Ally McCoist was giddy on the radio on Wednesday morning, having a dig at Celtic’s recent post-split fixtures.
The ex-Rangers striker tried to wind up Alan Brazil by joking that the Hoops will get their “usual” four home games and one away after the split.
He also joked that the Ibrox side would get the opposite. Clearly intended as tongue-in-cheek, they’ve still got people talking.
So 67 Hail Hail have tested McCoist’s comments against the evidence…
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Is Ally McCoist right about Celtic and Rangers’ post-split fortunes?
Reviewing the evidence from the post-split fixtures of the last six Scottish Premiership seasons gives a funny conclusion:
Rangers have had more home post-split games than Celtic.
READ MORE: Celtic ‘set for battle’ with Rangers for Elijah Just with race on for Motherwell man
The sample skips over the 2019-20 season which was curtailed before the split phase of the campaign. It goes from 2018-19 to 2024-25.
In that period, Rangers had three home post-split games in 18/19, 20/21, 22/22 and 24/25, playing two in 21/22 and 23/24.
In the same timeframe, Celtic played three of their last five at home in 21/22, 23/24 and 24/25, getting two in 18/19, 20/21 and 22/23.
McCoist’s so-called ‘usual’ scenario where Celtic play four at home and one away has never actually occurred in any season of the split era.
The recent norm has been that the team placed in first at the point of the split is guaranteed to play the final game of the season at home.
This would, in theory, tip the balance in Celtic’s favour for this comparison, given that this has been the case for five of the six season sampled.
Lo and behold, the last six seasons have actually favoured Rangers.
How many points will Celtic end the season with?
Will it be enough to win the league? 😅
Ally McCoist’s comments on Celtic post-split fixture difficulty
On talkSPORT with Alan Brazil, McCoist said: “The Kilmarnock game was a brilliant result, and Celtic had a good result beating Motherwell.
“I know Motherwell went down to ten men, but it’s still a good 3-1 result.
“I watched the Rangers game. 1-0 up, and they should have been two or three, and then you know what it’s like, the nerves kick in a little bit.
“I don’t know when the fixtures come out, but I think you’ll get your usual five home games, and we’ll get one at home and four away.
“You know something like that will happen.
“The Celtic-Rangers game will be big, but Rangers have got to go to Tynecastle, and I think Celtic have to play Hearts at Parkhead.
“Motherwell again, and you forget, Falkirk are a good team. They are. and I keep going on about it, but what a job he’s done, John McGlynn.”
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