How are the fixtures for rounds 34-38 determined?
All clubs play 16 or 17 home games in the 33 fixture rounds before the split – clubs who had 16 home games before the split last season had 17 this term and vice versa. The most important thing is to try to ensure clubs finish the season having played 19 games at home and 19 away. This is not always possible, but we have managed to achieve this for 2023/24.
Will some clubs play certain opponents three times at home and once away?
Yes. Fixture reversals have been required in every season since the split was introduced back in 2000/01, when the top flight was increased from 10 clubs to 12.
Which games have been switched this season?
To achieve the 19/19 home/away balance, five pairings have been reversed in the post-split schedule for 2023/24. There are four switches in the top six – St Mirren will host Heart of Midlothian and Rangers for a third time, Celtic will host St Mirren for a third time and Dundee will be at home to Kilmarnock for a third occasion. In the bottom six, Aberdeen will play St Johnstone at Pittodrie for a third time.
How do you decide which fixtures are reversed?
We generally aim to minimise the number of changes and try to avoid reversing fixtures that have a key impact on the league title, the race for Europe, and the battle to avoid relegation, but the reality is that this is not always possible. We try to avoid reversing the big city derbies and may also consider what has happened with the post-split fixtures in previous years.
Are there any ‘golden rules’ regarding the post-split fixtures?
All clubs will play a minimum of two and a maximum of three home fixtures after the split. We try to ensure clubs finish the season home/away or away/home and that is again the case this season.
Why have the split at all?
In order to manage a division of 12 clubs, without having to accommodate 44 matches (which would be too many given the congested calendar) the split is essential. It also provides additional interest ahead of the split itself – two years ago we had an incredible seven clubs chasing three top-six places on fixture round 33 while last season we had three clubs going for two places. This time round Dundee pipped Motherwell and Hibernian to the final place after another dramatic Saturday afternoon.
The final five fixture rounds then involve teams playing each other to chase a common objective, be that the league title, European qualification – Scotland again has five places in UEFA competitions for 2024/25 with three clubs guaranteed to be involved in the league phase of the new-look tournaments – or to retain their top-flight status. No league structure is perfect but over the past two decades the split has become an established and exciting element of the cinch Premiership. We were interested to note that the Swiss Super League adopted our format for 2023/24.
Remind us of the post-split dates…
Following a break for the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park this weekend, the cinch Premiership resumes with fixture round 34 on the weekend of April 27/28. Fixture round 35 takes place on the weekend of May 4/5 and fixture round 36 will be played on the weekend of May 11/12. Fixture round 37 is scheduled for the midweek of May 14/15 and fixture round 38 is over the weekend of May 18/19.
What post-split matches have been chosen for live TV coverage?
Our exclusive broadcast partner Sky Sports has selected six post-split fixtures and will confirm their selection(s) for round 38 in due course. The matches selected for live broadcast are:
Sunday April 28: St Mirren v Rangers (Sky Sports, ko 12.30pm)
Sunday April 28: Dundee v Celtic (Sky Sports, ko 3.00pm)
Sunday May 5: Rangers v Kilmarnock (Sky Sports, ko 1.00pm)
Saturday May 11: Celtic v Rangers (Sky Sports, ko 12.30pm)
Tuesday May 14: Rangers v Dundee (Sky Sports, ko 7.30pm)
Wednesday May 15: Kilmarnock v Celtic (Sky Sports, ko 7.30pm)
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