Third place race

Third place race


Third place race

Peter Houston guided Dundee United to third place in the SPL and Scottish Cup success in 2009/10

Since the SPL began in 1998/99, no fewer than eight different clubs have finished third in the table.

Reflecting the competitive nature of the league, only one team has managed to finish third two years running and that was Hearts in 2002/03 and 2003/04. 

Since the league was expanded to 12 clubs in 2000/01, the average number of points gained by the side finishing third is 64. The low of 58 was earned by Livingston in 2001/02 while in 2005/06 Rangers just missed out on second place with 73 points as Hearts came runners-up to Celtic.

Only once has goal difference been required to settle the third-place issue and that was in 2004/05 when Hibs pipped Aberdeen by a single goal.

Season Third place Pts Fourth place Pts
2009/10 Dundee Utd 63 Hibernian 54
2008/09 Hearts 59 Aberdeen 53
2007/08 Motherwell 60 Aberdeen 53
2006/07 Aberdeen 65 Hearts 61
2005/06 Rangers 73 Hibernian 56
2004/05 Hibernian 61 Aberdeen 61
2003/04 Hearts 68 Dunfermline 53
2002/03 Hearts 63 Kilmarnock 57
2001/02 Livingston 58 Aberdeen 55
2000/01 Hibernian 66 Kilmarnock 54
1999/00 Hearts 54 Motherwell 52
1998/99 St Johnstone 57 Kilmarnock 56

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