The SPFL weren’t going to let Dundee United face Kilmarnock five times so, however the post-split fixtures came out, it was impossible for the order of play to do them a significant favour or a significant disservice.
For a team that can play as well as they did against St Johnstone and in the first half at Firhill, but as poorly as the Inverness Caledonian Thistle defeat, every match is winnable but every match is lose-able.
If you’re a glass half-full United fan, of which there aren’t many left, here’s how the relegation escape act could pan out……
Inverness are in form so week one could be the worst time for Kilmarnock to have to go to the Highlands. It’s a lunch-time kick-off so let’s call that a home win. Then United v Hamilton? This is probably the easiest of the matches, and United have got it first. Win it and the gap could be five points.
By week two we’re getting into real leap of faith territory. Hamilton v Killie – we’ll call that a draw. And then the big one, Dundee v United at Dens. That the Dark Blues and their baying crowd will be up for this one is a given and I would expect a home win. So that’s a six point difference.
After that, United will need one out of the next two sets of fixtures to be a they win and Killie lose swing, which would give them the chance of beating Killie at Rugby Park to get into the play-offs on goal difference.
Likely? Absolutely not. Possible? Just. Everybody knows the Leicester City story of last season.
Unfortunately the scenario above, or one like it, is much less realistic than the one that will be the last thought of Arabs when their heads hit the pillow, and the first one when they wake up.
Down at Dens. It really could happen.
