In this week’s Talking Football it’s all about the play-offs as Courier sports writers Ian Roache, Neil Robertson and Eric Nicolson assess the chances of our local teams in their end of season bids for glory.
Q Third in the Championship. Is that a fair reflection on Dundee United’s season?
IR: Yes, I would say so. They say the league table doesn’t lie and that is true in United’s case. Their goal difference would back that up and they lost far too often on the road, with the two Dumbarton defeats standing out for me.
NR: I always thought pipping Hibs to first place was a huge ask for United but I believed second place was definitely up for grabs. The fact McKinnon’s men failed to secure it has to be regarded as a failure.
EN: Second, third or fourth would all have been fair enough. United haven’t been significantly better or worse than either Falkirk or Morton, really.
Q It’s a very quick turnaround into the play-offs. What sort of shape are United in for them?
IR: They looked fine on Saturday. They passed the ball about well and deserved to win by a couple of goals. They need to convert those golden chances they are getting but I think they will start to do so.
NR: I last saw United against Dumbarton at Tannadice when they were incredibly wasteful in front of goal. It is easier said than done but unless they start putting those opportunities away, then it is difficult seeing them negotiating a successful path through the play-offs.
EN: Falkirk didn’t exactly burst the finishing tape, Morton peaked a few months ago and whoever finishes second bottom of the Premiership (unless it is Inverness) will inevitably be on a downer. Psychologically, Morton should probably be the most relaxed of the four as they have already over-achieved. Falkirk have the ghosts of play-offs past haunting them, while we all know that United have huge pressure on them. The positive is that, for all the criticisms you can throw at this United side, lack of bottle isn’t one of them.
Q It doesn’t appear easy predicting what sort of Morton side United will be facing. On the one hand they have a terrible recent run of form, but on the other they’ve been able to rest up a few players in the last couple of weeks. Which is more significant?
IR: I think Morton have taken a huge gamble by making so many changes and the fact they have no wins in nine tells me that they have lost momentum. I would rather be in the Tangerines’ shoes, even though it will be a serious test of their fitness.
NR: Morton manager Jim Duffy has years of experience in the job and although his side’s form has slipped, there will be a freshness about the team while United have had no choice but to play mostly the same starting XI in their quest for second. On the flip side, Morton could be ring rusty while the Tangerines are battle hardened.We will know which by the end of this week.
EN: I don’t think being rested at this stage is an advantage. Tiredness for United will only be a factor if they get to play-off games five and six.
Q If United do get through this round, there will be another four games after it to get into the Premiership. A bit of perspective on the scale of this task?
IR: It is, quite frankly, too much to ask of any team. It is a flaw in a play-off system that otherwise works extremely well. At the very least, each stage should be a single leg rather than two, with the team finishing higher up in the table getting the home advantage.
NR: When McKinnon’s Raith side finished fourth last season, there was a realisation that their chances of battling all the way through the play-offs to win promotion were slim to say the least. Unfortunately for United, finishing third does not make their task any easier.
EN: Quite simply, a Championship team finishing third or fourth and getting promoted is one of the toughest tasks in Scottish football. The fact that people like us keep going on about it doesn’t help the psychology either!
Q This is new territory for most of the United players but Ray McKinnon has play-off previous as a manager doesn’t he?
IR: He has been there with Brechin City and Raith Rovers so that experience will help the team as a whole.
NR: The manager will need to use every advantage he has and he certainly knows all about play-off pitfalls.
EN: McKinnon will be hoping it is fourth time lucky. I’m not sure if it will be a big factor. Peter Houston is no stranger to the play-offs, either.
Q We’ll take it one round at a time then…..will United get through this one?
IR: I think they will and, more importantly, I believe they think they will. The mood in the United camp does seem genuinely upbeat, with the feeling that they are due some breaks in front of goal.
NR: I think it will be tight but United should edge through.
EN: United to over-turn a one-goal deficit after the first leg to progress.
Q Moving down a league, Raith play Brechin. Who do you fancy in this one?
IR: Raith may have ended up in the play-offs but I think it was important that they actually won their game against Ayr United on Saturday. That will have restored some confidence and they have to be favourites.
NR: Darren Dods’ Brechin have punched above their weight this season and the manager deserves enormous credit for getting them through to the play-offs despite a campaign blighted by injuries. Unfortunately, the Angus club are down to the bare bones once again and two games against the full-timers of Raith looks a bridge too far.
EN: Andy Jackson is the most lethal striker on either side so he could be a big factor in this one. It’s a free hit for Brechin and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock of the season if Raith lose. They are strong favourites, though. Mind you, Alloa will fancy their chances if it’s a Raith v Alloa final.
Q You wouldn’t think Forfar will be in a great place, mentally, for going into their play-off semi with Annan, would you?
IR: No, but manager Gary Bollan’s message was that they all still realise they have a great opportunity to still go up through the play-offs. I would back the Loons to get past Annan because I think they will want it more.
NR: Having led League Two for so long only to be pipped at the post by their Angus neighbours Arbroath was the bitterest of pills for Forfar to swallow. The momentum seems to be with Annan who have scored nine times in their last two games and Bollan has a huge task picking his players up for the play-offs.
EN: Let’s hope Gary Bollan has great powers of man-management. You have to go back to February to find a Forfar team playing with confidence. They may have finished second but they have to be second favourites purely because of the contrasting momentum of both teams.
Q If any team feels like it’s got nothing to lose it would be Montrose, you would think?
IR: What a fabulous achievement for the Gable Endies to even get there and I have to praise the fabulous 1,324 crowd crowd at Links Park on Saturday.
NR: Absolutely. Stewart Petrie has done a magnificent job since taking over and after securing his side’s League 2 safety this is a well-deserved bonus. However, knowing the manager, he will not settle for just taking part, he will will be looking for play-off success.
EN: The Montrose v Peterhead game is a 50/50 one. Montrose have the form but Peterhead have Rory McAllister. He’s a big game player and the best striker in League One in my eyes.
Q Arguably the game with the most serious consequences is Cowdenbeath’s pyramid play-off against East Kilbride. I’m sure the three of you are all experts on East Kilbride’s season so far……
IR: I know a couple of things about East Kilbride. One is that celebrity United fan Lorraine Kelly was brought up there and the other is that I ended up there once while trying to get to a game at Hamilton. Hopefully, Cowden won’t lose their way and this fine, traditional club will keep its league status. Mon the Blue Brazil!
NR: East Kilbride? Moving swiftly along . . . I was at Montrose a couple of seasons ago when they beat Brora to secure their SPFL status and saw first-hand just how much it meant to the fans. Hopefully, Cowdenbeath will have the same success the Gable Endies had.
EN: Gary Locke has made a big difference after the disastrous Liam Fox experiment. Given a couple more months he would have led Cowdenbeath to safety. Any side that takes care of the Highland League champions has to be respected but I’m confident Cowdenbeath will win this one.
