3 – Motherwell defeated Aberdeen 3-0 at Fir Park to pick up their third victory in four Ladbrokes Premiership matches. In the last eight meetings between the sides, each team has picked up four wins, and on each occasion the losing team has failed to score. The results have come in a very neat alternating win-lose-win-lose pattern, with the sides taking it in turns to record a victory. Since the start of last season, the Dons have lost six matches by three or more goals, and three of those have been inflicted by Motherwell.
1 – St Mirren defeated Heart of Midlothian 2-0 at the Simple Digital Arena to increase their lead over Dundee at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table to three points. Saints had previously gone 13 matches without a victory in all competitions, picking up just two draws in that period. Oran Kearney earned his first victory in charge of the Buddies, who have now moved to within two points of 10th-placed Hamilton Academical. Saints are now unbeaten in their last five matches against Hearts in Paisley – their last defeat came in a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay in March 2012.
2 – Ross County closed the gap at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship to two points thanks to a 2-1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic at the Global Energy Stadium. The Staggies have lost just once in their last 14 matches in all competitions – that came a fortnight ago against fellow title challengers Dundee United. Billy Mckay has returned to goalscoring form this season after two tough years – his goal on Saturday took his tally for the season to 12, which is as many as he managed in the previous two seasons combined.
83 – Stenhousemuir moved into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup thanks to a stunning 4-2 victory over local rivals Falkirk. It was the Warriors’ first win over the Bairns at Ochilview in 83 years – their last success came in October 1935, when William Fraser scored the only goal. Stenhousemuir had suffered eight defeats and drawn five times in 13 meetings since, prior to Saturday’s famous victory. In all, the weekend win was just the fourth time Stenhousemuir had beaten Falkirk in a national league or cup competition.
4 – Elgin City were one of just two Ladbrokes League 2 sides to so far seal a place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup – the Black and Whites defeated Stirling University 4-0 at Forthbank to set up a trip to Easter Road. Saturday’s success was Elgin’s biggest away win in over two years – the last time they won by four or more goals on the road was also in the Scottish Cup, when they defeated another Lowland League side, Gala Fairydean Rovers by the same 4-0 scoreline in October 2016.
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