Scottish Premiership: When Celtic will win title, race for closing top-six spot and relegation battle analysed

Scottish Premiership groups have only one sport to play earlier than the break up and there may be nonetheless all to play for.

After a dramatic penultimate weekend, Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell all stay within the race for the ultimate place within the prime half of the desk.

And an enormous win for St Johnstone breathed new life into their survival battle whereas additionally delaying Celtic’s title celebrations because the leaders did not benefit from one other Rangers’ slip-up.

When can Celtic win the title?

It appeared like Rangers had handed Celtic a house social gathering for his or her fifty fifth title after they misplaced at dwelling to Hibernian, their fifth straight Ibrox defeat, however the Hoops should wait a bit longer.

Defeat at backside facet St Johnstone means Brendan Rodgers’ facet can’t now wrap up the league in opposition to Kilmarnock in entrance of their very own supporters, dwell on Sky, on Saturday.

They will nonetheless be topped champions on the weekend if Rangers lose away at Aberdeen the next day, with that sport additionally dwell on Sky.

It was a disappointment for Celtic to lose in Perth, however given they continue to be 13 factors away from their Previous Agency rivals it’s nonetheless a case of when and never if they are going to win the title.

When does the league break up?

Following matchday 33 – when all 12 golf equipment have performed one another 3 times – the Scottish Premiership desk splits into two.

After that, these within the prime six will battle it out for the ultimate European spots, whereas these on the different finish combat for survival.

Prime-six battle goes to the wire

The battle for the ultimate place within the prime six goes to the ultimate day with three groups nonetheless in competition.

Motherwell’s defeat at Kilmarnock and St Mirren shedding to Dundee handed the benefit to Hearts, however they did not take it.

All they needed to do was beat Dundee United at Tynecastle Park on Sunday and the final spot was theirs, however James Wilson was despatched off with Jim Goodwin’s facet happening to assert a 1-0 to strengthen their place within the prime half of the desk.

It may very well be a cracker at Fir Park this weekend with Motherwell internet hosting Hearts. If the Jambos win they are going to stay sixth, but when Motherwell win and St Mirren lose at dwelling to Ross County then it is going to be Michael Wimmer’s workforce who transfer up.

The Buddies will take sixth if it ends in a draw at Motherwell they usually take most factors in Paisley. They can even clinch the spot on purpose distinction whether it is dwelling wins in each video games.

Again in November not many would have taken you critically when you mentioned Hibernian can be better of the remaining and would have already secured their top-six spot. Nevertheless, that is precisely what David Grey’s facet have carried out.

A 16-game unbeaten run within the league, which has included outcomes in opposition to Celtic, Rangers and rivals Hearts, has remodeled the Easter Highway facet’s season, with Europe now the goal.

Issues are a bit extra secure at Aberdeen once more and Jimmy Thelin’s facet have additionally achieved a top-six spot – one thing the followers would have been content material with when going into this season below new administration.

St Johnstone not happening with out a combat

Simply when it appeared like St Johnstone’s 16-year keep within the Premiership was all however over, they produced a efficiency and consequence to offer a glimmer of hope.

They have been courageous in opposition to Celtic, they took the lead after falling to heavy defeats to the Hoops already this season they usually defended brilliantly.

Andy Fisher made some important saves because the Hoops piled on the stress, and Saints managed to discover a efficiency that has been all too uncommon this season.

Simo Valakari admitted post-match that nothing had modified for them, however will or not it’s the psychological enhance they want heading into an enormous finish of season battle?

St Johnstone’s 1-0 win could have come as a blow to each Kilmarnock and Dundee who claimed big victories on Saturday.

Killie claimed their first league win in six video games in opposition to Motherwell to see them finish the weekend six factors away from automated relegation, however just one level forward of Tony Docherty’s facet who stay within the play-off spot regardless of their win at dwelling to St Mirren.

Defeat at dwelling to Aberdeen means Ross County stay at risk of a 3rd consecutive season within the relegation play-offs. They sit degree with Kilmarnock on 35 factors.

The break up all the time creates drama and Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell will know they danger being dragged into the combat for survival in the event that they fail to clinch that top-six place.

Groups have six video games to safe their place within the Scottish Premiership for subsequent season. It guarantees to be a dramatic few weeks.