Danny Mullen: “We know where we want to be,” previewing the Championship run-in
Partick Thistle's stadium, Firhill
There’s an upcoming PTFC for PTFC. That’s a Pretty Tough Friday in the Championship for Partick Thistle Football Club.
While the Premiership still has a few more games to go in it’s two post-split mini-leagues, the second tier has just two more games remaining before the league comes to an end.
Of course, that isn’t all for the teams who finish second, third, fourth, or ninth, as they will then face playoff matches to determine who might move up or down the leagues.
With the final games coming next Friday, just who will those teams be though?
At this moment, it’s hard for anyone to hazard a guess.
We caught up with Partick Thistle striker Danny Mullen (watch below) who told us that past results don’t matter, and what other teams are doing doesn’t matter, it is time to just kick on and finish as high as you can. Wise words given how much could change in the last two games.
It would take almost infinite pages to explain the past 34 matchdays in the Championship, but for anyone who wants to know what’s in store in MD 35 and 36, we can preview that for you.
As the table shows, Dundee have a fingertip on the title while Queen’s Park breathe down their neck. Inverness, Partick Thistle, Ayr, and Greenock Morton are in a tight scrap for playoff places that could go any way. Hamilton and Cove are fighting for their lives at the bottom.
If we look at who is playing who in the next week and a half, we can see who might be in trouble.
Dundee have the chance to get early points on the board with a game this Friday, and given that it is against relegation candidates Cove Rangers, they look likely to put a firm hand on the league title.
On Saturday, anything could happen. Queen’s Park play Morton who both desperately need a win to stay in their fights for the title and the playoffs respectively. Meanwhile, Thistle and Ayr play slightly lesser competition. However, Thistle have gone two games without a win, Ayr are four games winless. Anything but a win this weekend could be disaster for any team.
Then it all boils down to Friday May 5. Every game could be life or death for both sides.
While Arbroath look somewhat safe at the moment, their final game against Hamilton could end up being a relegation decider. Both teams have had torrid seasons, even despite Accies winning silverware. Neither could claim they would be hard done by to be relegated, but they will be fighting to the last to avoid it.
Cove against Morton, while they are fighting different battles, will be massive for both. Given the quality of both teams it’s an expected win for Morton, but with Cove needing every point they can get to avoid the drop, they may dig deep and get something. Three points there could be crucial for Morton to make the playoffs.
Inverness and Ayr are two teams who are floating around the third and fourth region. While they could both finish in the playoffs depending on other results, it could be a case of winner takes all up north.
While Thistle sit much higher than Raith, the last time the Jags were in Kirkcaldy it ended in a 3-0 defeat. Raith are the only team with nothing to fight for, but an away win could be vital for Thistle’s playoff prospects.
And finally, the most important of all the big ties. Queen’s Park versus Dundee. First versus second. Depending on this weekend’s results, it could be a case of the winner on the day being the winner of the trophy. 35 games would all boil down to that one game. In a season of Scottish football filled with drama and excitement, that game could be right up there for the neutral viewer.
