Hearts top 6 spot now threatened by St Johnstone
Perth side could make the cut
Last night’s win for St Johnstone over Aberdeen allowed Hearts to consider there is some daylight between them and the Dandy Dons for the top six spot but there may be another contender for the race.
St Johnstone have appeared lagging behind because of a lot of games in hand but they now sit 3 points behind Hearts, have a slightly better goal difference and have two games in hand.
The split isn’t ideal but it definitely adds an edge to the teams in the middle of the table. If it wasn’t for the top six, St Johnstone’s season would probably be over. They are safe from relegation and are unlikely to make it into the European places (although a Celtic Rangers final could open up another league spot) but the top 6 gives them something to focus on.
Hearts have three home games of their four remaining fixtures and you can see them picking up points from this. However, the Perth side will take hope from the fact that the fixtures are against city rivals Hibs, top of the table Rangers and then two teams still in the relegation mix.
These games won’t be a walk in the park for Hearts.
Hearts fixtures until the split are:
Home v Hibs
Home v Rangers
Away to St Mirren
Home v Kilmarnock
St Johnstone have a heavier workload which may work against them and their six games are split equally between home and away matches. Celtic and Rangers are involved, as well as Dundee United.
The double header against relegation threatened Falkirk and Hamilton could be an opportunity for 6 points and their final game before the split is away to troubled Aberdeen.
St Johnstones fixtures until the split are:
Away to Celtic
Home to Falkirk
Away to Hamilton
Home to Rangers
Home to Dundee United
Away to Aberdeen
There is less than a month to go until the split occurs but even at this stage, it is too hard to predict who will make up the top six.
Is it Jambos or the Saints for you?
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To see Aberdeen and Hearts in the bottom 6 would be funny, strange and probably damaging for our already weak league.
Credit though to Motherwell & St Johnstone for their excellent seasons, although further trips to McDiarmind Park & Fir Park are not exactly glamorous for those who will remain in the top six. Rangers are likely to be going to Fir Park for a THIRD time this season due to this ludicrous split, a ground where they have been fortunate to escape with two draws this season already.
Back to the Jambo’s, should they lose to Hibs and Rangers, which is a very real possibility, St Johnstone will really fancy their chances to overtake them. As for Aberdeen, well better the devil you know. The two Jimmy’s never really cracked reaching a major final, but you could put your hat on them qualifying for the top six and Europe. McGhee has proven to be a flop so far and as much as I’m loving Rangers at the top of the league, I will laugh out loud when the ‘dandy don’s’ finish up playing the relegation also rans!!