Weekend in numbers

8 – Rangers thumped Queen’s Park 8-0 at Ibrox to cruise into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. James Tavernier scored three times and Ryan Naderi grabbed two, with the other goals coming from Bojan Miovski, Tochi Chukwuani and a Matthew Shiels own goal. Tavernier’s hat-trick was the first of his career, and takes his tally to 140 goals for the Light Blues in all competitions. This was just the third time this century Rangers have won a game by an eight-goal margin – they also beat Stenhousemuir 8-0 in September 2013 and Hamilton Academical 8-0 in November 2020. The last time a team in the top two divisions was beaten by eight or more goals in the Scottish Cup was back in February 1980, when Aberdeen defeated Airdrieonians 8-0.

27 – Partick Thistle moved into the quarter-finals thanks to a 3-2 victory over Elgin City at Borough Briggs. Robbie Crawford, Tony Watt and Ben Stanway were on the scoresheet for the Jags as they came out on top in the first ever competitive meeting of these two sides. Thistle have now won 27 consecutive Scottish Cup ties against sides from a lower division – their last defeat was way back in 1994/95, when they were in the top flight and were beaten 2-1 at Dens Park by second-tier Dundee. It was yet another high-scoring match for Mark Wilson’s side – their last eight matches have featured a total of 33 goals, with Thistle scoring 18 and conceding 15.

17 – Dunfermline Athletic beat Kelty Hearts 2-0 to progress to their first Scottish Cup quarter-final for 17 years. A late Chris Kane double was enough to send Neil Lennon’s side into the last eight for the first time since 2008/09, when they would go on to make the semis. The Pars remain unbeaten against Fife neighbours Kelty in national competitions – they have four wins and two draws since the sides first met back in 2022. Dunfermline have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, with their only defeat coming against Airdrie last weekend.

92 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved three points clear at the top of William Hill League 1 courtesy of a 3-0 win over East Fife at the Sarens PSG Stadium. Goals from Alfie Stewart, Paul Allan and Alfie Bavidge ensured Scott Kellacher’s side made it three wins out of three against the Fifers this season. Inverness are now unbeaten in their last 14 home matches, winning 13 and drawing one since losing 2-1 to Stenhousemuir back in August. The Caley Jags have already scored 92 goals in 38 matches in all competitions this season – with at least 14 matches still to play they have already equalled the club record for a season, set in both 2003/04 and 2009/10.

2 – Forfar Athletic defeated Dumbarton 2-0 at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park to climb to fifth in William Hill League 2. Goals from Martin Rennie and Jake Dolzanski moved Jim Weir’s side to within three points of fourth-placed Stranraer. The Loons had taken just five points from their last eight league matches, but Saturday’s win moves them back into promotion contention. This ended a run of three consecutive home defeats against Dumbarton – their last victory was in January 2023.