Resident statto @SPLstats picks out some key facts and figures to summarise the weekend's SPFL action with particular focus on Celtic, Inverness CT, Hibs, Brechin City and Forfar.
23 Celtic moved to the top of the Premiership table after defeating last year’s runners-up Aberdeen 4-1 at Celtic Park. The Bhoys have now won an incredible 23 consecutive league matches against Aberdeen at Parkhead, racking up an aggregate score of 66-17 in the process. The Dons’ last league success at Parkhead was way back in October 2004, when early strikes from Darren Mackie and Fernando Pasquinelli, and a stoppage-time winner from John Stewart, handed them a 3-2 victory. Aberdeen have won two Scottish Cup matches at Celtic Park since then (in 2008 and 2014), but have failed to pick up even a single point in the league.
100 Derek Lyle scored his 100th goal in all competitions for Queen of the South against Dunfermline on Saturday. Lyle first joined the Doonhamers on loan from Partick Thistle in 2002, before signing on a permanent deal later in the year. He left Palmerston four years later and spent time at Dundee, Accies, Morton and Cowdenbeath before returning in 2012.
4 Hibernian moved two points clear at the top of the Championship after defeating Morton 4-0 at Easter Road on Saturday. Neil Lennon’s side have started the league season with four wins out of four for the first time since 1974/75, when they went on to finish second in the top flight. The Hibees have lost just one of their last 22 league matches at Easter Road – that reverse was inflicted by Morton back in February. Jason Cummings found the net again on Saturday, taking his tally to six goals in four league fixtures – the 21-year-old striker has now scored in five straight league matches when you include the final game of last season.
7 Brechin City continued their unbeaten start to the League 1 season with a 2-1 victory away to East Fife on Saturday. Darren Dods and his side have picked up three wins and a draw from their opening fixtures to keep themselves within touching distance of leaders Alloa Athletic. City have witnessed an incredible turnaround in form since March – they picked up just four wins in 26 league matches between August and February last season, but have managed 11 wins out of 14 since then. Brechin have recorded seven consecutive wins over East Fife – the last time they dropped points against the Fifers was a 2-2 draw in January 2013.
4 Forfar Athletic continued their 100% start to the League 2 season with a 3-2 victory over Elgin City at Station Park. The Loons have started the season with four wins out of four for the first time since the 2004/05 third tier season – back then they went on to slump to fifth place by the end of the season. Forfar have been the division’s entertainers so far this season – their matches have averaged five goals per game, and all four of their victories have come by a single-goal margin (3-2, 4-3, 2-1, 3-2).
1 Inverness CT picked up their first points of the season after leaving it late to defeat St Johnstone 2-1 at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. Richie Foran’s side had suffered four consecutive defeats, but managed to avoid losing five in a row for the first time since the 2008/09 campaign which eventually ended in relegation. The Caley Jags have an impressive home record against Saints – they have won five of their last six against St Johnstone in Inverness, and have suffered just one defeat in the last eight.
