Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

Underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggest a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league. Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin (left) said Jens Berthel Askou (right) at Motherwell gave "guys like myself a bit of a wake-up call" Think of the Scottish Premiership and you think of a division with enough box-office drama and passion to rival, if not surpass, any other European league. Where Scotland's top flight has had its perceived shortcomings over the years, though, is in the product and standard it offers on the pitch. However, with more Premiership sides than ever showing a willingness to keep the high balls low, early-season data suggests the league is shifting towards a style many fans would regard as more attractive.

As domestic action resumes this weekend after an extended international break, the dust has been blown off the BBC Scotland supercomputer to uncover some underlying trends, with the help of stats gurus at Opta. Are SPFL away ticket prices too expensive? And is price cap on agenda? There had long been a notion within Scottish football that it wasn't possible for most clubs to enjoy success on the pitch while entertaining their supporters with a progressive style. Not got the technical ability of Virgil van Dijk or Kristoffer Ajer? Forget splitting your centre-backs