Post-split fixtures bring little joy for Staggies support

Just two home games again for County, starting with Inverness on April 28th

Published 13th Apr 2017

Ross County were the main losers of the post-split fixtures schedule after being told they will end the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign having played more games away than at home.

County will play 18 home games and 20 away with fixtures against Inverness (April 28th) and Hamilton (May 16th) the only two to come in Dingwall after the split.

Jim McIntyre's side are embroiled in a fight to escape relegation and were among four teams who could have suffered the imbalance - four of the top-six teams will have played 17 home games by the split and only two of the bottom six.

Motherwell and Kilmarnock have both been on the end of the same problem in recent seasons while the other possibility, Hamilton, had experienced a financial disadvantage when the initial fixtures came out in the summer with only one home game against both Celtic and Rangers.

On the other hand, the good news kept coming for Partick Thistle, who have gained a home game after qualifying for the top six for the first time since the split was introduced in 2001. Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen will all visit Firhill before the end of the season to take Thistle's home matches to 20.

Meanwhile, Celtic are set to collect the Premiership trophy on May 21st after the SPFL confirmed the champions would round off the campaign at home to Hearts. The league previously confirmed they would travel to Rangers on April 29.

Rangers' bid to pip Aberdeen for second place could be over by the time the Dons visit Ibrox on May 17th while Pedro Caixinha's side visit St Johnstone on the final day on May 21st. Aberdeen host Celtic on Friday, May 12th.

St Johnstone will hope to kill off Hearts' hopes of sneaking fourth and a potential Europa League slot when they host Ian Cathro's side on May 17th. Hearts have their final three games of the season away from home, at their request, as they push on with the rebuilding of Tynecastle's main stand.

The current bottom two, Motherwell and Inverness, who meet this Saturday, will face each other again on the final day of the bottom six. Elsewhere on May 20th, Kilmarnock will host Ross County and Dundee will visit Hamilton.