Resident statto @splstats looks at some of the key numbers behind the weekend games in the SPFL and Betfred Cup.
60 – Celtic made it to a second consecutive Betfred Cup final after a thrilling 4-2 semi-final victory over Hibernian at Hampden. The Bhoys will be hoping to record back-to-back League Cup titles for the first time since 1999/00 and 2000/01. Brendan Rodgers’ side have now gone 60 domestic games without defeat and are closing in on the Scottish record of 62 matches, which Celtic themselves set between 1915 and 1917. It will be the Hoops’ 32nd League Cup final - they have 16 wins and 15 defeats in their previous 31.
12 – Motherwell defeated Rangers 2-0 at Hampden to set up a Betfred Cup final clash with Celtic on November 26. Louis Moult was the Motherwell hero on Sunday, scoring both goals to take his tally for the season to 10. It will be the Steelmen’s first League Cup final in over 12 years – they last made it to this stage back in 2004/05 when they lost 5-1 to Rangers. Motherwell’s last appearance in either major cup final was in 2010/11, when they were beaten 3-0 by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. Motherwell have only ever won the League Cup once, back in 1949/50, and their last major trophy was the Scottish Cup in 1990/91.
3 – Dunfermline Athletic climbed back up to second place in the Ladbrokes Championship after beating Livingston 3-1 on Saturday. The Pars have won seven of their eight matches at East End Park this season – their only blip was a 3-1 defeat to Dundee United at the end of September. Allan Johnston’s side have been in brilliant goalscoring form this season – Saturday was the ninth time in 18 matches that they have scored three or more goals, including six out of eight at East End Park.
7 – Arbroath climbed to third in Ladbrokes League 1 after thumping Airdrieonians 7-1 at Gayfield on Saturday. It was the first time for almost 12 years the Red Lichties scored seven goals in a match – the last time they did so was back in November 2005, when Alan Brazil and Pat Clarke both scored hat-tricks in a 7-2 win over East Stirlingshire. That match was in the fourth tier and you have to go much further back to find the last time Arbroath scored seven in the third tier or above. Dick Campbell hadn’t even made his playing debut the last time they did so – it was in March 1973 when they beat Hamilton Accies 7-3 in the old Second Division.
5 – Stirling Albion extended their lead at the top of Ladbrokes League 2 to five points after beating Cowdenbeath 3-0 at Central Park. Dave Mackay’s side have now won five consecutive away matches in all competitions, which is their best run since March-May 2014. They are now just two wins short of equalling the club record of seven straight away wins, set in 1950/51. The Binos have scored three or more goals in eight of their 15 matches in all competitions this season, including each of their last five away games.
