Dundee vs Motherwell is ON despite inspection doubts as SPFL avoid split fixture chaos for now

Dundee vs Motherwell is on, meaning the SPFL have avoided major fixture headache...for now.

A pitch inspection was scheduled for 11am on Saturday, despite the Dark Blues claiming the pitch was playable on Thursday, although ref David Dickinson decided another was needed at 1 to give the game a chance. Pitch covers were hired from Celtic in a bid to get the crunch clash in the battle for the top six on. And that seems to have worked, although footage of the inspection and the state of the pitch have left many dubious as to whether the game should be going ahead.

A Dundee statement read: "Following the 1pm pitch inspection the match referee has passed the pitch and the match will kick-off at 3pm as expected. A massive thank you to club staff, contractors and wonderful volunteers who all played their part to make sure today’s match went ahead. We look forward to seeing a great Dundee support at The Scot Foam Stadium at 3pm.

Now Hampden beaks will be hoping the rain stays off to let Dundee's home encounter with Rangers be played this Wednesday after it too fell foul of the rain before the international. break. With no free slots before the split and SPFL desperate to have all 33 fixtures done and dusted by then, a midweek call off would leave them in a tight spot.

The Dee and the Steelmen are locked in a battle with Hibs to finish sixth but squeezing in another match may prove tricky. And Motherwell aren't exactly going to bend over backwards to help.

New CEO Brian Caldwell came out swinging on Friday. He dismissed the alternatives suggested should the game be called off as "nuts" and "ridiculous." They included trying again on Sunday or Monday, and even playing behind closed doors at Airdrie.

And the former St Mirren