Friday, October 28, 2011

SPL Opta Facts - 29 October


Aberdeen v Rangers

Rangers have won their last five meetings with Aberdeen.

The Gers have only lost more often at Celtic (14 times) than at Aberdeen in the SPL (five).

Rangers have won on their last two league visits to Pittodrie, but had won only one of nine prior to this.

Only once before have Rangers won on three consecutive SPL trips to Pittodrie, between November 2000 and January 2002.

Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last four at home in the SPL, winning three.

The Dons have not won three in a row at home in the league since January 2009.

Rangers have won their last 13 league away games, conceding just one goal in this run in total.

Previously no side has ever conceded fewer than four goals in 13 consecutive league away games.

Steven Naismith has bagged five goals on the road in the SPL this season, more than any other player.

Celtic v Hibernian

Hibs have failed to score in their last five SPL games at home to Celtic, but have scored on their last six league visits to Parkhead.

The Bhoys have won their last six games against Hibernian.

Celtic have never failed to score at home to Hibernian in the SPL.

Antony Stokes has scored four goals in four appearances against his former club Hibs.

The Bhoys have won only four of their last eight league games.

At home Celtic have won 14 of their last 15 in the league.

Hibernian have lost two of their last seven league games (two wins, three draws).

Only four teams have picked up more points on the road in the league this season than Hibernian (seven).

Last time out Hibernian found the net in a league match in which Garry O'Connor didn't score for the first time this season.

Dunfermline v Dundee United

There have been just seven goals in the last seven meetings between United and the Pars in all competitions.

United have won just one of their last 13 league meetings with Dunfermline in the SPL.

Despite 14 trips, Dunfermline are one of just two teams that Dundee United have never beaten on the road in the SPL (along with Celtic).

Dundee United have scored just one goal in their last six league games against the Pars.

United's last win at Dunfermline came in January 1997.

Dunfermline have taken just two points from their last seven league games.

Dundee United have conceded at least three goals in each of their last four league away games.

The Pars have the poorest home record in the SPL this season, with just three points to their name.

Hearts v Kilmarnock

The Jambos have won just one of their last five league clashes with Killie, and none of their last three.

Killie have won on their last two league trips to Tynecastle, keeping a clean sheet in each match.

Just one of the last 16 SPL meetings between the sides at Hearts has ended in a draw (10 home wins, five away wins).

Only Rangers (14) have picked up more points at home this season than Hearts (12).

The Jambos have conceded the joint-fewest league goals at home in the SPL this season (three, with Celtic).

Killie are without a win in their last 10 on the road in the league, failing to score in their last three.

Only Garry O'Connor (seven) and Craig Naismith (nine) have scored more SPL goals this season than Paul Heffernan (six).

Inverness CT v Motherwell

Caley Thistle have won only one of their last 11 league meetings with Motherwell, losing eight.

The Steelmen have won on seven of their last nine visits to Inverness in the league, losing the other two.

There has not been a single card in the last two league meetings between Caley Thistle and Motherwell at Inverness, and just one in each of the two before this.

Only Steven Naismith has scored more away goals in the SPL this season than Michael Higdon (four).

Despite being bottom of the table, eight of Inverness' nine points this season have come in their last four games at home (two wins, two draws).

Caley Thistle are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet in the SPL this season.

23 points from 12 games is Motherwell's best-ever start to an SPL campaign.

Only two non-Old Firm sides have ever had more points after 12 SPL games than Motherwell: Hearts (32 in 05/06) and Hibernian (29 in 00/01 and 25 in 05/06).

The Steelmen have taken maximum points in four of their last five games away from home in the league.

St Johnstone v St Mirren

The last three SPL clashes between St Johnstone and St Mirren have ended goalless.

This is the only fixture that has ever ended goalless for three matches in a row in the SPL.

St Mirren have only won one of their 13 league clashes with St Johnstone in the SPL.

St Johnstone have lost only one of their last nine SPL games, winning four of the last six.

St Johnstone have kept five clean sheets in their last seven SPL matches.

For their last 10 league games, St Mirren have alternated a defeat with either a draw or a win. For this to continue, they must avoid a loss here.