Premiership

Motherwell have arguably been the best team to watch in the Premiership this season and are unquestionably the team punching most above their weight in Scotland’s top flight.

Manager Jens Berthel Askou has implemented an eye-catching possession-based style since joining in the summer, a feat several coaches have failed to do with far bigger budgets.

Elliot Watt has been a revelation in midfield, Elijah Just has slotted in seamlessly having worked under Askou previously at Danish club Horsens, while only Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has scored more goals in the Premiership than Tawanda Maswanhise this season.

It is at the back though that perhaps the most impressive aspect of Askou’s set-up has been.

Motherwell are unbeaten in their past 10 league outings and haven’t conceded in over a month with six straight clean sheets.

They have shipped just 15 goals in the league all season, a record bettered only by Celtic and Hearts (both 14).

Research from my learned colleague Nick McPheat shows Motherwell are averaging their best defensive record in a top-flight campaign – 0.83 goals conceded per match – since the 1931–32 season, when they won the title.

Attacks win matches, but defences win titles. A festive omen of cheer for the Steelmen and Askou before they face Rangers at Ibrox.

Given Rangers’ struggles in attacking areas this term, don’t be surprised if Motherwell’s superb run continues into 2026.

Harlequins: Kildunne; Torley, Pena, Parry, Wilcock; Cromack, Packer; Spurrier, Phillips, Hanlon, McIntosh, Konkel, Wythe, Mikaele-Tu’u, Wafer.

Replacements: Powell, Delgado, Winstanley, Fleming, Svoboda, Burgess, Powell, Aucken.

Bristol Bears: Hesketh; Bonner, Varley, Picton-Powell, David; Demant, Bevan; Pam, Dale, Bern, Cunningham, Ward (capt), Balogun, Buisa, Hopkins.

Replacements: Sprague, Botterman, Clarke, Herring, Short, Ryall, Skuse, Joyce.

Collum agreed with the VAR decision not to award a penalty against Fernandez in Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice. On that occasion, the ball appeared to clip the defender’s arm as it dropped from a United throw-in.

The head of refereeing said the incident was “not punishable in any shape or form” and also agreed with the awarding of a late Rangers penalty, which Nedim Bajrami converted after a foul by Will Ferry on Max Aarons.

Collum similarly backed the decision not to award a spot-kick against Hearts’ Harry Milne as he blocked a Kyrell Wilson shot on the line as hosts Falkirk attacked. Collum said it was “one million per cent not a penalty kick” because Milne had his arm tucked in against his body.

Celtic defender Liam Scales had a penalty awarded against him for handball in his side’s 2-1 win at Hibernian and Collum again agreed, saying: “It’s the right decision.”

Hearts claimed unsuccessfully for a spot-kick in their 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock after Dominic Thompson appeared to head the ball on to his hand. Collum again backed his officials’ decision.

Two incidents during Rangers’ 3-0 win at Kilmarnock were also given Collum’s approval.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland’s challenge on Killie’s Bruce Anderson outside the box was not judged to have merited a red card, and an off-the-ball pull by Mohamed Diomande on David Watson on the edge of the box also went unpunished. Collum believes both incidents were judged correctly.