One match left: Rangers take control, and a battle at the bottom

By: Ian Rose | May 17th, 2009

Well, we’ve come to it at last. Each SPL side has played 37 of their allotted 38 fixtures, and next weekend, the 2008-09 SPL will come to a close. It’s had its moments, and we’ll look back in more detail at the highlights and facepalms of the season later on. For now, it’s time to look at the last 6 games.

Rangers stand one win from breaking Celtic’s recent hold on the SPL title, now up two points on the Bhoys after each side managed only a draw against Hibs in successive weeks. A Rangers win seals it, as would a Celtic loss or draw. On the slightly brighter side for the green half of Glasgow, they finish their season against Hearts, a team with nothing to play for, having already locked up third place in the league. Rangers head to Tannadice to take on Dundee United, who still need a draw to secure European play next season. It’s not over, but it’s in Rangers’ hands to lose.

At the bottom, we have what is essentially a relegation playoff match. Though a strange combination of blowouts could technically doom St. Mirren to the drop, it realistically comes down to two sides, Falkirk and Inverness Caley Thistle, who play in Inverness on the last day. A Caley win or draw wins the Highlanders survival, and dooms the Bairns to the all-to-familiar Scottish football fate of relegation combined with European qualification. If Falkirk wins, as they did the last time they played Caley, it’s Inverness headed down to the First Division, to meet old local rivals Ross County for the first time in years.

A fascinating last day of football. Will Falkirk or Caley go down? Will Rangers hold on or Celtic steal it at the final whistle? Can Dundee United fulfill everyone’s predictions and make it to the inaugural Europa League, or will Aberdeen get a chance to repeat their promising European run of last season? It’s all on the line Saturday.