2009–10 Scottish Premier League

Scottish Premier League

Season	2009–10
Champions	Rangers
Relegated	Falkirk
Champions League	Rangers Celtic
Europa League	Dundee United Hibernian Motherwell
Matches played	228
Goals scored	586 (2.57 per match)
Top goalscorer	Kris Boyd (23)
Biggest home win	Rangers 7–1 Dundee United
Biggest away win	Nine wins by three clear goals[1]
Highest scoring	Motherwell 6–6 Hibernian (12)
Highest attendance	Celtic v St Johnstone: 58,500 Celtic v Dundee United: 58,500
Lowest attendance	Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian: 2,003
Average attendance	Rangers: 47,564
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

The 2009–10 Scottish Premier League season was the twelfth season of the Scottish Premier League. Rangers were the defending champions and they retained the championship with three games to spare by winning 1–0 against Hibernian at Easter Road on 25 April.^[2] The competition began on 15 August 2009 and ended on 9 May 2010.

Promotion and relegation from 2008–09

Promoted from First Division to Premier League

• St Johnstone

Relegated from Premier League to First Division

• Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Events

• 21 April – Inverness Caledonian Thistle won promotion to the Scottish Premier League as First Division champions following a 1–0 defeat for their nearest challengers Dundee against Raith Rovers.^[3]
• 25 April – Rangers clinch the championship by winning 1–0 against Hibernian at Easter Road.^[2]
• 5 May – The 6–6 draw between Motherwell and Hibernian at Fir Park breaks the SPL record for the most goals scored in a single SPL match.^[4][5]
• 8 May – Falkirk were relegated after goalless draw against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.^[6]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Rangers (C)	38	26	9	3	82	28	+54	87	2010–11 UEFA Champions League Group stage
2	Celtic	38	25	6	7	75	39	+36	81	2010–11 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round
3	Dundee United	38	17	12	9	55	47	+8	63	2010–11 UEFA Europa League Play-off round ^1
4	Hibernian	38	15	9	14	58	55	+3	54	2010–11 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round
5	Motherwell	38	13	14	11	52	54	−2	53	2010–11 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round
6	Heart of Midlothian	38	13	9	16	35	46	−11	48
7	Hamilton Academical	38	13	10	15	39	46	−7	49
8	St Johnstone	38	12	11	15	57	61	−4	47
9	Aberdeen	38	10	11	17	36	52	−16	41
10	St Mirren	38	7	13	18	36	49	−13	34
11	Kilmarnock	38	8	9	21	29	51	−22	33
12	Falkirk (R)	38	6	13	19	31	57	−26	31	Relegation to First Division

Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
¹by winning the Scottish Cup.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Matches 1–22

During their first 22 matches, each team played every other team home and away.

Home ╲ Away

ABE

CEL

DUN

FAL

HAM

HOM

HIB

KIL

MOT

RAN

STJ

STM

Aberdeen

1–3

0–2

0–1

1–2

1–1

0–2

1–0

0–0

1–0

2–1

1–0

Celtic

1–0

1–1

1–1

2–0

2–1

1–2

3–0

0–0

1–1

5–2

3–1

Dundee United

0–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

2–0

1–0

0–0

0–1

0–3

3–3

3–2

Falkirk

0–0

3–3

1–4

2–0

0–1

1–3

0–0

0–0

1–3

1–2

1–3

Hamilton Academical

0–3

1–2

0–1

0–0

2–1

2–0

0–0

2–2

0–1

0–2

1–0

Heart of Midlothian

0–3

2–1

0–0

0–0

0–2

0–0

1–0

1–0

1–2

1–2

1–0

Hibernian

2–0

0–1

1–1

2–0

5–1

1–1

1–0

2–0

1–4

3–0

2–1

Kilmarnock

1–1

1–0

0–2

1–2

3–0

1–2

1–1

0–3

0–0

2–1

1–2

Motherwell

1–1

2–3

2–2

1–0

1–0

1–0

1–3

3–1

0–0

1–3

2–0

Rangers

0–0

2–1

7–1

4–1

4–1

1–1

1–1

3–0

6–1

3–0

2–1

St Johnstone

1–0

1–4

2–3

3–1

1–1

2–2

5–1

0–1

2–2

1–2

1–0

St Mirren

1–0

0–2

0–0

1–1

0–2

2–1

1–1

1–0

3–3

0–2

1–1

Source: BBC Sport
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

During matches 23–33 each team played every other team once (either at home or away).

Home ╲ Away

ABE

CEL

DUN

FAL

HAM

HOM

HIB

KIL

MOT

RAN

STJ

STM

Aberdeen

4–4

2–2

0–1

0–3

1–3

2–1

Celtic

1–0

2–0

3–1

2–1

3–0

Dundee United

3–0

0–2

1–0

3–0

0–0

Falkirk

3–1

0–2

1–3

0–1

2–1

Hamilton Academical

1–1

0–1

2–2

4–1

0–0

1–0

Heart of Midlothian

3–2

2–0

2–1

1–0

1–4

Hibernian

2–2

0–1

2–4

1–0

1–1

2–1

Kilmarnock

2–0

4–4

1–2

0–2

3–2

1–1

Motherwell

0–1

3–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

Rangers

3–1

1–0

3–0

1–0

3–0

3–1

St Johnstone

0–1

1–1

1–0

1–2

4–1

St Mirren

4–0

1–2

0–0

1–1

0–0

1–1

Source: BBC Sport
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

After 33 matches, the table splits into two groups of six. Each team plays every team in their own half once (either at home or away)

Top six Home ╲ Away CEL DUN HOM HIB MOT RAN Celtic 3–2 4–0 2–1 Dundee United 0–2 0–2 1–2 Heart of Midlothian 1–2 0–0 0–2 Hibernian 1–2 0–1 Motherwell 2–3 6–6 Rangers 2–0 3–3 Source: BBC Sport 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For coming matches, an a indicates there is an article about the match.

Bottom six Home ╲ Away ABE FAL HAM KIL STJ STM Aberdeen 1–0 1–3 1–2 Falkirk 0–1 0–0 1–1 Hamilton Academical 3–0 0–0 Kilmarnock 0–0 1–2 St Johnstone 1–1 2–3 2–2 St Mirren 0–1 1–0 Source: BBC Sport 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Kits and shirt sponsors Team Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor Notes Aberdeen Nike Team Recruitment Team Recruitment remain as sponsors. New home & third kits, both with thin horizontal stripes. Celtic Nike Carling New "Bumblebee" away kit & new International Away Kit featuring green tartan panels. Dundee United Nike Carbrini Nike replace Hummel as kit manufacturer. New home & away kits to commemorate centenary year. Falkirk Puma Central Demolition New home and away kits. Hamilton Academical Nike Reid Furniture Reid Furniture take over as sponsor. New home and away kits. Heart of Midlothian Umbro Ūkio bankas New home and away kits Hibernian Le Coq Sportif McEwan Fraser McEwan Fraser replace Whyte & Mackay as sponsor. New home kit & away kits. Kilmarnock 1869 Smallworld New home kit. Motherwell Canterbury of New Zealand JAXX Canterbury replace Bukta as kit manufacturer. New home and away kits. Rangers Umbro Carling New home, away and third kits St Johnstone Surridge Taylor Wimpey New home kit & away kits. St Mirren Hummel Braehead Shopping Centre New home and away kits. Stadia and attendances Aberdeen Dundee Utd Falkirk Hearts Hibernian Kilmarnock St Johnstone St Mirren Celtic Hamilton Motherwell Rangers Location of teams in Scottish Premier League 2009–10 As of 14:51, 9 May 2010 (UTC) Source: SPL Team Stadium Capacity Highest Lowest Average Aberdeen Pittodrie Stadium 22,199 16,803 6,097 10,461 Celtic Celtic Park 60,355 58,500 24,000 45,582 Dundee United Tannadice Park 14,209 11,100 5,598 7,821 Falkirk Falkirk Stadium 9,706[7] 7,049 4,321 5,635 Hamilton Academical New Douglas Park 6,096 5,343 2,003 3,005 Heart of Midlothian Tynecastle Stadium 17,420 17,126 12,325 14,484 Hibernian Easter Road 17,500[8] 16,949 9,185 12,164 Kilmarnock Rugby Park 18,128 10,662 4,068 5,919 Motherwell Fir Park 13,742 9,355 3,544 5,307 Rangers Ibrox Stadium 51,082 50,321 44,291 47,564 St Johnstone McDiarmid Park 10,673 7,807 2,993 4,717 St Mirren St Mirren Park 8,016 6,164 3,009 4,414 Goals Top scorers As of 12:14, 10 May 2010 (UTC) Sources: SPL BBC Rank Scorer Team Goals 1 Kris Boyd Rangers 23 2 Anthony Stokes Hibernian 21 3 Kenny Miller Rangers 18 4 Jon Daly Dundee United 13 Derek Riordan Hibernian 6 Lukas Jutkiewicz Motherwell 12 Robbie Keane Celtic 8 John Sutton Motherwell 11 9 Marc-Antoine Fortuné Celtic 10 Scott McDonald Celtic[9] Georgios Samaras Celtic Hat-tricks Scorer For Against Date Peter MacDonald St Johnstone Motherwell 26 December 2009[10] Kris Boyd ^5 Rangers Dundee United 30 December 2009[11] Jon Daly Dundee United Falkirk 23 January 2010[12] Colin Nish Hibernian Motherwell 5 May 2010[13] ^5 player scored 5 goals Awards Monthly awards Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Manager Club Player Club Player Club August Tony Mowbray[14] Celtic Danny Cadamarteri[15] Dundee United Ross Forbes[16] Motherwell September John Hughes[17] Hibernian Derek Riordan[17] Hibernian Craig Thomson[18] Heart of Midlothian October Jim Gannon[19] Motherwell Liam Miller[20] Hibernian Lukas Jutkiewicz[19] Motherwell November Craig Levein[21] Dundee United Andy Webster[21] Dundee United Peter Pawlett[22] Aberdeen December Walter Smith[23] Rangers Kris Boyd[23] Rangers Anthony Stokes[24] Hibernian January Craig Brown[25] Motherwell Steven Davis[26] Rangers Fraser Fyvie[27] Aberdeen February Craig Brown[28] Motherwell David Weir[29] Rangers Chris Maguire[30] Kilmarnock March Peter Houston[31] Dundee United Robbie Keane[32] Celtic Ryan Flynn[33] Falkirk April Billy Reid[34] Hamilton Academical Kenny Miller[35] Rangers Graham Carey[36] St Mirren Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards [37] Award Recipient Player of the Season David Weir[38] Manager of the Season Walter Smith[38] Young Player of the Season David Goodwillie[39] Goal of the Season Anthony Stokes[39] Save of the Season Artur Boruc[39] Under-19 League Player of the Season Dale Hilson[40] Best Club Media Relations Motherwell[40] SPL Family Champions St Mirren[40] Best Community Initiative Hibernian[40] References Hamilton Academical 0–3 Aberdeen; Dundee United 0–3 Rangers; Hibernian 1–4 Rangers; Kilmarnock 0–3 Motherwell; Falkirk 1–4 Dundee United; St Johnstone 1–4 Celtic; Heart of Midlothian 0–3 Aberdeen; Aberdeen 0–3 Motherwell; Heart of Midlothian 1–4 Rangers "Hibernian 0 – 1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010. "Raith Rovers 1–0 Dundee". BBC Sport. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010. "Motherwell 6–6 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010. "12 – The 6–6 draw between Motherwell and Hibs tonight, breaks the SPL record for the most goals in a single SPL match. Entertainment.". Opta Sports / Twitter. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010. "Kilmarnock 0-0 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010. A new stand was opened at the Falkirk Stadium during the summer of 2009 that increased capacity. The capacity of Easter Road was reduced to 14,326 in March 2010, as Hibernian chose to demolish the old East Stand and replace it with a new facility to be opened during the 2010–11 season. 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"Young player prize for Falkirk's Ryan Flynn". BBC Sport. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010. "Hamilton manager Billy Reid nets award for April". BBC Sport. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010. "Kenny Miller named top SPL player for April". BBC Sport. 1 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010. "Graham Carey focused on St Mirren survival". BBC Sport. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010. "Clydesdale Bank Premier League Season Awards 2009/2010" "Rangers duo win Clydesdale manager and player awards". BBC Sport. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010. "Dundee Utd striker Goodwillie nets young player award". BBC Sport. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010. "CB award winners in full". Scottish Premier League. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010. External links 2009–10 Scottish Premier League Season at ESPN