Celtic could win the league at Ibrox if they slip up in their first post-split fixture at Tynecastle after the SPFL revealed the schedule for the final five games of the Scottish Premiership season.
Ange Postecoglou’s men travel to Gorgie on Sunday, May 7 for an afternoon kick off in front of the Sky Sports cameras where the Hoops will be expected to seal the title – just as they did at Tynecastle six years ago to win the sixth consecutive championship of their nine-in-a-row run with a thumping 5-0 win when Brendan Rodgers was in charge. But if they mange it then it will be in front of around just 1400 visiting fans following a reduction in the away allocation at Hearts in recent seasons.
Celtic have a 13-point lead over Rangers and need just one more victory to wrap up two-in-a-row under Postecoglou. However, if Steven Naismith’s Jambos throw a spanner in the works by getting a win against the odds to keep alive their own hopes of a third place finish then the Hoops will be made to wait – assuming Rangers see off Aberdeen in their own first game after the split.
And that would see it roll on to Ibrox with the SPFL announcing that the final Old Firm derby of the season will take place at Ibrox on Saturday, May 13 at 12.30pm. Police like to avoid the possibility of a title clincher when the fierce rivals meet after the so-called shame game in 1999 when Rangers clinched the title at Parkhead under Dick Advocaat.
However, Celtic squandered the chance to win the title at Ibrox under Neil Lennon in 2012 but they did win seven-in-a-row under Brendan Rodgers with a thumping win at home to Rangers five years ago. That came after the Hoops slipped up in their first game after the split, losing to Neil Lennon’s Hibs at Easter Road to set up a party against Rangers. A repeat scenario this season could see the same thing happen again, albeit Celtic would go to Ibrox where fans would be locked out.
In the battle for third spot, Hearts host Aberdeen in the third game after the split while at the other end of the table it could be a relegation nailbiter when Kilmarnock host Ross County.
Here's the post split fixtures in full...
Top six
Saturday, May 6
Hibs v St Mirren, kick off 3pm
Sunday, May 7
Hearts v Celtic, kick off 2.15pm (live on Sky Sports)
Rangers v Aberdeen, kick off 3pm
Saturday, May 13
Aberdeen v Hibs, kick off 3pm
Rangers v Celtic, kick off 12.30 (live on Sky Sports)
St Mirren v Hearts, kick off 3pm
Saturday, May 20
Celtic v St Mirren, kick off 3pm
Hearts v Aberdeen, kick off 3pm
Sunday, May 21
Hibs v Rangers, kick off 12 noon (live on Sky Sports)
Wednesday, May 24 (all 7.45pm kick offs)
Aberdeen v St Mirren
Hibs v Celtic
Rangers v Hearts
Saturday, May 27
Celtic v Aberdeen, kick off 12.30 (live on Sky Sports)
Hearts v Hibs, kick off 12.30
St Mirren v Rangers, kick off 12.30
Bottom six
Saturday, May 6
Motherwell v Kilmarnock, kick off 3pm
Ross County v Livingston, kick off 3pm
St Johnstone v Dundee United, kick off 3pm
Saturday, May 13
Dundee United v Ross County, kick off 3pm
Kilmarnock v Livingston, kick off 3pm
St Johnstone v Motherwell, kick off 3pm
Saturday, May 20
Kilmarnock v St Johnstone, kick off 3pm
Livingston v Dundee United, kick off 3pm
Motherwell v Ross County, kick off 3pm
Wednesday, May 24 (all 7.45pm kick offs)
Dundee United v Kilmarnock
Livingston v Motherwell
Ross County v St Johnstone
Sunday, May 28
Kilmarnock v Ross County, kick off 3pm
Motherwell v Dundee United, kick off 3pm
St Johnstone v Livingston, kick off 3pm
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