MONTY’S OPINION NOT SPLIT
NICK MONTGOMERY insists his opinion of the Premiership split is irrelevant – the only thing that matters is ensuring Hibs finish on the right side of the divide.
The Easter Road boss’ first experience of the Scottish top flight’s unique format has thrust him right into a three-way battle for a top-half finish with two games to go.
Saturday’s defeat to Rangers at Ibrox combined with Dundee’s win at St Johnstone saw the two sides trade places with Monty’s men dropping to seventh, a point behind the Taysiders.
St Mirren, in fifth, are five points in front and one draw from their remaining games against Hearts at home and Celtic away should be enough for the Buddies to be certain of a top-half finish.
Hibs have St Johnstone at Easter Road on Saturday then travel to Motherwell a week later knowing even full points might not be enough. That’s because Dundee in sixth have a game in hand.
Montgomery said: “Yeah, it’s something that is new to me, a split in the league at this time. It’s obviously been a format that has been here a long time.
“The fact is every team wants to make that top six, whether I think it’s the right thing or not is irrelevant.
“What I have to do is try and get enough points to get in there.
“And from there you have games where points are available and you can chase a European spot. As a manager that’s all I can affect.”
Montgomery reckons the challenge of making the split to tee up the shot at Europe is similar to what he faced in the A-League play-off system when he led Central Coast Mariners to the title down under last season.
He said: “The top six is similar, but in Australia you’re fighting for the main prize, which is the grand final.
“Here, it’s fighting for the opportunity to play in Europe so there’s a fantastic carrot at the end of it.”