| Good news for Dundee United and their fans when the fixtures were published last night was that, contrary to expectation, one of the Tangerines’ main rivals for a UEFA Cup spot, Hibs, will be forced to travel to Tannadice for a third time this season.
That will be in United’s next game, taking place in front of the Setanta cameras at 2 pm on Sunday week.
There was bad news, too, for Arabs and, after that game, fans will have to wait almost an entire month for the next home fixture — a closing day clash with Celtic at 1.30 pm on Sunday, May 18.
In between, fans face a Monday night trip to the other outfit in the race for third, Motherwell, and a Saturday lunchtime trek to champions-elect Rangers at Ibrox.
That leaves just one of their final five games kicking off at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon, the May 3 New Firm derby against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
While he had great sympathy for the fans, United gaffer Craig Levein was remaining philosophical about the list and the chance to face one of their main rivals at home was a pleasant surprise.
“I thought we’d have Aberdeen as well as Celtic at home, but the one thing I’ve not done is look at where all the others have played already and maybe that was not possible,” he said.
“From our point of view, the different days and kick-off times are something we are all used to and they won’t be a problem, though I can see why fans could be annoyed.
“Given the way we’ve been playing, the fact most of the boys are fit, and we have only Garry Kenneth and Danny Swanson suspended, getting Hibs and Motherwell would seem a good thing.
“The one thing that could affect ourselves and Hibs is that if Motherwell do well in their games in hand — the whole picture could be very different then.”
Away from United’s games, the logic behind some of the scheduling is also hard to fathom.
With Rangers now 99% certain to be crowned champions, a home game for them on the final day seemed likely. Instead, they have been sent to Aberdeen for what is always potentially one of the most volatile fixtures on the card. And, with Celtic at Tannadice the same day, that means both halves of the Old Firm support will be travelling the same route.
Back at Tannadice, French kid Joel Thomas (20) has impressed during a trial and is likely to be invited back for pre-season training. He has experience with Bordeaux and Kaiserslautern.
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