This Saturday sees what is probably our ‘easiest’ fixture of the next four games. Now that’s no disrespect to Hibs, who as you may remember, came back to beat us 2-1* (*Cheers Wrek_Shop) at Tanny on the opening day of the season, it’s just that the three games following Hibs’ visit are; Celtic away, Hearts away and Rangers at home. In fact this is a repeat of our opening four fixtures, where, painful as it is to recall, we failed to pick up a single point.
We have recovered somewhat since then, drawing with Hibs, beating Hearts, and scoring against both of the old firm, a moral victory in itself.
There are only 10 games left before the split, and therefore in these next four games it is vital that we pick up a few points. Being realistic I personally think that four points from these four games would be a good haul – a draw and a win against the Edinburgh outfits, and two maulings from the Ugly Sisters. Anything more would be a bonus. But I still think our best chance of three points will be against Hibs this coming Tuesday, so come on United, let’s get stuck in.
This six games that follow this sequence take us up to the top six/bottom six split, and since this split system started United have never been in the top half, and I along with all Arabs I’m sure, would like to see that happen this term. The added revenue of playing the bigger clubs would be a fillip to United’s finances for a start, and of course, there’s always the outside chance of a good run of form being awarded a European place. So let’s not be playing for pride come the split, let’s be competing with the ‘big guns’ (or should that be Huns?).
The six games leading up to the split, as Ian McCall would say, are all winnable, it’s just these next four, and if we can get a few points in the bag we’ll be well set for a top-six spot. If not, it’s gonna be tough.
Onwards and Upwards.
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