Scottish Championship: Will Celtic or Rangers win the title? Who will finish in the top six? How will the relegation battle take place? | Football news
We are entering the final game before the Scottish Premiership splits and there is still a lot to decide right on the top flight.
Celtic are currently six points ahead of defending champions Rangers in a title race that looks set to enter the final laps of the season.
Hearts would of course finish in third, however, fourth to 10th place is only four points apart as the clubs battle for European football and a spot in the top six.
At the bottom, St Johnstone’s win over Livingston sees them move six places ahead of Dundee, who are bottom of the table but can Callum Davidson’s side catch up to those at the top?
Here, we review the main battles from the top flight and look at the key fixtures until the end of the season…
Table…
The furniture…
Title race
Rangers returned from the winter break with a six-point advantage over Celtic. However, Ange Postecoglou’s team is currently 6 points ahead of their opponent with 6 matches remaining.
The Old Firm’s win at Ibrox on Sunday could be a title-defining result for Celtic as they have maintained their current unbeaten streak of 26 games in the league.
In contrast, their opponents struggled to achieve consistency after Boxing Day. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have dropped seven points in their first four games back, leaving Celtic ahead of them in the table.
They’ve had an impressive run of results in Europe, but domestically they’ve seen their unbeaten run at home come to an end by their biggest rivals as hopes of retaining the title have dwindled by another. little.
The pride of being crowned champion is more than enough for supporters, but this season’s Premier League title comes with a bigger prize. A place in the Champions League is entirely possible. With that comes a cash balance of £30 million and growing.
Now make no mistake for Rangers in the coming weeks if they have any hope of catching an impressive Celtic team.
Celtic
Position: Day 1
Games played: 32
Score per game: 2.46
Current tournament format: WDWWWW
Next tournament schedule: St Johnstone (h)
Title Sky Bet odds: 1/20
Rangers
Position: 2nd
Games played: 32
Score per game: 2.28
Current tournament format: DDWWWL
Next tournament schedule: St Mirren (a)
Title Sky Bet odds: 8/1
First six battle
While Hearts is set to finish after Old Firm, it’s anyone’s guess who will take fourth place in Europe and the remaining six in the top six.
Dundee United, Motherwell, Hibernian, Ross County, Livingston, Aberdeen and St Mirren are only four points apart, so who will finish in the top half?
Heart
Position: 3rd
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.68
Current tournament format: LWWDWD
Next tournament schedule: Hibernian (h)
Top Sky Bet Odds: Betting is suspended
Dundee United
Position: 4th
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.25
Current tournament format: DDLDWD
Next tournament schedule: Dundee (h)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 1/6
Motherwell
Position: day 5
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.21
Current tournament format: DDLDLW
Next tournament schedule: Livingston (a)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 5/2
Hibernian
Position: 6th
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.18
Current tournament format: WDDDLD
Next tournament schedule: Heart (a)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 4/9
Ross . County
Position: Saturday
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.15
Current tournament format: LWWWLD
Next tournament schedule: Aberdeen (a)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 11/4
Livingston
Position: 8th
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.15
Current tournament format: DWWLLL
Next tournament schedule: Motherwell (h)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 15/8
Aberdeen
Position: 9th
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.12
Current tournament format: DDLLWD
Next tournament schedule: Ross County (a)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 6/4
St Mirren
Position: 10th
Games played: 32
Score per game: 1.12
Current tournament format: LOILLWLL
Next tournament schedule: Forest ranger (h)
Top Sky Bet Odds: 7/1
Who can come down?
Dundee – under new management Mark McGhee – find themselves in the inevitable position of bottom of the table following their return to the Premiership this season.
Dens Park Club are now six points behind St Johnstone, whose manager Callum Davidson believes ensuring survival will rival last season’s historic League Cup and Scottish Cup double.
An 11th finish is the bare minimum for both teams, but a tough relegation play-off final – live on Sky Sports – still located in the store.
St Johnstone
Position: Day 11
Games played: 32
Score per game: 0.93
Current tournament format: WLLDWW
Next tournament schedule: Celtic (a)
To complete the bottom Sky Bet odds: 15/2
Dundee
Position: 12nd
Games played: 32
Score per game: 0.75
Current tournament format: LDDLLD
Next tournament schedule: Dundee United (a)
To complete the bottom Sky Bet odds: 1/16
Pre-split matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports
Subsequent dates, start times and TV details will be confirmed – all fixtures are subject to change.
Sunday, April 10
St Mirren v Rangers – Kick off at 12 noon