Weekend in Numbers

19 – Kilmarnock boosted their William Hill Premiership survival hopes by defeating Heart of Midlothian 1-0 at the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park. Michael Schjonning-Larsen scored the only goal of the game as Neil McCann’s side moved nine points clear of bottom club Livingston, and level on points with 10th-placed St Mirren. Killie have won three of their last seven William Hill Premiership matches, having previously won just two of their first 23 games. This was Derek McInnes’ first defeat at Rugby Park as an away manager since February 2010, when his St Johnstone side were beaten 3-2 – since then McInnes had been unbeaten in 19 visits with Saints, Aberdeen and Hearts.

18 – Celtic defeated Motherwell 3-1 at Celtic Park to close the gap at the top of the William Hill Premiership to just two points. A double from Yang Hyun-jun and a goal from Tomas Cvancara helped Martin O’Neill’s side come from behind to secure a crucial victory. Yang is now the leading South Korean goalscorer in Scottish top-flight history – he has scored 12 times, one more than former teammate Oh Hyeon-Gu. The Hoops are unbeaten in their last 18 home matches against the Steelmen – Motherwell’s last win in the East End of Glasgow was a 2-1 success back in December 2015.

3 – Dunfermline beat Raith Rovers 3-0 at KDM Group East End Park to strengthen their grip on a top-four spot in the William Hill Championship. Goals from Callumn Morrison, Chris Kane and Andrew Tod moved Neil Lennon’s side four points clear of fifth-placed Ayr United in the race for the final play-off spot. The Pars have recorded three consecutive victories over their Fife rivals for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign. Dunfermline have won each of their last three matches by a 3-0 scoreline – the last time they recorded three straight wins by a margin of three goals or more was back at the start of the 2015/16 season. On that occasion they actually managed four in a row - they beat Arbroath 4-1 in the Challenge Cup and Cowdenbeath 5-1 in the League Cup before beating Brechin City 6-1 and Cowdenbeath (again) 7-1 in the league.

12 – Stenhousemuir moved level on points at the top of William Hill League 1 thanks to a 1-0 victory over Peterhead at Balmoor. Ross Taylor’s 89th-minute winner was part of a dramatic late four-point swing in the title race, with leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Cove Rangers goalkeeper Balint Demus. The Warriors remain behind the Caley Jags on goal difference, and have played a game more, but the sides have still to meet again at Ochilview next month. Gary Naysmith’s side are unbeaten in six matches against the Blue Toon, winning four and drawing two. The Warriors are now unbeaten in their last 12 league games, winning seven and drawing five, and have kept eight clean sheets in those matches.

3 – Annan Athletic defeated Edinburgh City 3-0 at Galabank to keep themselves in contention for a top-four finish in William Hill League 2. Tommy Goss scored a hat-trick to keep Willie Gibson’s side within two points of fourth-placed Stranraer, albeit having played a game more. This was Goss’ first hat-trick since stepping up to the SPFL from the South of Scotland League in 2020 – he had previously scored two goals in a game on 11 separate occasions without ever netting a treble. These goals moved him to 52 league goals for the Galabankies – he is just the second Annan player to reach a half century since they joined the SFL in 2008, the other is Aidan Smith, who has 71 goals.