18 – Scotland qualified for Euro 2024 with two games to spare following Spain’s 1-0 victory over Norway in Oslo on Sunday night. Four current cinch SPFL stars have been part of the success – Celtic’s Callum McGregor has started all six matches and scored the crucial opening goal against Georgia at Hampden Park in June, while Rangers duo Ryan Jack and John Souttar and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland have also made appearances. Former SPFL Premiership manager of the year Steve Clarke has led his side to five victories out of six in the campaign so far, with a total of 18 cinch SPFL players past and present making appearances for Scotland in the qualifying campaign. In total, these players and the manager have featured at 23 different cinch SPFL clubs across all four divisions of our league.
5 – Defending champions Hamilton Academical cruised into the quarter-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy after thumping East Kilbride 5-2 at K-Park. Kyle MacDonald netted twice, alongside goals from Joel Mumbongo and Connor Murray and an Aaron Arnott own goal. This was the third competitive meeting of these two Lanarkshire sides, and Accies have won all three. It was just the second time in the last 25 years that Accies have scored five or more goals in an away match – the other was a 5-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic in October 2007, when both James McArthur and James McCarthy were amongst the goalscorers.
3 – Greenock Morton defeated Kelty Hearts 4-1 at Cappielow to progress to the quarter-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Robbie Muirhead netted a hat-trick before Robbie Crawford rounded off a comfortable victory for Dougie Imrie’s side. It was the first treble of Muirhead’s career, and took his tally for the season to eight goals in all competitions. Morton secured their second victory over Kelty this season – they also defeated them 3-1 at New Central Park in the Viaplay Cup. This will be just the second time in the last nine years that Morton have reached the last eight of this competition – they also did so in 2021/22 before losing to Queen of the South.
4 – Arbroath defeated Queen of the South 2-1 to seal their spot in the last eight of the SPFL Trust Trophy. The Doonhamers took an early lead, but Jay Bird levelled things up just after half-time before Michael McKenna netted a last minute winner for Dick Campbell’s side. Arbroath are now unbeaten in their last five matches against Queen of the South in all competitions. Incredibly, this will be the first time in over a decade that the Red Lichties have reached the quarter-final of this competition, and just the fourth time ever. Their last appearance in the last eight came back in 2012/13, when they would ultimately be eliminated at the semi-final stage.
1 – Falkirk were the only side to eliminate opposition from a higher division in this weekend’s SPFL Trust Trophy ties, defeating Queen’s Park 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium. Jordan Allan scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, to send John McGlynn’s side into the last eight of the competition. It ended the Bairns’ run of five matches without a win over the Spiders – their last victory came at Brockville back in January 1983. Falkirk have won this competition four times but this will be their first quarter-final appearance since 2017/18.
