Matthew Elder previews the weekend football action in the SPFL on Friday, May 2, 2025 including the conclusion to the Championship title race, big matches for Hibs and Hearts, and the final Old Firm showdown of the season.
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00:00Hello, my name's Matthew Elder, the Deputy Sports Editor of The Scotsman, and here's a quick look ahead to the SPFL weekend action.
00:08Only one place to start, and that's in the Scottish Championship, where the title will be decided on Friday night.
00:13Leaders Falkirk ahead of Livingston on goal difference alone, eight goals better off.
00:18It means that John McGlynn's men will win the league if they defeat Hamilton at Falkirk Stadium on Friday night.
00:25The Bairns have led the way for most of the season, but have had a nervy ending to the campaign that has seen them win only one of their last five matches.
00:33They were 11 points ahead only five weeks ago, and they're now level-pegging with Livingston on 70 points, so they'll want to get over the line tonight and avoid any tag-of-bottle jobs.
00:44Livingston, they're looking for an instant return to the Premiership after their relegation last season.
00:49They host Partick Thistle, and they'll look to get the victory that will allow them to leapfrog Falkirk if they slip up against Hamilton.
00:58Partick Thistle, though, still have plenty to play for going to Ammon Vale.
01:02They need a victory to be sure of securing fourth place ahead of Wraith Rovers, who are two points behind them in the race for that final Premiership playoff spot.
01:11If Wraith were to beat Queen's Park, they would leapfrog Partick if they lost at Livingston.
01:14And Falkirk obviously hosting Hamilton, who are already relegated after they lost their appeal against a 15-point deduction for various rule breaches.
01:24So, yeah, lots at stake in the Scottish Championship on Friday evening.
01:29The Premiership, plenty of big games in the Premiership as well this weekend.
01:33Hibs hosting Dundee United, looking to bounce back from their defeat to Aberdeen last weekend.
01:39They're losing their unbeaten run in the process, so they look to get instantly back on the horse as they look to hold on to third place.
01:48Obviously, Aberdeen closed on to level points with Hibs last week in the race for third, but Hibs still hold on to that spot-on-goal difference.
01:56Aberdeen on Saturday are away to St Mirren, who are having another fine season.
02:00The Dons will hope to get some points in Paisley, though, to keep themselves in contention for third.
02:08In the bottom six on Saturday, big game for Hearts.
02:12They had their first match since the sacking of Neil Critchley.
02:16Interim head coach Liam Fox will be leading the side up to Dingwall for a match that they really need to win.
02:22Certainly need to avoid defeat if they're not wanting to be dragged into this relegation playoff battle.
02:26So, Dundee host Motherwell and St Johnstone are hosting Kilmarnock at McDermott Park.
02:33The Saints really need to win that one if they've got any hope of avoiding relegation.
02:38And then it's on to the Old Firm on Sunday.
02:41Rangers hosting Celtic at Ibrox.
02:43No such thing as a dead rubber Old Firm, but you have to say that with Celtic having won the title last week
02:51and going for a treble in the Scottish Cup, this is probably an Old Firm match that they won't want to lose.
02:59But certainly it will not impact their season at all if they were to go and lose that one.
03:03Rangers really do need to put on a performance for their fans and for Barry Ferguson, interim head coach,
03:08just to give them something to, some positivity around Ibrox and what has been a very, very difficult season for them.
03:15That one kicks off on Sunday at 12 o'clock.
03:18You can follow all the action from all those matches on scotsman.com.
03:24Thanks for watching and enjoy the weekend's football.