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Monday 9th December 2024

Weekend in numbers

Resident statto @splstats looks at some of the numbers from the weekend...

2 – Heart of Midlothian defeated Dundee 2-0 at Tynecastle to climb off the foot of the William Hill Premiership table. Two goals from Lawrence Shankland were enough to move Neil Critchley’s side into 11th place, a point ahead of rivals Hibernian. It was Shankland’s first double since February, when he netted twice in a 4-1 win over Airdrie in the Scottish Cup. The striker’s goals were his 50th and 51st in the league for the club in 90 appearances – he also scored 50 times in 61 league games for Ayr United. Shankland is the first player to reach a half-century of league goals for Hearts since John Colquhoun reached that tally in 1990. Colquhoun would go on to score 67 league goals in total for the capital club.

7 – Motherwell climbed to fifth in the William Hill Premiership thanks to a dramatic 1-0 victory over St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium. Tony Watt scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Stuart Kettlewell’s side all three points and take them to within two points of fourth-placed Dundee United. It was Watt’s first goal since returning to the Steelmen in the summer – the last time he scored for Motherwell was three years ago, in a 1-1 draw with Hibernian in December 2021. Motherwell’s last league draw was on the opening day of the season – since then they had won seven and lost seven in the league.

26 – Falkirk beat Raith Rovers 3-0 at the Falkirk Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the William Hill Championship. Alfredo Agyeman netted a double while Keelan Adams rounded off the victory to move John McGlynn’s side eight points clear of Livingston at the summit. The Bairns are now unbeaten in their last 26 home league matches – they have won 21 and drawn five since losing to Edinburgh City in April 2023. The victory ended a run of six without a win against Rovers – they had drawn three and lost three since their last victory back in April 2017.

3 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved to within eight points of safety in William Hill League 1 thanks to a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Montrose at Links Park. The Caley Jags trailed 2-0 after an hour but Luis Longstaff pulled one back before Paul Allan scored in the 88th and 94th minutes to seal an unlikely victory. This is the first time Inverness have come from two goals behind to win a league game since beating Celtic 3-2 at the Caledonian Stadium in December 2007. Inverness are now unbeaten in their last nine competitive meetings with Montrose stretching back almost 30 years – their last defeat was in April 1995.

6 – East Fife defeated Elgin City 2-1 at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium to leapfrog their opponents and go top of the William Hill League 2 table. Reis Peggie’s early opener was cancelled out by Mark Gallagher but a dramatic 97th-minute winner from Jess Norey handed Dick Campbell’s side all three points. The victory ended a run of six matches without a win for the Fifers in all competitions – they had drawn three and lost two of their last five league matches in addition to a Scottish Cup elimination by Banks O’Dee. East Fife have now won their last six home matches against Elgin in all competitions going back to October 2022.