The Rangers and Celtic free hits are over amid shifting transfer arms race – Keith Jackson

Now that the appetisers are out of the way the bumping of gums and gnashing of teeth can properly begin.

Hibs boss Lee Johnson has got himself off to a flyer by complaining about the format of a League Cup competition which his side will play no further part in having been tossed out before their city rivals have even started. If they’re not very careful there will soon be a new definition for the phrase ‘Hibsing it’ – having the brass neck to tell everyone else their house is in a mess while taking match and petrol to your own front door.

If Johnson is feeling the heat already, just three months into the job at Easter Road then at least he can console himself with knowing he’s not the only one. St Mirren and St Johnstone have also been shown the door from the group stage which guarantees Stephen Robinson and Callum Davidson will begin the new campaign with the flames already licking at their toes.

At Motherwell, Graham Alexander has only four days to find a way to extricate himself from the burning wreck he and his players made of last week’s Europa Conference League qualifier at home to Sligo Rovers. If Alexander’s side is scorched before the rest of the Continent has even made it back off the beach, then they will have given the reputation of our game another horrible bloody nose just when we were supposed to be feeling so much better about ourselves.

Yes, with the dignity of Scottish football at stake, Motherwell have a responsibility to do a whole let better in Thursday night’s return leg in the west of Ireland. An away win and a place in the next round is the minimum requirement.

If, heaven forbid, they are sent back home with their tails between their legs then it will be difficult to forgive them for the damage