The Merry Month of March

Top of the agenda is obviously the League Cup final on March 20. ‘Well fans from all over the world are flying, driving or training it back to Lanarkshire for what will no doubt be a huge weekend of partying and celebrating. The team has reached the final of this tournament for the first time in fifty years and will be distinctly second favourites against Rangers. But there is always a chance and even though we have not beaten Rangers in a while, we will be optimistic when we arrive at Hampden. The title, which looked certain to be remaining at Parkhead a few months ago, is now up for grabs and our opponents will place a much higher value on that than they will this bit of silverware. If Barry Ferguson sees a wild eyed Scott Leitch or Richie Foran bearing down on him for a fifty-fifty, do you think he’ll match the commitment of the claret and amber (or white!) boy? The final will take care of itself but we should not forget we have an important run coming up in the league as well…

Kilmarnock have narrowed the gap to just two points and they cannot be ruled out of the running for a top six place yet. They should lose to Rangers this weekend which means we will have a game in hand (away to ICT). Killie’s other fixtures are Livingston away, Aberdeen and Dundee United at Rugby Park. It is very likely that they’ll win the first and last of that trio and probably pick up at least a point in the middle. This means that we cannot allow ourselves to become distracted by the cup when we have league games to play.

March starts on the second for us with a trip to Dunfermline. We have had a terrible record there in recent years but the Pars are really struggling – a point should be the minimum target. Next Saturday we have Dundee United at home, a match which we must be looking to win. United are capable of playing well and given that Killie will probably beat them the next week, we will have to raise our game to take the three points.

After that, we are a week away from Hampden when we take on Livi at Almondvale. It will not be easy, especially given their desperate need of points but in our situation and against this type of opponent, nothing less than three points will be satisfactory.

If March goes well, we could easily take nine points from nine and win a cup. Our place in the top six could be all but secure and our trophy cabinet will have a little bit less room in it. Alternatively, we could finally go crashing into the bottom half of the league not to return and our glorious cup run could meet a distinctly inglorious end. Let’s enjoy the ride and get right behind the team!