Gaelic games

Here's some circumspection from a BBC Alba spokesperson, asked to comment on what are expected to be their best ever figures - for Brechin City v Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup (Rangers won 2-1 after extra time).

“An indication of the impact of yesterday’s match on BBC ALBA’s TV and iPlayer viewing figures will be available in due course but it is clear from informal feedback that there was extraordinary interest in this match and BBC ALBA looks forward to broadcasting further SFL and SPL matches in future".

This is because BBC Alba can't have it both ways - they prefer their own surveys, rather than BARB, most of the time, claiming BARB doesn't pick up enough Gaelic speakers.  Or perhaps then can have it both ways -  their match coverage offered un-subtitled English comments from managers Jim Weir and Ally McCoist, and summariser Brian Read. And you could have turned tv sound down when the Gaelic commentary started, and followed Radio Scotland coverage on Medium Wave.

Odds and ends - Ramsdens are the UK's largest independent pawnbrokers. Smoke bombs must be a little unusual at Glebe Park.