@splstats looks at some of the numbers behind the weekend's games, with the focus on St. Johnstone, Dundee United, St. Mirren, Dunfermline and East Fife.
6 – St Johnstone moved back into the top half of the Ladbrokes Premiership after a late Tam Scobbie goal handed them a 2-1 victory over Motherwell at McDiarmid Park. Saints have now won six consecutive home matches against Motherwell, their longest winning streak against the Steelmen in the 104-year history of the fixture. Motherwell’s last success in Perth was back in November 2012, when goals from Jamie Murphy (2) and Nicky Law handed them a 3-1 win. Saturday’s victory was the first win for Tommy Wright’s men since defeating Ross County on 5th December – they had drawn two and lost seven in all competitions since then.
4 – Dundee United picked up a 2-1 victory over Hearts courtesy of Paul Paton’s first goal since November 2014. United’s opener came from a player who had an even longer wait for a goal – Guy Demel’s last goal was for West Ham against Liverpool in April 2014. United had picked up just three wins in their opening 23 games of the season, but have now won four of their last seven to keep their slim hopes of survival alive. Saturday’s victory cut the gap on Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle to 11 points, but with just 12 fixtures remaining Mixu Paatelainen and his side may well run out of time.
3 – St Mirren defeated Dumbarton 1-0 in Paisley to move to within five points of the final Championship play-off spot. Alex Rae’s side have now won three consecutive matches at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, after having failed to win any of their first nine home league matches this season. In fact, the Buddies have already won more home league matches in 2016 than they did in the whole of 2015 – their only successes last year came against Hamilton in February and Kilmarnock in April. It is just the second time that Saints have won three home league games on the bounce since they moved to their new stadium in 2009 – the other such run came in April-May 2014.
11 – Dunfermline Athletic beat Brechin City 2-1 at Glebe Park to remain eight points clear at the top of League 1. The Pars are now unbeaten in 11 away league matches, with their only defeat this season coming against second-placed Peterhead back in August. his equals their best away unbeaten run in the league since the turn of the century – Jim McIntyre’s team also managed 11 games in 2011. You have to go back to 1994/95 for the last time the Pars went 12 undefeated on the road; that tally, and their club record of 13, will be firmly in the sights of Allan Johnston and his players in the coming weeks.
4 – The lead in League 2 changed hands for the eighth time this season, as East Fife defeated Stirling Albion 1-0 at Bayview to leapfrog Elgin City and move to the summit. Gary Naysmith’s men are the division’s form side, having picked up six wins and a draw in their last seven fixtures, climbing from sixth to first in the process. The Fifers have won each of their last four games in Methil, which is their longest streak since they put together five on the bounce between April and August 2011.
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