Livingston boss David Martindale confessed he’d be ‘bitterly disappointed’ if the Lions were unable to make the top six.
They missed out in agonising fashion last season when they conceded an injury-time equaliser in the final game to Motherwell having been well-placed for weeks, so there can be no complacency or assumptions this time round, either.
However, with just four games remaining before the split, Livi occupy sixth spot – currently one point ahead of Saturday’s opponents St Mirren. They have already surpassed last season’s pre-split point tally, something the boss says is proof of the progress being made at the club.
Speaking to the Courier, he commented: “I really like having the split. Even if you finish seventh after the split, you’ve still got one eye over your shoulder because it’s all the teams around you that you’re playing.
“I’ve been in that position before where you go ‘this could get tricky if we lose a couple of games’.
“I think it’s exciting for the neutral and keeps the league competitive. The last thing you want is four or five teams really having nothing to play for with this many games left in the season so I believe it adds something to the league.”
He added: “I think that this group of players have got the club into a very good position. We have been in the top six for longer than we’ve been out of it over the course of the season.
“That shows the consistency throughout the season from the whole group, but it also shows you the progress of the club because I think we would all be bitterly disappointed if we didn’t get top six this season.”
The Lions are firmly in the mix and have arguably the most favourable run-in of the six teams looking to cement their place in the top half.
They’re the only ones without a fixture against any side currently in the top six – albeit away clashes at both St Mirren and Motherwell have proven to be unhappy hunting grounds in recent years.
While Hearts have looked comfortable in third place for much of the season, a string of four defeats in five games should have them looking over their shoulders. However, it still would be an epic collapse if they were to somehow fall out of the top six in the remaining games.
Likewise, it’s just as unlikely that St Johnstone find a way in. However, wins at home in their upcoming clashes against Aberdeen and Ross County would certainly make things interesting.
It’s a race that is sure to go down to the wire for several teams. Here are the fixtures for the six teams battling it out for the remaining four places:
Hearts (45pts): April 1 - Kilmarnock (A), April 8 - St Mirren (H), April 15 - Hibs (A), April 22 - Ross County (H)
Aberdeen (41pts): April 1 - St Johnstone (A), April 8 - Kilmarnock (H), April 14 - Ross County (A), April 23 - Rangers (A)
Hibs (40pts): April 1 - Motherwell (H), April 8 - Dundee United (A), April 15 - Hearts (H), April 22 - St Johnstone (A)
LIVINGSTON (39pts): April 1 - St Mirren (A), April 8 - Motherwell (A), April 15 - St Johnstone (H), April 22 - Dundee United (H)
St Mirren (38pts): April 1 - Livingston (H), April 8 - Hearts (A), April 15 - Rangers (A), April 22 - Kilmarnock (H)
St Johnstone (32pts): April 1 - Aberdeen (H), April 8 - Ross County (H), April 15 - Livingston (A), April 22 - Hibs (H)
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