SPFL Team of the Week

Craig Fowler of the @terracepodcast selects his latest SPFL Team of the Week in a 3-4-3 formation, with Nicky Law his star man:

Goalkeeper - Craig Samson (Kilmarnock)
We wouldn't usually select a player from a losing team, especially a goalkeeper, but it underlines the quality of Samson's performance that he still deserves a slot in this side. Kilmarnock eventually succumbed to a 2-1 defeat after taking the lead against Motherwell, though the match-winning goal would have come much sooner than the 77th minute were it not for a trio of top saves from Samson to deny Scott McDonald, Keith Lasley and Lionel Ainsworth earlier in the second half.

Central defender - Darren Dods (Forfar Athletic)
Now into his 23rd season of professional football, the former Hibernian and Dundee United defender is still going strong with promotion-chasing Forfar in League 1. The 39-year old may not be the quickest centre-back in the SPFL, but he's still as strong as an ox and dominant in the air. On Saturday he won every header thrown at him by Stenhousemuir, which was a considerable number given the hosts’ direct tactics, and helped his side grab an important come-from-behind 3-1 victory in the title race.

Central defender - Mark Durnan (Queen of the South)
Queen of the South switched to a back three for their trip to Easter Road and found their reward with an outstanding defensive performance and crucial away victory in their hunt for the play-offs. Pinned into their own half as the game went on, they stayed strong and a late header – from keeper Mark Oxley, oddly enough – was the only real chance Hibs could muster. Andy Dowie or Chris Higgins would have been equally deserving of a place in this team, but it's the player who made a telling contribution at the other end of the park who receives the nod. Durnan took advantage of some sloppy defending to convert Kevin Holt's cross and secure the three points for James Fowler's side.

Central defender - Bilel Mohsni (Rangers)
His inclusion in this team despite playing only 45 minutes (the second half) in Rangers’ 2-1 win over Hearts should tell you everything you need to know about the quality of his performance. Pure and simple, the Tunisian was a colossus. Fired up after being dropped from the starting XI following his blunder against Cowdenbeath last week, Mohsni was dominate in the air as he helped repel attack after attack. A huge reason Rangers were able to hold on to their lead despite being down to 10 men after Lee McCulloch's red card.

Right midfield - Nicky Law (Rangers)
The midfielder's performance against Hearts typified the improvement in Rangers since Stuart McCall took over the reins at Ibrox. In attack his passing was crisp, in defence he chased and harried the opposition, and there was a much-quickened tempo to his all-round game. He started on the left of midfield with licence to drift inside and affect play. This, combined with Rangers’ pressing game, made up for the one-man disadvantage in the middle against Hearts' 4-2-3-1, while the eagerness of Lee Wallace to get down the wing retained their width. Law had a hand in both first-half goals, before being asked to put in a tireless shift down the right in the second half. He's this week's star man.

Central midfield - Jackson Irvine (Ross County)
The athletic Aussie demonstrated all the qualities Ross County have rediscovered during this incredible streak - commitment, tenacity, work rate, and match-winning qualities. Irvine isn't a typical game-winning hero, but he used his physical advantages to bury a first-half header then had a hand in the winning goal as Raffaele De Vita converted the rebound after Rado Cierzniak had denied Irvine's effort. Considering some of the teams they've beaten, it's difficult to predict when this County run will finally come to an end.

Central midfield - Scott Brown (Celtic)
Friday at St Mirren was one of those games where Brown continually retrieves the ball from the opposition with such assuredness and composure that it's like he's not even trying. In a scrappy game against a well-disciplined opponent - with the midfield a little disjointed as both Stefan Johansen and Kris Commons started in central positions - the champions needed a strong game from their captain. As usual he rose to the occasion.

Left midfield - Lee Erwin (Motherwell)
The youngster has all the tools to be a top-class striker at this level. He's agile, possesses good technique and likes to attack the opposition with a directness which belies his height. The one thing that's been missing is goals, since Erwin found the back of the net only once in 29 appearances this season prior to Saturday's game. In that regard, hopefully his match-winning strike against Kilmarnock will give him the confidence required to go on a run, which Motherwell would greatly welcome as they fight it out with Ross County at the bottom end of the Scottish Premiership. Erwin was solid in attack at Rugby Park, but he managed to impact the game even more when shifted to the left of midfield during the second half.

Forward - Chris Cadden (Albion Rovers)
The on-loan Motherwell striker put in an assured performance for Rovers in his first start and bagged himself a goal in the 2-0 win over Berwick Rangers, which moved Darren Young's side closer to the League 2 title. The 18-year old has a mix of quickness and strength which makes him a threat for any defence and he took his first goal in senior football very well.

Forward - Colin Nish (Cowdenbeath)
With Alloa and Livingston not on league duty thanks to the Petrofac Training Cup Final, the onus was on Cowdenbeath to secure themselves a big result and put pressure on their fellow relegation strugglers. They did so in style against Dumbarton, with the veteran forward playing a key role in a 3-0 victory. Nish brought others into play as he held up the ball superbly throughout, while also winning the majority of his headers, including converting a Colin Marshall cross which put the icing on a well-deserved victory.

Forward - Myles Hippolyte (Livingston)
Hippolyte's man-of-the match display in Livingston's Petrofac Training Cup Final victory over Alloa could prove to be a defining moment in the attacker's career north of the border. Onlookers have cooed about his talent from the early days of this season, and yet he's never managed to command a regular spot in the starting XI. His dazzling performance on Sunday may illicit more trust from manager Mark Burchill, while also giving the youngster the required confidence boost to add the desired consistency to his game. He provided the assist for Livingston's opener, and it was a real shame when Keaghan Jacobs could only fire a second-half effort off the woodwork after some outrageous skill from The Hippo had helped set him up.