Top 6 run in

[matty_f]

Did an episode last night on the run in to the split and how we think we’ll do - interested to get other’s thoughts.
Our fixtures are Motherwell (h) Dundee Utd (a) Hearts (h) St Johnstone (a).

I think if we’ve got genuine ambitions of finishing third we pretty much need to win all of those but especially the derby.

​What are your predictions?

[Hibernian Verse]

For info, Hearts have;

Killie (A)
St Mirren (H)
Hibs (A)
Ross County (H)

[PHeffernan]

Did an episode last night on the run in to the split and how we think we’ll do - interested to get other’s thoughts.
Our fixtures are Motherwell (h) Dundee Utd (a) Hearts (h) St Johnstone (a).

I think if we’ve got genuine ambitions of finishing third we pretty much need to win all of those but especially the derby.

​What are your predictions?

We need to win all 4 games to have a chance of 3rd.
Hibs and Aberdeen have momentum and confidence. Hearts have a 4 point cushion.
Aberdeen still have Rangers to play so 3 wins is probably the best they can hope for.
Hearts drawing away at Kilmarnock on Saturday would set the cat among the pigeons if we beat Motherwell.

[matty_f]

We need to win all 4 games to have a chance of 3rd.
Hibs and Aberdeen have momentum and confidence. Hearts have a 4 point cushion.
Aberdeen still have Rangers to play so 3 wins is probably the best they can hope for.
Hearts drawing away at Kilmarnock on Saturday would set the cat among the pigeons if we beat Motherwell.
My gut feeling is Hearts will win their games so a derby win for us is absolutely crucial. A draw isn’t enough.

[Paulie Walnuts]

We need to win all 4 games to have a chance of 3rd.
Hibs and Aberdeen have momentum and confidence. Hearts have a 4 point cushion.
Aberdeen still have Rangers to play so 3 wins is probably the best they can hope for.
Hearts drawing away at Kilmarnock on Saturday would set the cat among the pigeons if we beat Motherwell.

4 wins would have us third at the split imo so I don’t think it’s a necessity for getting third by the end of the season.

2 wins and a draw against Hearts at absolute minimum for me. 3 wins is a good return, any more than that would be exceptional.

I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see Hearts drop points in any of their 4 fixtures. They’ll likely also only pick up 7 or so points. I wouldn’t even be all that surprised if we’re above them/level with them before the derby.

[Paul1642]

My gut feeling is Hearts will win their games so a derby win for us is absolutely crucial. A draw isn’t enough.

My gut feeing is the complete opposite. Every chance they will drop stupid points yet always seem to deliver on derby day. A draw wouldn’t be great but only a defeat would be a disaster.

I hold out some hope for Easter Road but we will loose the 4th derby at their ground.

[theonlywayisup]

For info, Hearts have;

Killie (A)
St Mirren (H)
Hibs (A)
Ross County (H)

On paper, for a team that has aspirations of splitting the Old Firm, Hertz will be expecting to win all four games. However, I didn't expect them to lose away to Aberdeen so badly.

For info, Aberdeen have:

St J (A)
Kilmarnock (H)
Ross County (A)
The Rangers (H)

Looking at the fixtures, if Hertz win all four before the split then I can't see us or Aberdeen overturning their lead. However, a draw or a defeat at Killie along with a Hibees win against Motherwell should make it an even more interesting Derby.

[Donegal Hibby]

Most Important thing first is to make the top 6 ( which I think we will) . I don't think 3rd spot is a realistic target , they have a 5 point margin on us and will get enough points from there remaining fixtures imo .

We are in the mix for 4th spot though and it's definitely achievable . Really need 3 points against Motherwell on Saturday which I think we will get though won't be easy , I think Motherwell have improved under Stuart kettlewell. Think we will finish 4th which I'd be happy enough with .
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/how-hearts-hibs-aberdeen-post-26541087

[Smartie]

My gut feeing is the complete opposite. Every chance they will drop stupid points yet always seem to deliver on derby day. A draw wouldn’t be great but only a defeat would be a disaster.

I hold out some hope for Easter Road but we will loose the 4th derby at their ground.

That’s my feeling too.

Hearts aren’t great and they’ve dropped points along the way. With Neilson starting to come under a bit of pressure they’re in the sort of situation where losing the first goal or taking time to break a team down could see the fans get on their team’s backs quite quickly.

That said - we’re not great either. It’s a cliche but like other cliche’s I think it’s true - we just need to take it one game at a time, not panic if (when) we drop points and see where it takes us.

Aberdeen sorting their defence out is a concern and they could be a threat with a late charge of ugly wins.

Tbh I think I’d settle for 4th. European football and something to show for a transitional season.

[PHeffernan]

My gut feeling is Hearts will win their games so a derby win for us is absolutely crucial. A draw isn’t enough.

Yeah you have to begin with the assumption that Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen will beat the lesser teams.
You have to assume Aberdeen will lose to Rangers and that leaves us needing to beat Hearts.
That would leave us 2 points behind Hearts and 2 points ahead of Aberdeen going into the split.

[Billy Whizz]

Hearts are in free fall😀, so I’m expecting Killie to take something from them on Saturday. We just need to take care of Motherwell and Dundee Utd, to be in a position to overtake them with a win in the Derby

[B.H.F.C]

Going in to Livingston, Rangers and Celtic 5 points behind Hearts and getting out of that run 5 points behind was a result for us. So I think we’re in a good position to chase them now.

As good a run as you could probably hope for going in to the split. I think we have a decent chance but, equally, we’re probably at a point where defeat at the weekend kills any hope.

[PHeffernan]

Going in to Livingston, Rangers and Celtic 5 points behind Hearts and getting out of that run 5 points behind was a result for us. So I think we’re in a good position to chase them now.

As good a run as you could probably hope for going in to the split. I think we have a decent chance but, equally, we’re probably at a point where defeat at the weekend kills any hope.

For me anything other than a win for us on Saturday kills the hope.

[SHODAN]

Motherwell (H): Win
Dundee Utd (A): Draw
Hearts (H): Loss
St Johnstone (A): Draw

5 points.

[JimBHibees]

Next two games are massive. Need minimum 4 out of them. Motherwell have picked up under Kettlewell and we are short with Elie out and Fish unlikely to be fit.

[JimBHibees]

Motherwell (H): Win
Dundee Utd (A): Draw
Hearts (H): Loss
Ross County (H): Win

7 points.

St Johnstone not Ross

[SHODAN]

St Johnstone not Ross

No idea where that came from. Fixed.

[Donegal Hibby]

St Johnstone not Ross
It's ' away' as well .
Motherwell ( H ) . Win .
Dundee Utd ( A ) . Win .
. Hertz . ( H ) . Win .
St Johnstone ( A ) Draw .

[Garymcl]

The next two games are massive I think with two wins which is definitely possible we’ll have a better idea of where we are I’m in the camp of one game at a time first up Motherwell on Saturday absolutely a must for three points :thumbsup: another really big turnout would help :flag:

[hibsforeurope]

I think we have to assume Hearts will win their non-derby games until the split. Both remaining derby games are key to see gets 3rd.

[Since452]

The derby is huge. We need to start winning them as they have a huge phycological edge over us when it comes to them. They'll be looking at the derby as a guaranteed three points probably more than their other games. Beat them and 3rd could really be on.

[marinello59]

The derby is huge. We need to start winning them as they have a huge phycological edge over us when it comes to them. They'll be looking at the derby as a guaranteed three points probably more than their other games. Beat them and 3rd could really be on.

I fanc us to do them at ER in the next Derby. Third place may well be decided at Tynecastle.

[Bristolhibby]

St Johnstone not Ross

Did we win the St Johnstone game though?

J

[where'stheslope]

The problems with these permutations, is that all the teams involved are sure to lose games they are expected to win!
This makes it difficult to predict any outcome for sure.
One bad referee or VAR decision for either team, could make or break their season?

[JimBHibees]

Did we win the St Johnstone game though?

J

Of course :greengrin

[Hibby70]

Motherwell (H): Win
Dundee Utd (A): Draw
Hearts (H): Loss
St Johnstone (A): Draw

4 points.

That's 5 points

[Hibees1973]

Must admit to being very skeptical about having top 4 ambitions.

I'm just looking at this Saturday.

3 points is crucial. If we don't get a win on Saturday even finishing top 6 would be in serious doubt.

[Pretty Boy]

10 points keeps us in the hunt for 3rd, possibly even 7 or 9 if 3 of them come against Hearts and Aberdeen drop points.

Our ambitions should be to take 12 though. I don't buy the St Johnstone 'bogey team' nonsense. Since we lost that SC final to them we have beat them 4 times and drawn once against only one defeat in the 6 games we have played against them. Dundee Utd fighting for their lives means nothing really, we are fighting for 3rd and group stage European football. Motherwell at home we should always be expecting 3 points and it's about time we showed up in a derby.

We have put ourselves in this position of playing catch up because of all the daft points we dropped earlier in the season. People dismissed so many of those games as unimportant but they have now left us with minimal margin for error. If we have ambitions of really kicking on next season we can't just be dismissing defeats to Ross County, St Johnstone, St Mirren and Livingston as 'one of those things'. It creates pressure now and ultimately they will be as big a factor on us missing out on 3rd as a draw in the next derby will be.

[B.H.F.C]

Must admit to being very skeptical about having top 4 ambitions.

I'm just looking at this Saturday.

3 points is crucial. If we don't get a win on Saturday even finishing top 6 would be in serious doubt.

I wouldn’t say top six would be in serious doubt. It would mean we were in a fight for it but, irrespective of our result on Saturday, we’ll still actually be in to top 6 after this weekend.

I’d be majorly disappointed if we didn’t, at least, make the top 6. In fact, I’ll be majorly disappointed if we don’t get a European place now given 5th is likely to get you that. We’ll gather enough points in these 4 games to be top 6 though.

[SHODAN]

That's 5 points

Right enough.

[Clarence]

Must admit to being very skeptical about having top 4 ambitions.

I'm just looking at this Saturday.

3 points is crucial. If we don't get a win on Saturday even finishing top 6 would be in serious doubt.

I’m normally a happy clapper but I’m with you. Le Streak (C’est chic) won’t go through the rest of the season without a few dodgy results.

[Nicho87]

We’ve still play hearts de Barcelona twice in total if we make the top 6.

That’s enough to overtake them in the league table

We’re far to respectful of that lot

3rd is there if we want it!

[Donegal Hibby]

I’m normally a happy clapper but I’m with you. Le Streak (C’est chic) won’t go through the rest of the season without a few dodgy results.
If dodgy results mean losing a few then I don't expect Hibernian manager ' LEE JOHNSON ' will go through the season without a few , specially if we make top 6 and have Celtic and sevco to play again though there won't be many managers that won't have a few going through the rest of the season either .

[Nutmegged]

As it stands:

3. Hearts PD29 Pts45
4. Aberdeen PD29 Pts41
5. Hibernian PD29 Pts40

HIBS FIXTURES:
Motherwell (h) - win
Dundee Utd (a) - draw
Hearts (h) - draw
St Johnstone (a) - win
PREDICTION: 8 points


ABERDEEN FIXTURES:
St Johnstone (a) - win
Kilmarnock (h) - win
Ross County (a) - win
The Rangers (h) - lose
PREDICTION: 9 points



HEARTS FIXTURES
Kilmarnock (a) - draw
St Mirren (h) - win
Hibernian (a) - draw
Ross County (h) - win
PREDICTION: 8 points


Potential standing going into the Split.

3. Hearts PD33 Pts53
4. Aberdeen PD33 Pts50
5. Hibernian PD33 Pts48

These are obviously just predictions and if I was this good at predicting results I'd be cleaning out the bookies every week but I think it is obvious that if we have any genuine ambition to finish 3rd we're going to have to take four points at least from the two remaining Edinburgh derbies, that means we're either going to have to beat them at Easter Road or Tynecastle and if we don't win the next game then I think it just puts so much pressure onto us going into the last game with them.