Hearts, Rangers, Celtic & Motherwell's title run-in ranked based on severity of remaining Premiership fixtures
We rank how difficult the top four Scottish Premiership clubs’ title run-in is based on their remaining pre-split fixtures
We’re now entering the final months of the Scottish Premiership season, and the title race has developed into a four-way battle with Hearts, Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell still in with a chance of getting their hands on the silverware.
The Jambos have led for much of the campaign and currently hold a six-point lead over their nearest challengers Rangers, with Martin O’Neill’s Hoops a further two points behind but with a game in hand to play. The Steelmen, meanwhile are currently 10 points adrift and also have an extra fixture to fulfil.
In what has been one of the most gripping title races in recent memory, Derek McInnes’ side are in pole position to become the first team outside the Old Firm to win the trophy since the 1984/85 season when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen came out on top.
That being said, there is still plenty of football to be played and a host of points still up for grabs. Strap yourselves in for what promises to be one of the most exciting endings to a league campaign in history. Here, GlasgowWorld takes time to assess each of the four clubs in question and rank their remaining fixtures ahead of the post-split matches being announced after matchday 33 on the weekend of April 11/12.
MOTHERWELL (4th)
Saturday, March 7 - Dundee (A) 3pm
Ranking: Moderate
The Dark Blues no longer find themselves in a relegation scrap towards the foot of the table and on recent evidence they appear like one of the stronger teams currently in the bottom six. Steven Pressley’s men are a formidable force at Dens Park, but the way Motherwell are playing at present, you’d expect another three points could be bagged.
Saturday, March 14 - Celtic (A) 3pm
Ranking: Difficult
The Hoops have dropped far too many points this season and have struggled for consistency amid a turbulent campaign dominated largely by events taken place off the pitch. O’Neill’s side have been notoriously slow starters of late and while this fixture often presents a headache for the Steelmen, the severity of their latest visit isn’t quite as high as it once was. They’ll fancy their chances of taking something from this game.
Saturday, March 21 - Hibs (H) 3pm
Ranking: Moderate / Difficult
The Hibees are likely to finish the season a top-six team and they’re not a club many want to visit going to Easter Road. David Gray’s side are challenging for the European spots but have seven points to make up on Motherwell, so it’s unlikely they will finish any higher than 5th place. Depending on how much they’ve got to play for could have a baring on the difficulty of this match.
Saturday, April 4 - Falkirk (H) 3pm
Ranking: Difficult
The Bairns have been a standout on their artificial surface since earning promotion back to the top-flight and would be backed by a raucous home support. On course to end a seriously impressive campaign as a top-six team. One of the trickier ties outside of the main contenders, but it’s a fixture that Motherwell will be determined to win back on home soil.
Saturday, April 11 - Hearts (A) 3pm
Ranking: Extremely difficult
It doesn’t get much harder than a trip to Tynecastle at the moment. The Jambos are flying high at the top of the table and would be backed by a raucous home support desperate to see their team stay there. Motherwell’s record in Gorgie doesn’t make for great reading but this isn’t any ordinary Well’ team...
CELTIC (3rd)
Wednesday, March 4 - Aberdeen (A) 8pm
Ranking: Moderate
The managerless Dons have flattered to deceive this season and look destined to finish in the bottom six without being dragged into a relegation fight. Last season’s Scottish Cup winners have been conceding too many goals and just haven’t got going in the Premiership this term. An in-form Celtic should emerge victorious from this fixture, but that isn’t the case at present, and Pittodrie midweek isn’t ideal.
Saturday, March 14 - Motherwell (H) 3pm
Ranking: Extremely difficult
Normally, games against Motherwell at Celtic Park end in a comfortable home win but it’s hard to envisage that being the case this time around. Should the reigning champions slip up at Pittodrie in midweek, Motherwell could be smelling blood by the time this fixture comes around.
Sunday, March 22 - Dundee United (A) 12.30pm
Ranking: Difficult
Given the current state of the Tannadice playing surface, Celtic are in for a challenging afternoon on Tayside. It’s a venue where they have tasted plenty of success at in recent years and considering United have little to play considering their current league position, it’s difficult to know what Tangerines team will turn up.
Saturday, April 4 - Dundee (A) 3pm
Ranking: Difficult
Dens Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Celtic this season. They lost 2-0 back in mid-October in what was Dundee’s first home win over the Parkhead club in 37 years. On that basis and considering the hosts mini resurgence up the table since then, this trip falls into the ‘difficult’ category.
Saturday, April 11 - St Mirren (H) 3pm
Ranking: Easiest on paper
O’Neill and co should end this match with a routine victory over the relegation-threatened Buddies. They have been sucked into trouble ever since getting their hands on the League Cup in December but that was against Celtic, and they held out for over 80 minutes last time out at Parkhead. On paper it seems like the clash they’ll be most favoured in but that counts for nout in this unpredictable season.
RANGERS (2nd)
Sunday, March 15 - St Mirren (A) 12pm
Ranking: Difficult
With Saints languishing down at the wrong end of the table, Rangers must make the short journey to Paisley later this month knowing that defeat is simply out of the question. Stephen Robinson’s side have made life extremely difficult for either side of the Old Firm on their home patch and given there’s plenty at stake for both teams, this could be a cracker.
Saturday, March 21 - Aberdeen (H) 5.45pm
Ranking: Easy
Usually a blockbuster fixture given the rivalry between both sets of supporters, but Danny Rohl’s men will be expected to rack up another home victory against the struggling Dandies, who have struggled to lay much of a glove on Rangers this season. Form in the league of late has had the look of a side rudderless.
Saturday, April 4 - Dundee United (H) 3pm
Ranking: Moderate
Much will depend on what mood Jim Goodwin’s side are in. Rangers again will look to make home advantage count and they will be strong favourites to do just that, but Dundee United can’t be ruled out all together.
Saturday, April 11 - Falkirk (A) 3pm
Ranking: Extremely difficult
John McGlynn’s side have been a force to be reckoned with, particularly at home and are and not a club many want to visit. Rangers could have their work cut out should they get off to a slow start.
HEARTS (1st)
Saturday, March 14 - Kilmarnock (A) 8pm
Ranking: Big favourites
Killie have looked extremely vulnerable at times this season and that reflects their current league standing. They went down 5-1 to Falkirk at the weekend and that woeful defensive display will be of huge concern to manager Neil McCann. They’ve conceded at least three goals in five of their last seven games, a trend which cannot continue or they could be staring relegation in the face. Hearts should breeze to victory in Ayrshire.
Saturday, March 21 - Dundee (H) 3pm
Ranking: Moderate
Another game that, on paper, you would expect Hearts to come out with three points from. However, Dundee are a much improved team from the start of the season and will be no pushovers, despite going down 4-0 at Tynecastle back in early November.
Saturday, April 4 - Livingston (A) 3pm
Ranking: Big favourites
Bottom club Livingston are scrapping for their lives to avoid the dreaded drop and while recent performances has offered a glimmer of hope in their survival bid, you can’t see Martin Bartley’s side upsetting the odds against a rampant Hearts side gunning for title glory.
Saturday, April 11 - Motherwell (H) 3pm
Ranking: Extremely difficult
The hosts will be eager to make sure they head into this contest with one hand potentially on the trophy. This is not the fixture you want to face if points are dropped in the lead up. All Hearts must do is continue to take care of their own business and a victory over Jens Berthel Askou’s side could go a long way to them creating history.