Well, at least it's exciting

Do you reckon that the SPL is now so crap a league that no-one wants to win it?

That's the impression I'm starting to get from the Old Firm; they are not so much stumbling towards the finishing line as crawling on their hands and knees, eyes lolling, tongues hanging out - you get the picture.

Could Walter Smith's Rangers have blown it again? Last season they could at least explain away their collapse as a consequence of fixture congestion, but this year, having put themselves firmly in the driving seat with their derby win at the weekend, they have thrown away their advantage at Easter Road. Now Gordon Strachan knows that if his side can win at Hibs on Saturday (how on earth did they get two home games against the old firm after the split? Lucky bar-stewards) and see off the other half of Edinburgh next weekend, the title is probably theirs, bar a bit of a goal difference swing.

The sad thing is, though, that from a neutral's perspective, when trying to decide which team "deserves" to win the league, the sad answer is "neither". Quality has been at a premium in both old firm sides, more so than at any time since the turn of the millennium. Apart from the very first old firm derby of the season, Rangers' 4-2 win at Parkhead, there has been precious little to be excited out on the field, as both sides have tended to grind results out more often than not. Add in the complete abject failures in Europe this season, and even the most die-hard fans of the league-winning side will be hard pushed to call it a great campaign.

At least the monstrosity that is the SPL split is finally reaping dividends at the bottom of the league, at the expense of my hairline. Two games left, and four points separate the bottom five. As I suggested previously, Falkirk were bound to find form eventually, and voila. They can now guarantee safety by doing St. Mirren at home on Saturday, and if results go against them, the Buddies could be the condemned side. Stlll plenty of twists to come, though - Hamilton and Inverness face St. Mirren and Falkirk respectively on final day, and could really do with avoiding potential one-game shootouts to avoid the drop. Certainly I'm not sure I can cope with a home game against Falkirk a week Saturday, knowing that defeat would relegate us.

A slogan for the SPL this season - It's exciting, apart from the actual matches.

L.