Match Report
The table read 3rd (Arbroath, 5 pts) against 1st (Dundee, 12 pts), 7 points apart. Arbroath had been under-performing their position — 20th on five-round form against 3rd in the table. Against a league average of 1.68 goals per team per game, Arbroath ran at 0.25 scored and 1.25 conceded, Dundee at 4.5 and 0.5.
11 consecutive defeats weighed on Arbroath. Dundee had not lost in 6 games, having scored in 7 consecutive games. Over the last five, Arbroath had taken 0 of 15 points to Dundee's 13.
Across 10 recorded meetings, Arbroath have 1 win to Dundee's 5, with 4 draws, at 2.7 goals per meeting. Home advantage has meant little here: 40% of the meetings went to the host. Only 30% of the meetings produced more than two goals. Goals have risen lately: 3.6 per game across the last five meetings, against 2.7 across the full history.
The venue was Gayfield Park in Arbroath, with room for 5,900 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 0-2.