SPL Today: Three At Three

Dundee United v Inverness

I wrote a few weeks - displaying a prescience for which I am not famed - that Dundee United and Peter Houston deserved credit for the way they’d kept plugging away in a difficult season.

And how.

With Kilmarnock beating Motherwell in the early kick off, United lie fifth with two games in hand.

More impressive has been their resilience. 10 of their last 13 points have come with goals scored in the last quarter of the game. They keep going.

Decent players as well and no little goal threat.

All of which probably means they’ll get beaten today.

I’ve still backed them for the win though.

Inverness go into this one somewhat annoyed at the way events transpired as they lost to Celtic in midweek.

I’ve not seen the decision that led to the second Celtic goal. But, free kick or not, you still have to defend it. Inverness didn’t and paid the priced.

It’s also not great to take a late first half lead and then surrender it before the break. Inverness were the architects of their own downfall.

Home win.

Hamilton v St Johnstone

Hamilton are not giving up on the struggle for survival.

But nor are they looking capable of doing much about it.

Still without a win in 2011, adrift at the bottom and having played a game more than St Mirren. It looks like relegation.

St Johnstone have slipped into the bottom half at the wrong time and their hope of a top six place have been dashed.

Goals. That’s been a major issue with these two teams. I can’t see that changing today.

“A must win game for Hamilton.”

They all are. But they don’t win them. And that’s why they look so desperately doomed.

I’ll back them for the point today though.

Hearts v St Mirren

As often happens to the best of the rest pace setters, Hearts look in danger of running out of fizz.

With no cup run to motivate them, with third place all but secured and second place out of reach their trapped in a no-man’s land where the season can already be declared a success and not much left to play for.

All of which might explain their recent run. Three games played, no goals scored and only one point won.

But St Mirren, who gave us a glaring example of their failings with their exit from the cup over two games this week, might represent a good chance for Hearts to get back on track.

Goals again though. Hearts have nine SPL goals in 2011. St Mirren have seven. Not prolific.

A tight home win.