KILMARNOCK PREVIEW – A TOUGH CONTEST.

In my opinion we also have difficulty ‘getting stuck in’ in games that are non-derby, non-OF, or non-cup – i.e. the bread and butter games against the likes of Motherwell, Dunfermline, Livi and Killie, and the game against Livi last week showed this to be true once again, after an uninspired performance – though we have had the small matter of a derby victory since then to lift our spirits!

Our record against these teams this season, and last, is nothing short of shocking, and I think the team have a difficulty getting themselves motivated for these less glamorous fixtures. Hopefully though, with a decent attendance at Tannadice, and the threat of relegation looming, United can get themselves into gear and get stuck into this Kilmarnock outfit whose season is effectively over. If the crowd and relegation threats aren’t enough to lift the team, then how about dangling the carrot in the other direction and pointing out that three points would almost certainly guarantee SPL football next season? Killie have little to play for this weekend. They are not relegation threatened in any way. Bizarrely, if Dundee also win at Dunfermline, the two victories would also see United mathematically safe!

There’s definitely a strange weekend of football coming up and results could see the tables looking like this….

(United, Dundee, Livi all win)

United 35
Livi 34
Dundee 34
Pars 28

Or this……

(United lose, Livi lose, Pars win against Dundee)

United 32
Livi 31
Pars 31
Dundee 31

In short we could be seven points clear of bottom and mathematically safe, or we could be one point clear and right back in the thick of things. It’s a vital game – a game that could mean £1.3 million to United, which is the cost of being relegated, or put another way, the amount of money saved if we avoid relegation, and three points this weekend all but guarantees it. Let’s look at another scenario where Dunfermline win and we win but Livi lose……..

United 35
Livi 31
Pars 31
Dundee 31

This would put us four points clear of three teams, Dundee and Dunfermline, with two games to play for all teams, and one of ours against Dunfermline next Saturday. Either way – three points is worth so much more at this crucial point in our season.

This is all speculation of course – just a wee look through the possible scenarios. The only certainty from the bottom four situation is that either Dundee or Dunfermline will pick up points as they play each other. Three points for us regardless of what happens elsewhere would see us in the strongest position by far of these four outfits – so come on United show us your mettle and get tore in.

Jason Scotland (knee) and Grant Brebner (calf) are considered doubtful.