Dundee United have opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Championship after their comfortable Dundee derby win.
Their dominance over the division has led bookmakers to make them odds-on to clinch the title in May.
To put their position into some context, Ian Roache compares United’s record after 13 matches with those of the three clubs who finished top in previous seasons: Ross County last time around, St Mirren in 2018 and Hibs the year before.
United (2019/20): Place: First – six points clear of Ayr United. 30 points and a plus-18 goal difference.
The 2-0 victory over the Dark Blues at Dens Park on Friday meant the Tangerines have now won 10 of their 13 league fixtures.
The other results have been away defeats to first Ayr United, Alloa then Queen of the South, with no drawn games so far.
While their latest success came away from Tannadice – albeit the shortest of distances – it is at home that they have really excelled, winning all six games on their own pitch and scoring 21 times.
Ross County (2018-19): Place: Second – one point ahead of third-placed United and four behind leaders Ayr. 25 points and a plus-15 goal difference.
County’s 13th match was unlucky for them in that they lost at home to the Tannadice men on November 10, 2018.
The Tangerines gained some revenge for an earlier 5-1 drubbing form the Staggies by going up the A9 and winning 1-0 thanks to Paul Watson’s goal.
County’s form could be best described as patchy at this stage.
St Mirren (2017-18): Place: Second – one point behind leaders United, who had played one game more. 26 points and a plus-nine goal difference.
Their 13th fixture saw the Buddies close the gap on leaders United to just a single point with a 2-0 victory over Inverness in the Highlands on November 25, 2017.
That came after the Tangerines had beaten them 2-1 at Tannadice in their previous match.
It was St Mirren’s eighth win of the season, including a 3-0 beating of the Tangerines in Paisley at the end of August. They also had two draws and three losses.
Hibernian (2016-17): Place: First – one point ahead of United. 28 points and plus-15 goal difference.
Number 13 game of the season for Hibs saw the league leaders draw 1-1 at Easter Road with Falkirk.
That edged them a point ahead of the second-placed Tangerines on the same number of matches played.
Hibs had eight wins, four draws and just one loss – at home to Ayr United.
The clash between the Hibees and the Tangerines in Edinburgh in October had finished in a 1-1 draw.
Conclusion: The numbers look good for United, who have more points in the bag than any of the previously title winners at the same stage of the season. They have also won more games and have a healthier goal difference so appear to be on course.
