Final Old Firm date announced by SPL

10 April 2010 20:42
The final Old Firm derby of the season will take place on Tuesday, May 4, the Scottish Premier League have confirmed after the split.[LNB] The SPL published the post-split fixtures on Saturday afternoon and, as expected, the clash between Celtic and Rangers was among the penultimate round of fixtures.[LNB]Although the latter are 13 points clear of their arch-rivals with six games remaining, the SPL have taken no chances when it comes to attempting to ensure the derby is not a title-decider.[LNB]Similarly, the SPL did not want the game to take place on the final weekend of the season, when the championship trophy is usually presented.[LNB]Instead, Sunday, May 9 will see Rangers host Motherwell, while Celtic travel to Hearts in games that will kick-off at 1.30pm.[LNB]The Old Firm have complained in the past about post-split fixtures resulting in them making three difficult away trips in one season.[LNB]Rangers have drawn the short straw this season with a third match at Dundee United, but their massive lead in the title race means they are unlikely to complain too vociferously.[LNB]Hearts' 1-0 win over Kilmarnock today allowed the SPL to release the fixtures this afternoon as the result ensured St Johnstone could not break into the top six.[LNB]Rangers' first post-split fixture is against the Jambos next Sunday (kick-off, 12.30pm).[LNB]That is followed by a trip to Hibernian the following Sunday (2.30pm) and the game at United on Saturday, May 1 (3pm).[LNB]The derby at Parkhead kicks off at 7.45pm.[LNB]Celtic's first post-split match is against Hibernian next Saturday (12.15pm), followed by a trip to United the following Sunday (12.15pm) and a home match with Motherwell on May 1 (3pm).[LNB]As usual, the final weekend of the season will see the bottom six play on the Saturday and the top six on the Sunday.[LNB]The May 8 games (12.30pm) are: Kilmarnock v Falkirk, St Johnstone v Hamilton, and St Mirren v Aberdeen.[LNB]The other May 9 game (1.30pm) is Dundee United v Hibernian.[LNB]As always, the split has thrown up winners and losers, with the make-up of the top and bottom six meaning Aberdeen will end up playing 20 home games this season and 18 away, while Motherwell face the opposite scenario.

Source: Team_Talk