Scottish Premiership: The race for the top three
Kai Watson 
There are just four weeks remaining in the Scottish Premiership and it's a familiar tale for the chasing pack behind Celtic this season.
The league has already been decided and with Rangers comfortable in second, it has left the other four in the top half fighting it out between themselves for the 'best of the rest' tag and with it, third place.
Hibs are favourites with UK betting sites to finish third, but results at the weekend have thrown that wide open with Aberdeen and Dundee United well in with a shout.
Our Scottish football expert Kai Watson has had a closer look at the credentials of all three teams in the race.
Aberdeen’s late winner on Saturday against Hibs really opened up the fight for third place in the Scottish Premiership. Had the Edinburgh side won at Pittodrie they would have gone six points clear of both Aberdeen and Dundee United and been the clear favourites to finish behind Celtic and Rangers.
However, that’s not what transpired on Saturday afternoon. In what was a fairly tight encounter (you wouldn’t have thought that if you watched Sportscene however) it was ex-Hibee Kevin Nisbet who scored the winner on the 80th minute. It was an incredible strike as he controlled it on his chest while stepping backwards and looped a right footed volley over Jordan Smith.
A goal worthy of winning any game.
That leaves Aberdeen and Hibs level on points, the latter have 15 goals on the former however and Dundee United are just three points behind them. If Jim Goodwin’s side can get the better of David Gray’s and St. Mirren beat Aberdeen, all three teams would sit on 53 points with only three games remaining.
Every game now is a cup final for these three teams and Dundee United already have, on paper, the most difficult opponent in Celtic out the way in the first game.
Let’s take a look at all three sides run ins.
Hibs
| Team | Home/Away |
| Dundee United | Home |
| Celtic | Away |
| St Mirren | Away |
| Rangers | Home |
The game against Dundee United this weekend is massive in this race and could be the match up that shapes it all. Although Hibs are in great form, aside from the last fixture, away to Celtic is the toughest possible post-split fixture.
Going away to St. Mirren midweek also isn’t a fixture that should be taken lightly, they’ve put in some great performances at home in the last couple of months.
Potentially relying on a result on the last day against Rangers could also be a tricky one, depending on which Rangers side show up that day.
Aberdeen
| Team | Home/Away |
| St Mirren | Home |
| Rangers | Away |
| Celtic | Home |
| Dundee United | Away |
St. Mirren at home, on paper, is the easiest post-split fixture. However, following that up with a trip to Ibrox and then welcoming Celtic to Pittodrie is tough. Ending away to Dundee United isn’t the most ideal fixture, especially when both teams could still be in the race for third.
Aberdeen probably start with the next best fixture but the next three are incredibly tough games and, personally, I think they have the toughest run in.
That being said, they’re in great form, level in third and have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to, they’ll be riding high right now and tough to beat.
Dundee United
| Team | Home/Away |
| Hibs | Away |
| St Mirren | Home |
| Rangers | Away |
| Aberdeen | Home |
Essentially, Dundee United have third in their hands more than the other two. Aside from being away at Ibrox, if they can beat both of their challengers for third place then they’ll probably get it.
That being said, if they lose to Hibs at the weekend then I would say their hopes for third are almost over, as they would at least be six points behind Hibs and potentially Aberden as well. Having already played Celtic is massive, especially if the other two don’t get a positive result against them.
As always, Jim Goodwin’s side will be tough to beat but will that be enough to make them the ‘best of the rest’?
Who is your favourite for third place in the Scottish Premiership?
