She may have been deputy for eight years, but the unique demands of the job mean Nicola Sturgeon is still on a bit of learning curve as FM.

So far it's been steep, lathered in oil, and a rogue Alex Salmond keeps rolling down it like a cross between Humpty Dumpty and a hand grenade.

The best that can be said of today's performance is that at least she has lots of time to improve.

Labour's Kezia Dugdale began by giving the ex-FM another dunt in Ms Sturgeon's direction, asking if she agreed with him that the SNP would fight the general election on a demand for fiscal autonomy to replace the Barnett Formula.

In other words, did she want Scots to experience the icy "negative shock" of falling oil prices rather than the snuggly warmth of the Union?

"Labour are trying to divert attention from something rather embarrassing that happened this week," replied Ms Sturgeon, trying to divert attention from something embarrassing for the SNP.

"On Tuesday Scottish Labour MPs trooped through the lobbies of the Commons with the Conservatives to vote for an additional £30bn worth of cuts."

SNP MSPs tutted theatrically.

But Ms Dugdale was not for diverting, reminding Ms Sturgeon her own energy minister had warned of a jobs crisis in the North Sea, and that she herself admitted oil jobs were at risk.

"It begs the question why the First Minister took so long to find Aberdeen on a map," she miaowed, referring to the FM's belated visit this week.

The Nats hated that. Everyone knows Ms Sturgeon can't see past Westminster.

Besides threatening jobs, would the FM now admit falling oil prices would also threaten revenue in a home rule Scotland, Ms Dugdale continued.

"Can I first remind members across the chamber what Labour does stand for," replied Ms Sturgeon, blanking the question.

"£30bn of additional cuts. That's what Labour voted for with the Conservatives in the House of Commons this week.

"The only Labour MP in Scotland who had the gumption to vote against Tory cuts was Katy Clark, Kezia Dugdale's opponent for deputy leader.

"I am sure that a few Labour members today are wondering whether they picked the wrong person."

As rival camps of braying backbenchers tried to drown each other out, the Presiding Officer pleaded for order.

Out on the rigs, anxious workers must have kicking their tellies over the side in disgust.

"Let us get on to the serious issue of the jobs concerns in the North Sea," said the FM eventually.

"It's because there's a really serious concern that yesterday I established a jobs task force...

"That's the kind of practical help people want, not petty political point scoring."

At which a gusher of ironic laughter erupted.

"Thousands of jobs are at risk in the North Sea and Nicola Sturgeon's priority is to have a pop at the Labour Party," sniffed Ms Dugdale.

"The reality of the FM's plan for full fiscal autonomy is that it would trade the stability of Barnett for the instability of oil prices."

What assessment had the FM made of the cost to public spending of her plan to bin Barnett?

"Westminster parties really have no shame," said Ms Sturgeon, dazzling us with her brass neck, before going off on a ramble about Norway's oil fund and Westminster incompetence.

"Why does the Scottish Labour Party not get behind the Scottish Government and desist from petty political point scoring?" she asked unabashed.

"It is a new First Minister but it is the same old song," sighed the deputy Labour leader, who then returned to her own refrain about Barnett.

The jobs issue now all but forgotten, Ms Sturgeon discarded her dignity like a dry well and went all out to collect some more of those petty points.

"When it comes to the fiscal future of Scotland, let me repeat: this week, Labour trooped through the lobbies with their allies in the Conservative Party, to impose £30bn of additional cuts on Scotland," she cried through another uproar.

"Scottish Labour MPs should be deeply ashamed of themselves!"

They shouldn't be the only ones.