The league title fight is set to go to the wire as fans await the SPFL’s reveal of the final run-in
(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
Celtic hero Scott Brown has warned Rangers they face the toughest scenario ahead of the Premiership split.
And he reckons that a “wild” scenario of the league title being decided on goal difference could become a reality. With just one game remaining before the league splits, Derek McInnes’ men remain at the top of the pile.
However, the table-toppers stumbled against rock bottom Livingston as they hung on for a draw in West Lothian. The result came just 24 hours after Rangers had temporarily claimed top spot with a win over Dundee United.
Celtic maintained the pressure on the top two in third with a win over Dundee – with the gap between the Hoops and Hearts sitting at three points. And while fans wait for the SPFL to reveal the fixture list for the final five games, there are already some guarantees the top three game expect.
Derek McInnes’ side must play three home games, two away games. They have already played Rangers away twice, Celtic away once, so must face Rangers at home and Celtic away.
Martin O’Neill’s men are also owed a home game against Rangers in the final run-in.
Before the league splits, Hearts will welcome Motherwell to Tynecastle while Celtic host St Mirren on Saturday. Rangers travel to Falkirk on Sunday.
Looking at the fixture list, former Dundee and Aberdeen assistant boss Tony Docherty told BBC Sportsound: “I even just look at the goal difference. Rangers have the strongest goal difference. Rangers have 32, Hearts have 28 and Celtic have 23. It might even come down to that.
“One thing is you look at Hearts have at home, at Tynecastle, is so strong. It’s the strongest in the league, so that is something that every manager wants.
“The most important game is your next game, and the next game for Hearts is Motherwell at home, and if you win that you are still top of the league.
“Celtic’s next game is a home game, and that game Rangers have got at Falkirk looks the trickiest of the three of them on paper – but who wins games on paper?
“It’s exciting and it gets more exciting by the week. I think Celtic took an opportunity that was presented to them today, and it allows them to be back in the hunt.”
Hearts’ Claudio Braga celebrates after scoring to make it 2-2 vs Celtic(Image: SNS Group)
Asked how Rangers would feel playing last next weekend, Brown added: “It’s always harder.
“Obviously the result with Hearts probably pushes the lads [Celtic] on a little bit [against Dundee], because they came out at 100mph. They can go three points behind Hearts, and then they have a huge game next week.
“Then going into the split – which is a huge thing – they have the two home games against their two top rivals that are in first and second place.
“It’s getting exciting, and could go down to goal difference. It would be wild if it does but at this point in time you have got to think Hearts are sitting there with that one point advantage, so it’s there’s to lose.
“But Celtic will be thinking if we win our games and take Hearts at home we will be in the driving seat.”
After the matchday 32, the top six has now been decided with Dundee United now unable to mathematically catch Falkirk.
That means that the SPFL could fast track the fixture list reveal, having traditionally had to wait until after matchday 33 for positions to be decided. That is if details can be ironed out with agencies such as Police Scotland, and broadcasters Sky Sports and Premier Sports.
As it stands, league bosses have already confirmed the schedules and dates for the final five fixtures to Celtic, Hearts and Rangers.
Post-split dates are the weekends of April 25/26, May 2/3 and May 9/10 and the midweek of May 12/13. The final round of top-six matches will take place on Saturday May 16, kick-off 12.30pm.