Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dee, Hibs, Well – who will be in the top six?
One of three – a look at the battle for lucrative place
DUNDEE are in a threeway battle to earn their first top-six finish since 2015.
Hibs are in the driving seat after leapfrogging the Dark Blues last weekend. They are only one point ahead, however, with Motherwell a further point behind.
Below the three main contenders, it looks a tall order for another side to gatecrash the party late on, though the opportunity is there should Aberdeen finally, somehow, get their act together.
So how do the Dark Blues shape up against Hibs and Motherwell? And how do the fixture lists compare for each side?
Dundee have not won any of their last three matches. However, their rivals aren’t in red-hot form either.
In their last five league games, Hibs have picked up eight points – three of those crucially against the Dee – while Motherwell are only a point behind with seven.
Tony Docherty’s side have picked up seven themselves, thanks to wins over St Johnstone and Ross County.
The momentum, though, is with the other two. The Hibees are unbeaten in four and the Steelmen have back-to-back wins, the latter a tremendous result at Rangers.
Since the winter break, Dundee have won three, drawn two and lost five to pick up 11 points.
Hibs have won only two, drawn three and lost three to earn nine and Motherwell have picked up 12 points with three wins, three draws and three defeats.
Results between the teams suggest there is little between them.
Hibs have got the better of Dundee, with the Edinburgh side registering two victories and a goalless draw this term.
Matches between Motherwell and the Dee have resulted in two draws, with the away side being pegged back in both contests.
First it was Lyall Cameron earning a point for Dundee on the opening day before Conor Wilkinson broke dark blue hearts in December with his last-kick-ofthe-game equaliser.
To complete the triangle, Motherwell have enjoyed the better of tussles with Hibs.
They’ve picked up a win and a draw from their two games.
A mini-table with only results between the three sides included would see Hibs on top with eight points, Motherwell second on six and Dundee on three.
The Dark Blues are yet to beat either this season.
Theo Bair has been a revelation for Motherwell this season, knocking in 11 goals in total.
Nine of those have come in his last 12 matches.
Hibs strengthened well in January with new boys Myziane Maolida and Emiliano Marcondes causing Dundee plenty of problems at Easter Road recently.
For the Dark Blues, Luke McCowan continues to go from strength to strength and has four goals in his last eight games.
Another diminutive attacker, Scott Tiffoney, has been in form while loanees Owen Beck and Aaron Donnelly are ones to watch.
Hibs and Dundee each have five games remaining while Motherwell have four.
The Hibees have two home matches, ’Well and the Dee have three each.
Hibs have the best fixture list on paper – they face the bottom two next, a trip to Ross County on Wednesday followed by a home clash against Livingston.
They also host St Johnstone, but face a daunting trip to Ibrox.
Dundee also face the Perth Saints, at McDiarmid Park, and play Aberdeen home and away, and have Rangers at home.
Motherwell, meanwhile, have the smallest number of fixtures.
Next up for ’Well are home games against Aberdeen and St Mirren, before two games that will decide who gets into the top six – first they travel to Dens Park on April 6 before hosting Hibs at Fir Park seven days later.