“This has been a season like no other,” declared Calum Beating, the chief operating officer of the SPFL, and there can be no accusation of hyperbole there. With six rounds of the Scottish Premiership remaining, there remains a three-way title fight. Hearts, bidding to win their first league title 1960, sit one point ahead of Rangers, who themselves are just two points clear of Celtic. A first league title outside of Glasgow’s Old Firm since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen, in 1985, remains a distinct possibility, even if the leaders have seen their advantage reduced in recent weeks.
Few would be bold enough to predict what happens next. But the picture has now become a little clearer. After the 33rd round of the season this weekend, where Hearts will host fourth-placed Motherwell at Tynecastle and Celtic and Rangers face St Mirren and Falkirk, respectively, the Premiership will split in two. The top six teams in the table will play out their remaining five fixtures of the season among themselves, with the bottom six clubs doing the same.
