Going into the last round of games in the Scottish Premiership, most of the major issues have been resolved. Dundee United are doomed for the drop, barring an unlikely sequence of results, but we still don’t know who will be in the play-off. Fourth place is still up for grabs and the two sides in the running also meet – in a derby no less. Champions Celtic need two goals at home to Aberdeen to equal the Lisbon Lions’ league tally of 111.
Saturday’s game of the day is Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian. Edinburgh derbies are rarely classics, but they are always feisty and this one has some extra spice. With two points separating the city rivals, Hearts will clinch fourth place and the guarantee of European football if they avoid defeat at Tynecastle. Hibs must win. Hearts are placing extra emphasis on attack under the temporary guidance of Steven Naismith, while Hibs have been more menacing in the second half of the campaign thanks to the return of Kevin Nisbet and the blossoming of Elie Youan. Both sides have an issue with coughing up cheap goals too. The form book favours Hearts, with seven wins from the past 12 derbies to Hibs’ two, while the visitors have won just five league games on the road this season.
Sunday’s game of the day is Kilmarnock vs Ross County. If nerves are jangling in Gorgie, spare a thought for these two who meet at Rugby Park, with the prospect of a play-off to avoid relegation awaiting the loser. Ross County are three points behind but have a superior goal difference. They need to win to avoid a two-legged shootout for survival against Partick Thistle or Ayr United, who play their second leg on Friday evening. Kilmarnock will be feeling good after swatting aside Dundee United on Wednesday, almost certainly consigning the Tannadice outfit to relegation in a high-stakes game. They are also unbeaten in six Premiership home games against County, winning four of them.
Player to watch is Kevin van Veen (Motherwell). If Dundee United go gung-ho chasing a bucket load of goals at Fir Park, a certain Mr Van Veen will be licking his lips. He might already be salivating given United’s bad habit of gifting goals. The Motherwell striker has scored in 10 consecutive Scottish top-flight games and he will be determined to add to that tally in what is very likely his farewell game in claret and amber. There is also the incentive of becoming the league’s highest scorer since he is just one behind Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and level with Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland.
Manager in spotlight is Steven MacLean (St Johnstone). St Johnstone’s Steven MacLean is one of two interim bosses at the helm in the league and he will be desperate to impress. Since replacing Callum Davidson, the former Saints striker has won two, drawn two and lost one. If he can sign off with a home win against Livingston then it looks like a pretty straightforward decision for those running the show at McDiarmid Park. However, Livi have had St Johnstone’s number this season, winning all three of their league meetings, and they are only one point behind in a tussle with Motherwell to end up top of the bottom-six tree. Lose and suddenly MacLean’s brief CV starts to look rather ordinary.
Going into the last round of games in the Scottish Premiership, most major issues have been resolved. Dundee United are doomed for relegation unless an unlikely sequence of results occurs, but we still don’t know who will be in the play-off. Fourth place is still up for grabs and two contenders meet in a derby. Champions Celtic need two goals at home to Aberdeen to equal the Lisbon Lions’ league tally of 111.
Saturday’s game of the day is Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian. Hearts will clinch fourth place and European football if they avoid defeat at Tynecastle while Hibs must win. Hearts are placing extra emphasis on attack under Steven Naismith while Hibs have been more menacing in the second half of the campaign thanks to Kevin Nisbet and Elie Youan. Both sides have an issue with coughing up cheap goals too. The form book favours Hearts with seven wins from twelve derbies to Hibs’ two, while Hibs have won just five league games on the road this season.
Sunday’s game of the day is Kilmarnock vs Ross County. Ross County need to win to avoid a two-legged shootout for survival against Partick Thistle or Ayr United who play their second leg on Friday evening. Kilmarnock are unbeaten in six Premiership home games against County, winning four of them. Player to watch is Kevin van Veen (Motherwell) who has scored in ten consecutive Scottish top-flight games and is determined to add to that tally in what is likely his farewell game in claret and amber. He is one behind Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and level with Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland for highest scorer in the league.
Manager in spotlight is Steven MacLean (St Johnstone). Since replacing Callum Davidson, MacLean has won two, drawn two and lost one and will be desperate to impress by signing off with a home win against Livingston. However, Livi have had St Johnstone’s number this season, winning all three of their league meetings and are only one point behind Motherwell to end up top of the bottom-six tree. Lose and MacLean’s brief CV starts to look rather ordinary.