Dundee United boss Peter Houston was cautious about his side’s prospects of pipping Hearts for third place despite watching his team beat Motherwell 4-0.
A hat-trick from Jon Daly moved the Tannadice side to five points behind Hearts with two games left to play.
United face Rangers and Hearts in their final matches knowing that two wins alongside a Celtic win at Tynecastle over Hearts on Wednesday will assure them of third spot and a place in next season’s Europa League.
“It’s going to be a mammoth task to try and catch Hearts,” Houston said after today’s win. “Now we have to go to Ibrox and try and win. Rangers are buzzing just now, but we’ve done it before.
“Even if we win at Ibrox on Tuesday, who’s to say Hearts can’t win at Tynecastle against Celtic?
“The perfect scenario for me would be is to beat Rangers and Hearts to get beat and it gives us a chance to get third place. But there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Turning to goal-scorer Daly Houston added: “He’s actually good at providing for David Goodwillie – although he never scored today.
“Today Jon was strong and got confidence from goals but I’m delighted with the whole team. All 11 of them did a good job. I think Motherwell have one eye on the Scottish Cup final, if I’m being honest.”
At Ibrox Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas was a surprise absentee in his side’s 4-0 defeat to Rangers with boss Jim Jefferies unable to offer any explanation for the decision.
“He wasn’t available for selection – that’s as much as I’m going to say on it,” the Hearts boss said. Asked if Zaliukas will be back for Wednesday’s visit of Celtic, Jefferies added: “No idea.”
WILL NEIL LENNON TURN TO YOUTH AT KILMARNOCK?
Getting the excuses in before the first whistle even blows. This man is as bad as any out there. Where’s his famed bullishness now?!?!
yep he’s a terrible manager. strange how so many of you ragers supporters are DESPERATE to see the back of him, i’d have thought since he is so useless you’d be happy for him to stay, but no, your all so fixated on getting rid of him you attempt to murder the man! you attempt to run him out of scotland, abuse him at every opportunity, kick him unconscious in the street, the hun sfa dish out extreme punishments to him at every opportunity on the orders of head sfa hun and walter myth cheerleader george peat. referees go on strike when lennon asks that celtic be treated fairly and that referees who have been caught lying and cheating be sacked. the compliant hun media try to sully him constantly and refuse to condemn his attempted murder, death threats and the racist bigoted hate campaign against him. and all that for someone you huns must surely want to stay at celtic at all costs because he so sh!te at his job!? LENNON IS STAYING! more players like commons, izzaguire, kayal & hooper on their way to paradise.