SPFL D-Day for Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone loanees

The Courier

01-05-2025

A place in the Premiership on the line.
Playoff football to be earned.
SPFL status hanging by a thread.
There is no shortage of drama on Friday and Saturday as the Championship, League One and League Two reach their conclusions – and loanees from Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone will be at the heart of the action.
Courier Sport sets the scene below.
Youngsters from both side of Tannadice Street could claim winners' medals on a nerve-shredding Friday finale in the Championship.
Dundee prospect Luke Graham, 21, has enjoyed a splendid campaign with the Bairns, turning in a host of performances belying his age – particularly during the injury absences of Tom Lang and Coll Donaldson.
He has played 22 games for Falkirk, spanning two stints on loan, and his displays earned him a Scotland U/21 debut against Ireland in March.
However, Graham has been an unused substitute in Falkirk's last two fixtures – defeats against Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle – and will hope to see some game time for the visit of Hamilton.
United winger Miller Thomson has started just one game since joining Falkirk in January and climbed from the bench a further seven times.
His impact, if any, is likely to again come from the bench.
Livingston approach their final game of the regular season level on 70 points with Falkirk.
However, the Lions' inferior goal difference means they must better the Bairns' result against relegated (pending their appeal against a points deduction) Accies.
Nevertheless, St Johnstone legend Stevie May is no stranger to upsetting the odds and lifting silverware.
May has contributed nine goals in 41 games to the Livi cause this season, albeit he has struggled to cement a starting berth recently due to the sensational form of Robbie Muirhead.
Based on his loan spell to date, it would be surprising to see Meshack called upon by David Martindale.
The Nigerian winger is yet to start a game for Livi and his six substitute appearances have totalled 92 minutes. Nevertheless, he is an option available to the Lions.
Rae, 24, endured a miserable first six months of his St Johnstone career after joining the club from Airdrie last summer.
However, he has found form in the second tier, helping Raith Rovers to a NINE-game unbeaten run. Rae has kept seven clean sheets in his 14 games for the Kirkcaldy club.
Raith are two points behind 4th place Partick Thistle going into Friday's finale. The Jags travel to title chasing Livingston.
If Thistle draw in West Lothian, a four-goal win for Raith at Hampden would see Barry Robson's men leapfrog them.
Charlie Dewar's loan with Alloa has been an unexpected triumph.
Not unexpected due to any lack of ability; but this is his first ever taste of senior football, and he made the move to Clackmannanshire at the age of just 17.
Yet, he has swiftly become a mainstay in Andy Graham's first-team, starting 11 games and helping the Wasps to just one defeat in their last six matches.
That run of form has seen Alloa roar into the League One playoff places at the perfect time. They occupy fourth place, one point ahead of Stenhousemuir and with a superior goal difference.
While Alloa travel to Kelty on the final day, the Warriors host relegated Dumbarton.
Providing the Wasps hold their nerve, Dewar's campaign will extend to a maiden experience of promotion playoffs.
A last-day survival shootout.
Jim Weir's Loons boast a two-point lead over rock-bottom Bonnyrigg Rose in League Two. With a substantially superior goal difference, a draw will see Forfar avoid the dreaded playoff and the prospect of dropping out of the SPFL.
Bonnyrigg travel to Stranraer praying for some last-day drama.
Saints midfielder Alex Ferguson joined Forfar at the end of February and has made 10 appearances, scoring one goal.
Also enjoying a formative scrap in the bottom tier, Dee defender Sweenie-Rowe has started seven times for the Loons.