left the club in the aftermath of throwing ice at his bench and you begin to wonder if Roberts was not very popular in the Falkirk Stadium.

Manager of the week – Gary Bollan (Airdrie)

Bollan’s Diamonds secured League 1 safety at the weekend with their win over East Fife and the former Livingston deserves his Scotsman Weekly Website Award and more for the job he has done.

When Bollan arrived in Airdrie last autumn Airdrie looked more than marooned however he has turned them around with only one defeat, which was to Champions Rangers, in their last 14 games.

Full credit was perhaps not given as Livingston won back to back promotions under Bollan after their financial troubles but he obviously has something about him.

Premiership Player of the week – John Sutton (Motherwell)

Sutton scored early and late to earn his side a share of the spoils against Celtic in a 3-3 draw. His first was a left foot volley after Efe Ambrose hesitated and he had a header cleared off the line at 2-1 to Motherwell.

After the Champions had come back to lead 3-2 Sutton popped up at the back post to slide the ball home and tie the score.

Premiership Goal of the week – Anthony Stokes (Celtic)

Stokes got Celtic back into the game at Fir Park with a delightful curled effort just before the break. The striker cut inside his marker and cutely sent the ball home at the far post.

The Award is given on the basis that Stokes meant it!

Championship Player of the week – John Armstrong (Cowdenbeath)

Cowdenbeath bounced back after a disappointing run to show that they are not going to take finishing second bottom meekly by beating Livingston 4-0. They are still 5 points behind Alloa with 2 games to play however they have hope.

That hope was built on captain Armstrong’s display with the big stopper opening and closing the scoring. Manager Jimmy Nicholl needed a big display and Armstrong delivered it.

Championship Goal of the week – Kevin Holt (Queen of the South)

Holt hit home a stunning volley to wrap up the Doonhamers 3-0 win at Dumbarton that took them clear of the Sons in the race for the play-offs.

When the ball sat up for Holt 25 yards from goal everyone in blue and white encouraged the full-back to hit it and he obliged in style

League 1 Player of the week – Jim Lister (Airdrie)

Battering ram striker Lister has been one of the key reasons that Airdrie have recovered their season. Fittingly it was the 33 year old who shot home a Craig Barr pass to see off East Fife 2-1 and keep his side in League 1.

League 1 Goal of the week – Paul Sheerin (Arbroath)

Gayfield player/ manager Paul Sheerin is leading from the front as he side look to avoid dropping out of League 1. Sheerin’s left foot has been well respected during his long career and he used it to devastating effect on Saturday to rifle in the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 win at Forfar.

League 2 Player of the week – Stefan McCluskey (Clyde)

Clyde boss Jim Duffy had asked his side to turn chances into goals and move closer to a play-off place. McCluskey did his part in the Bully Wee’s 2-0 win over Montrose by setting up Michael Daly for the opener and then he converted from the spot after being fouled.

Two points from their final two games will see Clyde reach the play-offs.

League 2 Goal of the week – Craig Comrie (Stirling Albion)

Teenager Comrie was a ray of light in a disappointing day for Stirling where they missed two penalties in their 2-2 draw with Elgin City.

It could have been worse as the Forthbank men trailed Elgin with 9 minutes left until Comrie drilled home from 20 yards to keep Greig McDonald’s side three points clear of Berwick in the play-off chase.