DOGFIGHT

Four sides face a nail-biting end to season

Just when it was beginning to look like St Mirren might just avoid the bottom two altogether, they managed to get drawn back into the fight for the bottom two spaces.

In some ways it is a fitting end to a season of ups and downs, highs and lows for a Paisley side that has done little to lower the collective heart rate of their regular support.

Relegation won’t be settled on today’s game with Raith Rovers but it’s sure to play a massive role in whether or not Saints are to avoid the drop, or the relegation play-off spot

Add into the mix a run in which sees both the Buddies and Ayr United having to face champions Hibernian.

Wednesday’s clash between the Edinburgh side and Raith gave an insight into the mindset of a Hibs team with nothing left to play for on a competitive front. Defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final last Saturday brought the curtain down on that particular front but for Saints’ and The Honest Men’s sake, they decided to turn up against Raith Rovers, albeit leaving it until the very last kick of the ball on Wednesday night.

Jack Ross will be hoping that they decide to turn up against Ayr in today’s clash at Somerset Park before partying long into the week, leaving them on their last legs for their title party against the Buddies this time next week.

In a Championship season which many deemed to be a lost cause long before a Saints revival akin to Lazarus, the fact that Saints’ safety remains a topic of discussion should be deemed as an achievement in itself – though that would of course serve as little consolation for those who have burst a gut to get St Mirren into this position in the first place.

So with just the two games left to play for the four sides at the bottom of the league, Express Sport cast an eye over what is set to be a grandstand finish to this year’s Championship relegation battle. Stevie Aitken’s side have once again upset the apple cart this season by staving off the threat of relegation. The part-timers have continued to pick up results when they need them most and that should be enough to keep them in the Championship for another season.

Of the bottom four sides, the Sons are the most likely to avoid finishing bottom of the league table following last weekend’s victory over Queen of the South. It would take a miraculous run of results for the Sons to wind up finishing bottom of the league, but two defeats could see them slip back into the relegation play-off place which they have lingered just above for the vast majority of the season.

Their form has left little to be desired, while their remaining clashes with Falkirk and Dundee United won’t see their support sitting comfortably by any stretch of the imagination. But one more point would probably see them safe to leave it a threeway battle between Raith, St Mirren and Ayr. Many believed that Raith’s safety would become something of a formality once John Hughes took over from Gary Locke at the turn of the year.

The former Falkirk manager had been tipped by many to take the Saints job when it had previously become available, but that honour went to Ross. However, Hughes has failed to have the desired impact and his side have only won three of their last 24 games in the league. Their early season form under Locke may turn out to be what saves them if they can pick up results in their final two outings, while Hughes’ first win, a 2-0 victory over the Buddies back may prove to be pivotal.

Wednesday night’s defeat to Hibernian leaves Raith knowing that defeat to St Mirren today would leave them in a world of trouble. Whoever takes the points will have the advantage heading into the final game of the season, though a draw would favour the Kirkcaldy men.

Regardless of what happens on the final day of the season, both Raith and St Mirren will look to this afternoon’s clash at the Paisley 2021 Stadium as a route out the mire. But even then, Raith will have one eye on next weekend’s crunch clash with Ayr United, in what may prove to be a winner takes all battle to avoid the drop. It has to remembered that St Mirren basically gave the rest of the league half a season of a headstart, but under Jack Ross they have at times looked like a side battling it out at the right end of the league table.

Their resurgence under the former Alloa Athletic manager has been nothing short of remarkable after the Buddies looked surefire to wind up finishing bottom of the league. A raft of new signings in January have helped turn their fortunes around, not least by the addition of captain Stephen McGinn, who has played a huge role in their change in fortunes. Jack Ross has high expectations and hopes for this St Mirren side but knows that he has to ensure safety this season in order to build for a promotion challenge next year.

The fixture list hasn’t been kind to the Saints in the final weeks of the season, but defeat to Dundee United last weekend could be a massive blow to the confidence of a side who appeared to be riding the crest of a wave. Today’s clash looks to be the most significant, but if it is to turn out to be the play-offs for the Saints then there is potential clashes with Queen’s Park, Airdrie, or Ross’ former side Alloa Athletic to contend with.

Six points would see them safe, four would most likely see them finish in a playoff spot.

DUMBARTON RAITH ROVERS ST MIRREN AYR UNITED

The Honest Men are the ones struggling the most to avoid relegation, but with a clash against Hibernian this afternoon a win would give them a glimmer of hope heading into the final weekend of the season.

Ian McCall’s side have simply lacked the firepower all season, while the addition of Farid El Alagui may have proven too little too late for the side which only clinched promotion to this level last season. St Mirren’s win over Ayr in February kickstarted a run for the Paisley side which saw them eventually usurp McCall’s side in the standings, and since then they have struggled to get back into the fight to stay in the division.

They remain without a victory in their last five matches, with many seeing them already as good as down. It will be a tall order for Ayr to save themselves, but two wins in their final two games could see them move up to ninth and avoid the automatic spot.