Scottish Premiership passing and possession rise as teams adopt more expansive style
October 8, 2026 10:20
Early-season data compiled with Opta suggests the Scottish Premiership is showing a measurable shift toward a more expansive, short-passing style. After seven matches for each club the league-wide numbers for passing and possession are up compared with recent seasons, though the sample remains small.
KEY DETAILS
- Passes per game across the Premiership have risen to 886, an increase of 58 on last season and up from 795 five years ago.
- Passing accuracy is at 81%, up from 73% in 2023-24.
- Long passes now make up 13% of passes—the lowest proportion in five years. Hearts and Rangers remain among the teams who play long more often than others.
- Celtic and Motherwell lead the possession chart on 61%.
WHAT INFLUENCED THE CHANGE
The move toward short passing and higher possession is linked in the source material to the encouraging examples set last season by Motherwell and Falkirk. Both clubs finished in the top half (Motherwell fourth, Falkirk sixth) and saw attendances rise and a summer transfer-income boost, particularly at Fir Park. Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has acknowledged Jens Berthel Askou’s influence on his own approach; Askou is now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1.
Club-level shifts are visible in the early data: Dundee United’s average possession has moved from 42% last term to 50% this season, with their accurate passes per match rising from 219 to 320. St Mirren and Kilmarnock are also cited as examples of teams adopting a more expansive approach, and newly promoted St Johnstone are described as another side that aims to play more expansively.
WHY IT MATTERS
The article links the stylistic shift to tangible benefits seen last season: higher attendances and transfer income for clubs that played more progressive football. The numbers this term indicate the trend may be broadening across the division, but the analysis notes the small early-season sample.