Hearts and Hibs players of past plus present enter 'bonkers' end of season where relegation fears to come true
Hearts and Hibs men of the past and present are getting geared up for a night of huge ramifications.
A host of Hearts and Hibs figures both past and present are to get embroiled in a three-way Scottish Championship relegation shoot-out.
The second tier comes to a close this Friday, and with St Johnstone already champions and promotion play-off contenders already sealed, all eyes are on the bottom shake-up. Eighth-placed Greenock Morton, Airdrie in ninth and basement club Ross County are all harbouring relegation fears, with some of those to come true this week.
Morton have 37 points, Airdrie have 35 and County a point less than that. Ian Murray’s Morton face former side the Diamonds in a straight shootout while Stuart Kettlewell’s Staggies take on Raith Rovers. Any of the three can finish bottom, albeit County cannot escape the bottom two, and the best they can hope for is the League One play-off picture.
What is Scottish Championship play-off scenarios?
Were they to win though by a couple of goals and Airdrie defeated Morton by the same margin, it could see Morton tumble all the way into the third tier automatically. The Ton winning and County success on matchday 36 would see Airdrie finish bottom while a draw also suits the side from Greenock. That would leave their opponents vulnerable as victory for Kettlewell’s team would sink them into play-off territory.
Essentially, a win or a draw and Morton survive, but defeat pulls them into the play-offs at least. Airdrie win and they stay up, and anything else leaves them open to going straight down. Ross County must win to give themselves any hope of the play-offs as they have the worst goal difference.
In the Ton corner is ex-Hibs captain Murray and goalkeeper Murray Johnson on loan from Easter Road, while Airdrie have Harry Stone between the sticks, on loan from Hearts alongside former Jambo forward Euan Henderson. County have ex-Jambos Connor Randall and Uche Ikpeazu while former Hibs men Sean Mackie and James Scott have formed part of their plans in a dire term after relegation from the Premiership last year.
What has Ian Murray said about Championship relegation scenario?
Murray, who’s side lost 4-0 in Dingwall last weekend to leave themselves in this situation, said of the predicament: "Sometimes you can lose games and get beat 3-0 or 4-0 and you can actually play ok. We were beaten 4-0 and were absolutely dreadful in the game.
"Now everything is black and white. The only team out of three that could have been relegated last weekend was Ross County. This week, we could all be relegated. We believe we have enough in the squad and on the park to win. But we must also be honest and appreciate what can happen. Football is a bonkers game. Airdrie have won two out of three against us this season. So we know it's a hard ask."