4 – Dundee United defeated Aberdeen 2-1 at the CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice to seal 4th place in the William Hill Premiership. Jim Goodwin’s side trailed at half-time but goals from Declan Gallagher and Sam Dalby ensured they leapfrogged their opponents in the table and secured a European place. The competition United enter depends on the outcome of Saturday’s Scottish Cup final – if Celtic win then United will enter the Europa League, while if Aberdeen win United will enter the Conference League. Dundee United have won five of their last six home matches against Aberdeen – the exception was a 3-1 loss in March 2023 in Goodwin’s first game in charge. United have finished 4th in five of the last 10 seasons they have competed in the top flight – most recently in 2021/22.
10 – Dundee sealed their William Hill Premiership safety with a 2-0 victory over relegated St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. Two goals from Lyall Cameron ensured the Dee finished in 10th place and consigned Ross County to the play-offs for the third consecutive season. Cameron took his tally to 14 goals in all competitions – Sunday’s double was the fifth time this season he has scored two goals in a game. Dundee won three of their final five away matches to seal safety – they finished the season as the only club with more points earned away from home (21) than at home (20). The Dark Blues are unbeaten on their last five visits to Perth, including three consecutive victories.
4 – Livingston beat Partick Thistle 2-0 at the Home of the Set Fare Arena to cruise into the William Premiership play-off final. Jamie Brandon and Stevie May scored the goals which gave David Martindale’s side a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory. Livi have won six of their last seven matches and have kept clean sheets in four of them. The Lions are unbeaten in six Premiership play-off matches – they secured promotion via this route in 2017/18, beating Dundee United and Thistle on the way. They will face Ross County on Thursday and Monday for the final spot in next season’s William Hill Premiership – the sides met in the Scottish Cup in January, with Livi winning 3-2 in Dingwall.
0 – Airdrieonians avoided relegation from the William Hill Championship thanks to a 0-0 draw with Cove Rangers at the Albert Bartlett Stadium. Rhys McCabe’s side won the first leg 2-1 in Aberdeen and were able to safely see out Saturday’s second leg to seal a third straight season in the second tier. Incredibly, this was the Diamonds’ 10th appearance in the 2nd/3rd tier play-offs in the 20 years since they were introduced – they lost out in each of their first eight attempts, including six final defeats, but have won the last two.
7 – East Fife sealed promotion to William Hill League 1 thanks to a 1-1 draw with Annan Athletic at Galabank on Friday night. The Fifers led 3-2 from the first leg, and despite being pegged back early on, Adam Laaref’s goal just before half-time secured a 4-3 aggregate victory. This was the seventh promotion of Dick Campbell’s managerial career, at five different clubs – he achieved two with Brechin City (2001/02 & 2002/03), one with Partick Thistle (2005/06), one with Forfar Athletic (2009/10) and two with Arbroath (2016/17 & 2018/19). Campbell already held the record for the most promotions in the Scottish League – next up are John Lambie and Paul Hartley with five apiece. East Fife will return to the third tier after three seasons in William Hill League 2. This is the first time they have gained promotion via the play-offs – their only other play-off win in 2012/13 helped them avoid relegation.
1 – East Kilbride will make their debut in the SPFL next season after they beat Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 on aggregate in the William Hill League 2 play-off final. A goalless drew in Saturday’s second leg at New Dundas Park ensured the Lowland League champions became the sixth side to gain promotion to the SPFL since the play-offs were introduced in 2014. East Kilbride is the sixth most populated place in Scotland, and had been for a long time the largest town not to ever have a Scottish League club – as of next season that particular baton will be passed to another New Town, Glenrothes. Bonnyrigg become the first club to be promoted and relegated from the SPFL – their stay lasted three years.
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