Focus Shifts Back to the Premiership as Old Firm Derby Looms
Andrew Henderson
AwayDay Reporter
Focus Shifts Back to the Premiership as Old Firm Derby Looms
With Premiership clubs returning to league action after last weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-finals, the focus will once again be on Glasgow as the third Old Firm derby of the season takes place at Celtic Park.
The green side of Glasgow already hold a significant advantage over their rivals in the title race and can move to within two victories of yet another Premiership crown if they claim the spoils on Sunday afternoon.
For Rangers, the title may realistically be out of reach, but with interim manager Barry Ferguson having already recorded some impressive results, a win would go a long way to extending the feel-good factor at Ibrox – and his own chances of keeping the job permanently.
Championship Play-Off Battle Heats Up
With Falkirk moving six points clear at the top of the table, the focus may soon turn to the play-off spots, and two teams currently in those positions go head-to-head as Partick Thistle host Ayr United.
For Partick Thistle, the priority is maintaining their top-four position to keep their promotion hopes alive. Ayr United, however, will be desperate to finish second, securing the advantage of skipping a round in the play-offs.
League One: Can Alloa Capitalise on Queen of the South’s Collapse?
In League One, Alloa Athletic find themselves in a similar situation to Partick – looking to hold on to a play-off spot rather than catching the teams ahead.
Not too long ago, a trip to Queen of the South would have been one of the toughest fixtures in the division. However, Queens’ recent collapse – five defeats in their last six – will give Alloa plenty of hope.
If they can take all three points, it could be a huge result in their quest for a play-off finish.
League Two: Peterhead Face a Must-Win Clash
Title-chasing Peterhead face what could be their biggest banana skin of the season in the form of third-placed Edinburgh City.
While they still have a crucial clash with league leaders East Fife before the end of the season, Peterhead must stay in contention for that to matter. A slip-up here could be disastrous, and Edinburgh would love nothing more than to close the gap to just one point on Saturday.
Full Fixture List
Premiership
Saturday:
- Hearts v Ross County
- Kilmarnock v Hibernian
- Motherwell v St Mirren
- St Johnstone v Aberdeen
Sunday:
- Celtic v Rangers
- Dundee United v Dundee
Championship
Friday:
- Raith Rovers v Dunfermline Athletic
Saturday:
- Airdrieonians v Livingston
- Hamilton Academical v Greenock Morton
- Partick Thistle v Ayr United
- Queen's Park v Falkirk
League One
- Arbroath v Dumbarton
- Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Annan Athletic
- Montrose v Cove Rangers
- Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic
- Stenhousemuir v Kelty Hearts
League Two
- Bonnyrigg Rose v Stirling Albion
- East Fife v Stranraer
- Elgin City v Clyde
- Forfar Athletic v Spartans
- Peterhead v Edinburgh City
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