It is a titanic title race in the Scottish Championship with no less than six teams all within 10 points of leaders Dundee.
Here Record Sport looks through its crystal ball to see how it’s going to all pan out. With another crucial round of games arriving this weekend, there’s no let-up in the battle to bag automatic promotion into the Premiership or secure a play-off spot and now our writers have their say.
Dundee - currently top on 58 points
Gary Bowyer’s Dark Blues were pre-season favourites to make a return to the top flight at the first time of asking. They’ve stuck with the pack and taken advantage of Queen's Park's three-game losing streak recently to move a point clear at the top.
Goals aren’t a problem and with 60 from 33 games they’re the top scorers in the division with strikes being shared out across the frontline and midfield. Add to that the experience of Ryan Sweeney, Cammy Kerr and Jordan Marshall at the back and Dundee are a well balanced side with playmakers Paul McMullen Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan providing the ammo for the frontmen.
Crucially they’ve taken seven points from nine from closest challengers Queen’s Park ahead of their potentially decisive clash on the final day of the season.
Key Men: Zach Robinson and Lyall Cameron
It’s all about goals at this stage of the season and these two both have 12 for the season. On-loan Wimbledon striker Robinson is the number one frontman while 20-year-old playmaker Cameron has excelled at providing from midfield.
Next 3 fixtures: Inverness (a) Saturday, April 22. Cove Rangers (h) Friday, April 28. Queen’s Park (a) Friday, May 5.
Prediction: Champions. A point clear and with three games to go, the last of those against nearest challengers Queen’s Park, then the title is very much in Dundee’s hands. They have the strongest squad in terms of quality and depth and given their record of two wins and a draw against Queen’s this season the Dens men will stride over the line in first place.
Queen's Park - currently second on 57 points
The Spiders have been the story of the season in the Championship as they look to make it an astonishing three successive promotions and go from bottom division to top in three years. Since turning professional back in 2019 the club has been revolutionised and backed by Sir Willie Haughey but without over-spending on their squad.
Owen Coyle has formed a team packed with talent balanced between experienced at this level and with youthful energy. The loss of top scorer Simon Murray in January could have derailed the promotion hopes, but the swift arrival of Connor Shields on loan from Motherwell helped plug the gap.
Even having to play out of Stenhousemuir’s Ochilview while the renovation of Lesser Hampden was dragging on has failed to halt the Queens' charge, although three successive defeats did topple the Spiders off top spot. However, they recovered with a 1-0 victory against Hamilton last weekend to sit a point off leaders Dundee.
Key Men: Dom Thomas and Grant Savoury
Former Kilmarnock and Motherwell winger Thomas tops the Championship assists chart alongside Dundee’s Paul McMullan with 11 and also has 10 goals. His deliveries are of a Premiership level while ex-Celtic kid Savoury has been a revelation in midfield with 13 goals.
Next 3 fixtures: Ayr United (a) Friday, April 21. Morton (a) Saturday, April 29. Dundee (h) Friday, May 5.
Prediction: Second spot and play-off defeat. With the toughest run-in, Queen’s will struggle to overhaul Dundee and will have to make do with a place in the play-offs where they cruelly might just run out of steam.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Currently sit on 54 points
Billy Dodds is being rewarded for refusing to hit the panic button after his side’s title aspirations appeared to nosedive earlier in the campaign with a downturn in form. It’s that experience which is now helping the Highlanders make a late charge at the title.
Tuesday night’s late win at Hamilton required a fightback from going behind to the Accies and it’s that character which has led to a six game winning streak which suggests all the momentum is with an Inverness team which have used the prospect of a Scottish Cup semi-final appearance to inspire this run.
Key men: Sean Welsh and Billy McKay
Welsh is the bionic man of the Championship having overcome a host of serious injuries during his career to continue at this level and it is his leadership and midfield authority which is key to his side. A battle hardened professional who gives everything for the cause. McKay’s scored in his last two games and having a striker who you can count on to put the ball in the net at this stage of the campaign could prove decisive.
Next 2 fixtures: Dundee (h) Saturday April 22. Ayr (h) Friday May 5.
Prediction: Third (play-off spot)
Inverness have less margin for error than the rest of the chasing pack as they’ve played one game more, but they have the points in the bag and they can watch other clubs cut each other up. It’s just the timing of this unbeaten run which looks to have been to perfection and should be enough to secure one of the play-off positions.
Partick Thistle - currently third on 52 points
Firhill for thrills? Life really is never dull at Thistle and another rollercoaster season saw them top the table after 10 games, before losing their next five and having to play catch-up ever since. Throw in a heroic Scottish Cup clash with Rangers at Ibrox in February that saw the Jags edged out in a five-goal thriller before Ian McCall was sensationally sacked after the final whistle and you get the idea!
That controversial move was followed by the promotion of club legend Kris Doolan to the manager’s seat from his role in the Thistle Weir Academy at the age of 36. Eyebrows were raised across Scottish football, but Doolan has responded in stunning style, winning five and losing just one of his 10 games in charge so far to drive the Jags back into the title hunt.
Only three goals have been conceded in those 10 games, while promotion rivals Queen’s Park have been hit for four and Cove Rangers for five. With just three games to go and a six point deficit on leaders Dundee the title might just be out of reach but the Jags will be confident should they secure a play-off spot.
Key Men: Brian Graham and Kyle Turner
Experienced frontman Graham remains one of, if not the best target man in the league. Sixteen goals from 36 appearances is no bad return while Turner’s graft and craft has won plenty of admirers and the midfielder has eight assists and four goals to his name.
Next 3 fixtures: Hamilton Accies (a) Saturday, April 22. Arbroath (h) Saturday, April 29. Raith Rovers (a) Friday, May 5.
Prediction: Fourth and promotion through play-offs . Momentum is a massive thing in football and Thistle have it in spades going into the final weeks of the season. Strong at the back and with goals in midfield and up front they will take some stopping.
Ayr United - currently fourth on 51 points
A real mixed bag for the Honest Men this season who have kept pace with the leaders, only for a lack of consistency to cost them a realistic shot at the title at this stage. In Dipo Akinyemi they have a proper star - topping the scoring charts with 24 goals from 42 games in all competitions and also chipping in with seven assists.
Unfortunately the powerful Akinyemi’s goals haven’t been backed up by any of his strike partners, although Ben Dempsey and Josh Mullin have chipped in with nine and eight from midfield. The signing of experienced former Aberdeen and Sunderland striker Chris Maguire looked like it could be a game changer in January but the 34-year-old has still to score after 10 games. Lee Bullen will be hoping he’s saving those goals for the run-in as Ayr look to cement a play-off spot.
Home and away wins against Queen’s Park on top of Somerset Park victories over Dundee and Partick Thistle early in the campaign had hopes high, but three wins in their last 11 has seen Ayr face an almighty scrap just to save that play-off dream.
Key Men: Dipo Akinyemi and Sean McGinty
There’s not a striker in the Championship who’s been as hot as big Akinyemi and his goals will be crucial to Ayr chances. Skipper Sean McGinty has been a solid presence at the centre of defence and his experience is vital.
Next 3 fixtures: Queen’s Park (h) Friday, April 21. Raith Rovers (h) Saturday, April 29. Inverness (a) Friday, May 5
Prediction: Fifth (play-off spot)
It’s all on the line for Ayr as they host Queen's Park on Friday night and Lee Bullen’s on the brink of guiding his side into the play-off positions. A win over the Spiders would squeeze the chasing pack tighter.
Bullen’s shown himself to be a shrewd operator with his recruitment but while the Honest Men have enough quality to get themselves into the mix for the end of season finale they face a tough final three games and look set to miss out.
Morton: Currently sit on 48 points
Dougie Imrie’s surpassed all expectations by edging his team away from trouble and Morton will look back at a spate of drawn games in recent weeks as the reason they remain just outside the play-off positions.
It’s been a remarkable first managerial campaign for a coach who knew at the start of the campaign he was operating on a shoestring budget, and he’s had to rely on shrewd signings and the expert guidance of experienced assistant Andy Millen.
Ali Crawford’s loan arrival from Morton and the likes of Robbie Muirhead and Robbie Crawford have enhanced the quality at the Greenock club who many believed would be struggling to keep their heads above water.
Look no further for a strong candidate for Championship manager of the season.
Key men: Grant Gillespie and George Oakley
Gillespie’s the battle hardened man for all occasions and typifies this no-frills Morton side and he’s been an inspirational figure for his side. There’s also been key goals from former Motherwell striker Oakley who has the quality to ensure the Cappielow side made a late run for a play-off spot.
Next 3 fixtures: Raith Rovers (h) Saturday April 22. Queen's Park (h) Saturday April 29. Cove Rangers (a) Friday May 5.
Prediction: Sixth. It’s been a frustrating recent few weeks from the Ton as they will feel they should have had more points on the board with draws marring their fine form. Sneaking into the play-offs isn’t beyond them but they may well just come up a bit short.
