In their latest SPL analysis, Opta look at the gulf between the Old Firm and the rest of the competition.
A review of the interesting apects of Scotland's top flight
In their latest SPL analysis, Opta look at the gulf between the Old Firm and the rest of the competition, Celtic's problem with early goals and Hibernian's slow start to the season.
Old Firm gulf getting greater
Five games into the new season, and Rangers and Celtic already sit seven points clear of the field in the SPL, having picked up maximum points from all five matches.
This is the first time both Old Firm sides have taken 15 points from the 15 available, and means that the gap between second and third is the largest it has ever been at this stage of the season:
Top three in SPL after five games - biggest gap between second place and fourth place
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| 2010/11 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
FINAL PLACE |
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| Rangers |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
3 |
10 |
15 |
- |
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| Celtic |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
10 |
15 |
- |
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| Hearts |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
- |
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| 2002/03 |
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| Celtic |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
1 |
13 |
15 |
2 |
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| Rangers |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
16 |
3 |
13 |
13 |
1 |
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| Hearts |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
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| 1999/00 |
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| Rangers |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
1 |
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| Celtic |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
3 |
12 |
12 |
2 |
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| Dundee United |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
-1 |
8 |
8 |
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Previously there had only twice before been a gap of even four points between the Old Firm and the rest of the SPL sides, whilst in the other nine seasons the gulf had never been greater than two points.
With the majority of sides struggling to find their form this season, it seems unlikely that the Old Firm stranglehold will be broken in 2010/11.
Celtic overcome early Killie goal
Celtic came from behind to beat Kilmarnock last weekend after conceding their first goal of the season to a seventh-minute Conor Sammon strike.
The Bhoys will need to be careful once more this season about conceding early goals.
Last season they shipped a higher proportion of their goals in the first 15 minutes of matches than any SPL side:
| SPL 2009/10 - Highest % Goals Conceded in Opening 15 mins |
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| Team |
Number |
Proportion |
| Celtic |
6 |
15.38% |
| Hibernian |
8 |
14.55% |
| Rangers |
4 |
14.29% |
| Hearts |
6 |
13.04% |
| St Johnstone |
7 |
11.48% |
| Motherwell |
6 |
11.11% |
| Dundee United |
5 |
10.64% |
| Falkirk |
6 |
10.53% |
| Aberdeen |
5 |
9.62% |
| St Mirren |
4 |
8.16% |
| Kilmarnock |
4 |
7.84% |
| Hamilton Academical |
3 |
6.52% |
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Hibs' slow start
After proving to be the surprise side for much of the first half of last season when they pushed Celtic for a place in the top two all the way to the New Year, Hibernian have been somewhat underwhelming in 2010/11, accruing just five points and struggling to get goals. Only in 2002/03 had they accrued fewer points after five SPL matches:
| Hibernian in the SPL after five matches |
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| SEASON |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
FINAL PLACE |
| 00/01 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
10 |
13 |
3 |
| 07/08 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
6 |
| 05/06 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
5 |
| 09/10 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
| 08/09 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
| 04/05 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
11 |
-2 |
7 |
3 |
| 03/04 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
-3 |
7 |
8 |
| 99/00 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
| 06/07 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
| 01/02 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
-2 |
5 |
10 |
| 10/11 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
5 |
- |
| 02/03 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
13 |
-6 |
3 |
7 |
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