There can be nothing more frustrating for players and supporters than to be inactive while others have the opportunity to make ground. Of course everyone recognises that it’s better to have points in the bag rather than games in hand but a testing Saturday afternoon following the latest scores without the involvement of your own team is not pleasant.
The lunchtime kick off went well enough with Hearts taking the spoils in the Edinburgh derby. Hibs remain a point behind us and now they have only one game in hand (against United on 31 March). Our fourth spot remained and we looked to the Aberdeen v Dundee United game hoping that the Dons could do us a favour. Despite losing the opening two goals they recovered and the game finished 2-2. It was a fine result from our point of view.
The draw means that United move clear into third place but only by a solitary point and as luck would have it Motherwell travel to Tannadice next Saturday. Our opponents will have little time to prepare for that meeting as they have a Cup replay against Rangers on Wednsday evening. No doubt Brown and Knox will be interested spectators in midweek.
Our players return from their week off on Monday and they’ll start their preparations knowing that they face three games before the league split; United (a), Falkirk (h) and Celtic (a). If they can maintain the impressive form that arrived with the New Year they should have nothing to fear.