The SPFL should have very little difficulty in announcing the post split Premiersip fixtures after Dundee secured a top six place despite still having one more match to play.
A 0-0 draw away to Aberdeen coupled with Hibs drawing at Motherwell ensured that Tony Docherty’s side stayed a point clear of the Edinburgh club ahead of their much discussed fixture at ‘home’ to Philippe Clement’s side.
Dundee weren’t expected to be in the top six, neither were Kilmarnock but those two clubs have replaced Hibs and Aberdeen from last season.
Every club in the top six will be given 19 home and 19 away matches but after all the whining from Ibrox the irony is that they will almost certainly have to play away to Dundee in their last six matches even if the SPFL decide to deny Dundee home advantage on Wednesday.
The flip side of that is that Dundee will visit Celtic for a third time, as the side finishing in sixth place it is deemed fairer that their fixtures are unbalanced rather than a higher placed club.
DUNDEE CONFIRMED IN THE TOP 6
📅 My predicted fixtures attached
4⃣ Four fixture ‘flips’ in the top 6 and all teams play 19 home & 19 away games
1⃣ One fixture ‘flip’ in the bottom 6 and all teams play 19 home & 19 away games
🌊 Rangers to go to Dens Park for a third time https://t.co/IA7fjFT3hh pic.twitter.com/pFdHa5ukxZ— Scotland’s Coefficient (@scotlandscoeff1) April 13, 2024
The first round of fixtures will be played on the weekend of April 27/28 which appears the most likely slot for the Glasgow Derby, played in front of 60,000 home fans at Celtic Park.
After that Matchday 35 falls on the weekend of the May Bank Holiday and could start to venture towards SPFL title decider. The final three fixtures will cover an eight day period including a midweek match, two years ago Celtic clinched the title with a Wednesday night draw away to Dundee United.
Sky Sports will have a strong influence on how the final fixtures look, at present they are only allowed to televise four matches a season from any stadium- to date they have shown Celtic at home to Ross County, Aberdeen and the December Glasgow Derby.
The remaining Derby match will certainly be televised with some sort of deal likely to be reached with the SPFL to show one other home match live which points towards finishing the season away from home.
Home, away, home, away and finishing at home would seem the natural order but with Neil Doncaster in charge of the SPFL anything is possible.
CLICK HERE for final SPFL Premiership table
CLICK HERE for Celtic are the dirtiest team in Scotland.
🏆 A fine strike from Reo Hatate and goals from Kyogo and Adam Idah against St Mirren extend Celtic’s lead at the top of the #cinchPrem to four points ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wOvYDGQYkK
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 13, 2024
🍀 “It was continuing on from last week, playing with that courage and playing with no fear.”
Brendan Rodgers praises Celtic’s second-half performance vs St Mirren in their 3-0 win which sees them go four clear at the top of the #cinchprem ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QMqefHEJYY
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 13, 2024
