Top six or relegation battle? Examining the likely points totals

We take a look at the glass half-empty and half-full scenarios

Following the defeat to Hearts on Saturday, there appears to be something of a split between Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes and the fans.

Not, of course, of the nature of the one which saw Stuart Kettlewell resign from Motherwell this week but in the outlook for the season remaining.

After the loss at Tynecastle the manager repeatedly stressed that the focus was top six, while many supporters are gearing up for a relegation battle.

There’s a case to be made for either position.

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Read More:

• Hearts 3 Kilmarnock 2: Five talking points & reaction from Derek McInnes

• Killie must find transfer budget from somewhere - relegation is far more costly

• Analysis: Kilmarnock shoot themselves in the foot - again - in Hearts defeat

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To bolster McInnes’ case, Killie remain just five points off the top six and, given Aberdeen’s collapse, 10 off fourth place.

On the other hand, they currently sit in 11th which would mean a play-off, potentially against Ayr United, if the season ended today.

It’s very much a glass half-full or glass half-empty scenario - on the one hand the top six is five points away, on the other only seven separate Kilmarnock from automatic relegation.

Whether optimist or pessimist, fans are sure to be scouring the fixtures and totting up potential wins, draws and losses.

We’ve crunched the numbers and tried to give a realistic breakdown of what kind of return would be needed to finish 10th and avoid any threat of relegation, and what a top six berth would require.