It’s time to check your six

Sports Direct Premiership action returned to Solitude yesterday, with Cliftonville’s 4-1 victory over Coleraine maintaining the team’s fine form.

As focus immediately shifts to next Saturday’s home clash against Glenavon, cliftonvillefc.net takes a timely opportunity to remind supporters of the various permutations at play in the race for a top-half finish.

The division’s two-way split will take effect following the 33rd round of fixtures on Saturday, March 23, when sides in the respective halves of the table will compete with one another for the Gibson Cup, European qualification and the fight against relegation.

With three teams currently confirmed for top six berths, the Reds will have away fixtures against both Linfield and Larne, with the location of the other three matches to be determined by the final participants, while the specific order of fixtures will be confirmed in due course.

The three remaining slots in the the top half of the table could conceivably be filled by eight potential candidates, with only bottom side Newry City mathematically out of the equation courtesy of their 1-1 draw with Ballymena United on Friday night.

To keep track of all opponents, home dates and away days for Cliftonville’s post-split schedule, simply click here for a periodically updated guide reflective of the latest standings.

Fans are, however, advised that the fixtures template remains subject to ratification and indeed amendment at the discretion of the NI Football League who, as has been the case in recent seasons, may resolve to release the schedule earlier than advertised to assist Clubs’ preparations.