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Monday 21st March 2016

SPFL weekend in numbers

@splstats looks at some of the numbers behind the weekend games, with the focus on Inverness CT, Dundee United, Falkirk, Brechin and East Fife.

@splstats looks at some of the numbers behind the weekend games, with the focus on Inverness CT, Dundee United, Falkirk, Brechin and East Fife.

5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle boosted their top-six hopes with a 3-0 victory away to Ross County in Saturday’s Highland derby. The Caley Jags have now recorded five consecutive victories over their rivals at the Global Energy Stadium, making it the first time either side has won five derbies in a row away from home. County’s last derby success in Dingwall came on the final day of the 2012/13 season, when a goal from Andre Hainault denied Inverness a place in Europe. Saturday’s match was the 25th meeting of the sides in Dingwall, and it is Inverness who hold the advantage, having picked up 13 wins to County’s seven.

75 Dundee United moved to within seven points of Kilmarnock at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Sunday’s Dundee derby at Tannadice. McFly were at UK No 1 with ‘Five Colours in Her Hair’ the last time the Terrors came from two goals down in a derby – that was in April 2004, when a Billy Dodds double snatched a point at Tannadice. This time around, it was Billy McKay who was the two-goal hero – his strikes were his 74th and 75th goals in Scottish football, with 13 of those having come in a United strip. One curiosity in Sunday’s match came in the form of Dundee’s substitutions, with each of the first two substitutes going on to be replaced themselves. Kostadin Gadzhalov succumbed to injury after 16 minutes, and had to be replaced by Thomas Konrad. He lasted just 24 minutes himself, before he had to be replaced by Nicky Low. Then, when Scott Bain was sent off in the 52nd minute, Low was sacrificed for substitute goalkeeper David Mitchell.

10 Falkirk pulled off an incredible comeback in Friday night’s Ladbrokes Championship match, defeating Rangers 3-2 despite having trailed 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining. Peter Houston’s side moved six points clear of Hibernian in second place but still trail leaders Rangers by 11 points. The Bairns are now unbeaten in 10 home matches in all competitions, having picked up eight wins and two draws since losing to Hibernian in October. They have the joint second-best home league record in the SPFL, having picked up 36 points from their 15 fixtures at the Falkirk Stadium – only Rangers (43) have earned more.

4 Brechin City climbed off the foot of Ladbrokes League 1 after defeating Albion Rovers 2-1 at Glebe Park on Saturday. Brechin have recorded as many wins in their last four games as they managed in their opening 26 fixtures. At the end of February, Darren Dods’ side were marooned at the bottom of the table, seven points behind Forfar Athletic, and 10 behind Cowdenbeath. However, following four wins out of four in March, they have moved a point clear of Cowdenbeath and only trail Forfar on goal difference. They may struggle to keep their run going next week – they travel to East End Park to face runaway leaders Dunfermline.

6 East Fife moved three points clear at the top of Ladbrokes League 2 after thumping Stirling Albion 6-0 at Forthbank on Saturday. The Fifers recorded their biggest away victory in over a decade – their last six-goal success away from home came against Albion Rovers back in March 2005. Nathan Austin netted a double to take his tally to 21 league goals this season, making him just the third East Fife player this century to hit 20 goals in a league season. The others were Kenny Deuchar (21) in 2002/03 and Ryan Wallace (20) in 2011/12. It was Stirling’s biggest home defeat since they were beaten 6-0 by Falkirk in January 1998.

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