It’s D Day for both sets of playoffs as today it will all be settled apart from the playoffs. For the promotion playoffs it is more about the maths than reality but it all leads to more excitement on the final day…
Match of the Day
Ayr United v East Fife
Ayr Chairman, Lachlan Cameron has slashed the prices to a fiver for this one as both teams go into it with something at stake. Ayr have only 1 point out of their last 15 and their 4-2 loss last weekend against Forfar was a travesty. East Fife need the points to stay in the relegation playoff spot and not automatically drop down into League Two. With the Honest Men at full strength the Fife side will have to find their best to beat them. Despite the excitement and the nerves I expect Ayr shall finally find the rub of the green and take all 3 points. It has been a tough run in and doesn’t give the Ayr faithful a lot of confidence for the playoffs but they ought to at least be in them.
Dunfermline Athletic v Rangers has all the air of an end of year parade as Champions play 2nd top with nothing to play for. Even the Pars fans will only be interested in who they will face in the playoff semi-final. Both teams won last weekend as Rangers beat Stranraer 3-0 and Dunfermline beat Arbroath. It would be a tragedy if Rangers didn’t end the year unbeaten in the league – wouldn’t it? I reckon they will though… Stranraer v Forfar Athletic sees the team last beaten by Rangers, Stranraer up against a Loons side that scalped Ayr United at home last weekend. Forfar have an outside chance of making the playoffs so this could be interesting as I do think that Stranraer will, once again, lose.
Brechin City v Stenhousemuir has a home side that beat East Fife last weekend up against a Stenny side that has a good chance of getting into the playoffs. That means for me that as the away side has more to play for they should win. Finally Airdrieonians v Arbroath sees a home side that beat Stenhousemuir last weekend playing a team that lost to Dunfermline Athletic. Gary Bollan has his team set up to be hard to beat and Paul Sheerin will be hoping for the luck that has deserted him all season to be found at the Shyberry. Unfortunately for Sheerin I reckon they may struggle and with East Fife losing may mean that they miss out because of their own efforts.
Fantasy nightmare
The permutations today are quite frightening and could swing all over the place as the 90 minutes unfolds. Some of the scenarios could include… Ayr United go down 1-0 to East Fife whilst Stenhousemuir slam 5 past Brechin. Stranraer lose by a similar amount to Forfar meaning Dunfermline, Stranraer and Stenhousemuir go on to the playoffs.
Or
Ayr United go down 8-0 to East Fife whilst Stenhousemuir draw with Brechin and Forfar beat Stranraer by a single goal meaning Dunfermline, Stranraer and Forfar, on goal difference go on to the playoffs.
Or… you get the picture?
