Motherwell Vs Rangers - The Scottish Play-Offs - How Does It Work

[Lynn_M]

The play-offs to the Scottish Premier League has received a lot more coverage than usual this season, due largely to Rangers' involvement with it. They seem to have played a lot of games in it, whilst in England, the two most successful teams only play three fixtures.

Are those Scottish teams playing in some sort-of mini league, in order to decide who ascends to the SPL?

[Fibonacci]

The champions are promoted to the Premiership and clubs in 2nd, 3rd and 4th enter two-legged play-offs. The winner of 4th v 3rd plays 2nd, with the winner of that tie up against the club finishing 11th in the Premiership.
Rangers finished 3rd and first beat 4th placed Queen of The South and then 2nd placed Hibernian and tonight are playing the first leg of the final deciding match against Motherwell who finished in 11th position in the SPL.

[Sam1960]

St Mirren (automatic relegation from premiership to championship as losers)
Hearts (automatic promotion to premiership from championship as winners)
Rangers play Hibs home and away. The winner earns the right to play Motherwell home and away. If Rangers win they get promoted, if Motherwell win they stay in the premiership and Rangers stay in the Championship.

[Lynn_M]

So Rangers - whether or not they're successful against Motherwell over two legs - will have played SIX fixtures since the league programme concluded?

[Sam1960]

correct
home & away Queen of the South
home & away Hibs
home & away Motherwell
all very complicated

[Lynn_M]

Understood. The other clubs in the play-off only played two games each! Who'd have thought that Rangers would go head to head with Motherwell as underdogs!

[Sam1960]

And lose 3-1

Still only half time, as they say ..... !!!!