If we win the next seven, which includes a trip to Ross County, we’ll be champions and in the SPL next season. That’s not likely, but it should be pointed out seven wins may not even be enough! If we win seven games, lose to Ross County and lose the other games, we could finish second if County win all their games! Not likely, but not impossible either.
What I can, and will, do, is look at various things that could be to our advantage. For Saints fans, the table make's pleasant viewing. Five points is a nice advantage to have, but by next Saturday evening we could be one point behind. Everyone associated with the club, be they manager, player or fan, must remember this and not get carried away.
However, things look better when you look at Saints fixtures. Whilst we have to play everyone once (obviously), we have five home games and four away games. Further analysis shows that five of the last eight are at home and, even better, four of the last six. This is good, especially considering our excellent home record (only Ross County have beaten us at home in the league this season).
Realistically it’s down to the two Saints and Ross County. Clyde, Hamilton and Dundee are just too far behind, especially when they’d need to overcome at least three teams, not just one.However, this does not mean they’ll throw in the towel. These teams will keep fighting until the end. This is good, as whilst they could take points off us, they’ll hopefully take more points off St. Johnstone and County.
And look at the bottom. There are some big gaps, meaning those teams will be even more desperate for points. Our next two games are Brechin and Queen of the South. On paper they are easier than games against Dundee and Hamilton, but it gets them out of the way as well as they will be desperate for wins and may try a little bit more than the others (though it’s all relative).
We may be five points clear with just a quarter of the season left, but there is still a hell of a long way to go. We can’t take anything for granted until it is mathematically impossible for us to be caught, or catch whoever passes us. Every game is a cup final, every point a prisoner.
It’s been a long season, but there’s still a huge part left. Let’s start it with a win on Saturday.