IT’S HIBS NUMBERS THAT DON’T ADD UP

What’s generally been a season of gloom continued in further depression this week with news of Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final ticket sales.

At the national stadium tomorrow, Dundee United fans will be outnumbered by around five to one as an army of Hibs supporters, numbering somewhere between 25,000-30,000, descends on Glasgow.

By kick-off, United expect to have sold no more than 6000 of the 9000 briefs allocated to them by the SFA.

That, though, is not the statistic that has led to the latest bout of Touchline depression.

Without wishing to hurt feelings in the Tannadice dressing-room, that the Tangerines should struggle to shift their tickets is not surprising.

Cups aside, the team has struggled all season. While the effort of the players in recent games has been commendable, they've still been leaking goals and losing matches.

The team is bottom of the SPL and, to put it bluntly, has not been worth watching in a lot of games.

Add to that the recent and extremely painful memory of the 7-1 CIS Cup semi thrashing in February — to condemn Tangerines fans for staying away would go beyond the ridiculous.

United believe, and so do I for that matter, they have a fighting chance of reaching the final.

Even so, their record this season makes it understandable that many of the faithful should have doubt about the chances of success.

Taking into account tickets, travel and refreshment, you are talking about a £40-£50 day-out minimum, so you can't blame the stay-away fans.

What is depressing is the size of the Hibees support. Nothing scientific here, but, by rule of thumb, it's a fair bet, that Old Firm apart, the Easter Road men carry the biggest support to Hampden occasions.

They also tend to be a vociferous support and make these big games memorable, whether or not the action on the pitch lives up to expectations.

What is disappointing, though, is that more of them do not regularly turn up at Easter Road.

Last Saturday, when their team edged out United in the league, around 10,000 home fans were there. By the standards of most provincial clubs, that is not a bad turnout.

When you take into account that the best part of an additional 20,000 are going to be there tomorrow, it takes the shine off the league attendances.

And the question has to be asked — why hasn't there been greater numbers turning out at Easter Road during this exciting campaign?

As well as being in the last four of the main cup, the team are riding high in third place in the SPL.

On top of that, Tony Mowbray's young guns are playing the most attractive brand of football in Scotland right now — bar none.

If it takes the lure of a semi-final to get the majority of their support to come out, what hope is there for the rest of the country's teams?

For those in the United camp heading through to be outnumbered — don't despair.

Take my tip and get along to the bookies to put a fiver on you being the ones who are making all the noise come the end of 90 minutes.

Predictions

Tennent's Scottish Cup — DUNDEE UNITED to beat Hibs, CELTIC to get the better of Hearts.

SPL — Aberdeen to beat visiting Motherwell, hosts Dundee edging home against Dunfermline, and Kilmarnock and INVERNESS CT sharing the spoils.