Former Hibs striker Cowan is no fan of SPL split but says an intriguing battle is upon us

Published on Tuesday 8 March 2011 11:43

Like the vast majority of Scottish football supporters, Steve Cowan is no fan of the SPL "split" which is once again looming large.

But today the former Hibs star admitted the battle for a top six finish is going to hold the attention of everyone, with no fewer than six teams embroiled in a race which looks like it won't be settled until the SPL table is split in two following 33 matches.

Only six points separate Dundee United in fifth place from Aberdeen in tenth, with Motherwell, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hibs and St Johnstone sandwiched in between and all harbouring hopes that they can squeeze into the upper reaches.

However, with Celtic and Rangers battling it out for the title, Hearts all but certain to finish third and Kilmarnock looking assured of fourth spot, it's clear to everyone that six into two won't go as those half-dozen clubs chase the final two places.

Although United and Motherwell lie in pole position at the moment, the two sides locked on 37 points, Cowan believes all six clubs have varying degrees of optimism although Aberdeen's hopes faded again as they went down 3-1 to Peter Houston's side at Tannadice on Monday night.

Cowan, who also played for Motherwell and the Dons, said: "Personally I am not a fan of the split but with only a few matches to go before it comes into force and so few points separating so many clubs it makes for an interesting wee spell.

"I think each of the teams involved can make a case for themselves although, obviously, some have a stronger claim than others.

"Hearts are already there and Kilmarnock look as if they have also done it although United will now be thinking that with their games in hand they can catch them. But the remaining two places certainly look as if they are still up for grabs. If any team can do what Hibs have managed over the last few weeks then they'd have every right to think they can make it.

"I think most of the sides are capable of putting a winning run together, it depends on who has the courage and conviction to see it through."

United strengthened their claim by beating Aberdeen and with three games in hand over most of their opponents, the Tayside outfit are strong favourites to finish in the top half although, as Cowan pointed out, they face a punishing schedule.

The visit of Craig Brown's Aberdeen was the first of a hectic run of five games in just 12 days, a programme which continues with home games against Hamilton, Hearts and Caley with a Scottish Cup quarter-final at home to Motherwell also taking place this weekend.

United follow that with an equally testing calendar with Rangers and Motherwell away, St Johnstone at home and a further clash with the Ibrox outfit, a date for which has still to be arranged.

Cowan believes the matches between the various protagonists could go a long way to settling matters, recalling how Hibs boss Colin Calderwood had observed his side's 1-1 draw with St Johnstone at the weekend had probably been greeted with delight by the other clubs involved.

He said: "All the various teams can do is look after their own affairs and seek to pick up as many points as they can and if they can win the games against the others involved then it will undoubtedly help them greatly. But they'll also be looking at results from elsewhere and working out how they impact on their own situation.

"United have pulled themselves up there and having more games to play than any of the others they appear to be firm favourites and in with a chance of overhauling Kilmarnock if they keep winning. But they've got quite an amount of matches to play in such a short space of time and that might just come back to haunt them.

"Motherwell have sixth place at the moment but I'm not sure they have the consistency to stay there, beating Celtic and then losing so heavily to Caley."

If that proves to be the case then it would leave Terry Butcher's side, Hibs, Saints and Aberdeen scrapping for the final place. And Cowan believes Inverness, four points ahead of both Hibs and St Johstone (with a game in hand) and five in front of the Dons, hold the upper hand.

He said: "I think that in Adam Rooney and Richie Foran Caley have the players with the goals in them to see them over the line.

"Scott Vernon has had a decent season at Aberdeen and scored a few goals but just recently they've dried up a bit for the Dons."

St Johnstone have also struggled to find the net recently, the own goal scored by Hibs' Richie Towell the first they had scored in five matches, Derek McInnes' players having managed just 18 in their 28 SPL matches so far, a statistic which, according to Cowan, could prove significant.

Unfortunately, as much as he would like to see Hibs sneak into the top half, Cowan believes Calderwood's side perhaps needed to hit their winning streak slightly earlier than they did although, he insisted, he's not entirely ruling them out. The former striker, pictured left in his playing days, said: "I'd imagine Hibs are in a position a lot of people wouldn't have thought possible only a month or so ago but I've seen them over the past couple of weeks, against St Johnstone and Caley, and they look more solid, a bit more aggressive in the middle of the park.

"The likes of Martin Scott and Victor Palsson have done a good job in there but they need to get a creative midfielder like Liam Miller going and to get a few goals from elsewhere in the team. It's quite incredible to think that Derek Riordan has scored ten and the next highest only has three.

"I was quite impressed by what I saw of Ricardo Vaz Te at McDiarmid Park, he gives them something different and I am sure Colin will be saying to his team to try to get a minimum of ten points from their last four games and then see where it takes them."

Cowan admitted a further ten points to add to the 16 taken from their last six matches looks like a tall order given Hibs' final fixtures involve a trip to Celtic Park and the third Edinburgh derby of the season, but he insisted: "I think Hibs will have a better chance against Hearts now and in this League every team is capable of beating any other on their day. Kilmarnock have picked up two wins at Tynecastle, for example, Motherwell beat Celtic and Rangers struggled by St Mirren last weekend.

"It'll be tough and, as I have said, they've maybe left it a wee bit too late, but they have every incentive."

"If any team can do what Hibs have managed over the last few weeks then they'd have every right to think they can make it

steve cowan