05/04/2025 – DUNDEE (A)

Another week, and another crazy instalment in the one of the most unpredictable seasons in living memory.

Last week we detailed the task Saints had on their hands to get into the top 6, and needed Hearts or Dundee Utd to drop points, but with those 2 playing each other on the Sunday, we had to win on Saturday against relegation threatened Dundee to put the pressure on.

On the bus to Dundee, we at Consilium towers and others ran through what would be the best outcomes from various fixtures in the Premiership on Saturday and where that would leave us going into the last match of the season before the split.

Obviously, this included a Saints win at Dens Park, and as we debated whether a draw at Tynecastle would be better than a win for either Hearts or Utd, and whether Motherwell being out of the race completely before they faced Hearts at Fir Park this Saturday was good or bad.

One thing we did not even contemplate was Saints, Hearts, Motherwell and Ross County all losing. I’ve no idea why we didn’t, as it is perfectly in tune with a season where anyone can beat anyone.

What this does mean though, is an even bigger squeeze between 11th and 6th, with only four points separating Dundee in the relegation play off place and Hearts in the final top 6 place.

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Celtic	32	71	78
2	Rangers	32	33	65
3	Hibernian	32	9	50
4	Aberdeen	32	-4	49
5	Dundee United	32	0	47
6	Heart of Midlothian	32	-1	39
7	St. Mirren	32	-10	38
8	Motherwell	32	-19	38
9	Ross County	32	-22	35
10	Kilmarnock	32	-16	35
11	Dundee	32	-17	34
12	St. Johnstone	32	-24	29

Saints, Motherwell, Ross County and Kilmarnock are in-between those 2 teams bookending the group, and any of these 6 clubs can now finish 2nd bottom, with St. Johnstone in bottom position 5 points off again. Realistically, the Perth side can only really catch one of Dundee, Ross County or Kilmarnock now. We think.

Ross County losing at home to Aberdeen last Saturday knocks them out of top 6 contention, leaving just St Mirren, Motherwell and Hearts to play out the final fixture before the split, not yet knowing what half of the league they will complete the season in.

Hearts are in pole position and face Motherwell at Fir Park. Their job is straightforward. If they win, that’s it over and they simultaneously condemn Motherwell and Saints to bottom six football.

For Motherwell, they need to win and hope Saints drop points at home to Ross County. For Saints, we need to win and hope Hearts draw or lose at Fir Park.

Having had an emergency Saints friends meeting on a Whatsapp group with some of the worst and ill-informed football predictors in Scotland, we agreed that there is no point trying to guess what is going to happen as literally anything is possible.

In hindsight it looks like Saints might have blown it on Saturday, but had we won, Hearts may have approached their match differently the following day, so there is no point crying over spilled milk.

It was another strange match at Dens Park, however. There is little doubt in general play, Saints were the better side. Dundee surprised us by sitting deep, like so many teams have done this season against us to great success and our continued pain.

Simon Murray scored after 3 minutes, lashing home a loose ball in what was Dundee’s only real chance in the whole match. He added a comical second in the second half with their only shot since that opener and their last of the match.

It was just one of those days during one of those seasons.

Taylor hit the bar, Phillips and O’Hara missed great headed chances, Idowu somehow failed to connect from 5 inches out and an open goal from an Alebiosu cross, Declan John had a shot cleared off the line, O’Hara a free kicked saved, and Boyd-Munce curled a vicious shot inches over.

We just didn’t get the breaks, but Dundee did and won. It happens and our own failures are always much easier to accept than VAR or a referee mistake in our opinion.

Saturday is another big match. In reality, whoever gets the final top 6 place is not going to challenge for Europe and will finish 6th, however it means guaranteed extra money (£700k difference between 6th and 7th for example) and no threat of finishing in the relegation play off place.

Putting our feet up in a stress free end of the season is not something we have enjoyed for a great number of years and there is still a reasonable chance this could happen. Let’s pack the stadium and roar our boys on.

COYS!

Dundee Players of the Match:

5 points – Caolan Boyd-Munce

3 points – Mark O’Hara

1 point – Declan John

Check our the Player of the Season race here –

PLAYER OF THE SEASON