# 1990–91 in Scottish football

The 1990–91 season was the 94th season of competitive football in Scotland. It was notable for the fact that there was a last day title decider at Ibrox between Rangers and Aberdeen. Both teams went into the match level on points and goal difference, but Rangers needed to win the match because Aberdeen had scored two goals more. Rangers won the title with a 2–0 win thanks to two goals by Mark Hateley.

## Notable events

* 11 November – Duncan Ferguson makes his debut, playing for Dundee United against Rangers at Ibrox, in a match they won 2–1.

## Scottish Premier Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Rangers (C) | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 62 | 23 | +39 | 55 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Aberdeen | 36 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 62 | 27 | +35 | 53 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Celtic | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 41 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Dundee United | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 29 | +12 | 41 | |
| 5 | Heart of Midlothian | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 48 | 55 | −7 | 35 | |
| 6 | Motherwell | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 33 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 7 | St Johnstone | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 54 | −13 | 31 | |
| 8 | Dunfermline Athletic | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 61 | −23 | 27 | |
| 9 | Hibernian | 36 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 24 | 51 | −27 | 25 | |
| 10 | St Mirren | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 28 | 59 | −31 | 19 | |
Champions: Rangers No Relegation

## Scottish League Division One

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Falkirk (C, P) | 39 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 70 | 35 | +35 | 54 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Airdrieonians (P) | 39 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 69 | 43 | +26 | 53 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 3 | Dundee | 39 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 33 | +26 | 52 | |
| 4 | Partick Thistle | 39 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 56 | 53 | +3 | 45 | |
| 5 | Kilmarnock | 39 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 43 | |
| 6 | Hamilton Academical | 39 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 42 | |
| 7 | Raith Rovers | 39 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 54 | 64 | −10 | 37 | |
| 8 | Clydebank | 39 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 65 | 70 | −5 | 36 | |
| 9 | Morton | 39 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 48 | 55 | −7 | 35 | |
| 10 | Forfar Athletic | 39 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 33 | |
| 11 | Meadowbank Thistle | 39 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 56 | 68 | −12 | 33 | |
| 12 | Ayr United | 39 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 47 | 59 | −12 | 32 | |
| 13 | Clyde (R) | 39 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 41 | 61 | −20 | 27 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 14 | Brechin City (R) | 39 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 44 | 80 | −36 | 24 | Relegation to the Second Division |
Promoted: Falkirk, Airdrieonians Relegated: Clyde, Brechin City

## Scottish League Division Two

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Stirling Albion (C, P) | 39 | 20 | 14 | 5 | 62 | 24 | +38 | 54 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Montrose (P) | 39 | 20 | 6 | 13 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 46 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Cowdenbeath | 39 | 18 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 45 | |
| 4 | Stenhousemuir | 39 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 44 | |
| 5 | Queen's Park | 39 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 42 | |
| 6 | Stranraer | 39 | 19 | 4 | 16 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 42 | |
| 7 | Dumbarton | 39 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 40 | |
| 8 | Berwick Rangers | 39 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 40 | |
| 9 | Alloa Athletic | 39 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 37 | |
| 10 | East Fife | 39 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 57 | 65 | −8 | 37 | |
| 11 | Albion Rovers | 39 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 48 | 63 | −15 | 35 | |
| 12 | Queen of the South | 39 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 30 | |
| 13 | East Stirlingshire | 39 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 36 | 72 | −36 | 29 | |
| 14 | Arbroath | 39 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 39 | 60 | −21 | 25 | |
Promoted: Stirling Albion, Montrose

## Other honours
### Cup honours

| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| Scottish Cup 1990–91 | Motherwell | 4 – 3 (a.e.t.) | Dundee United |
| League Cup 1990–91 | Rangers | 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Celtic |
| Challenge Cup | Dundee | 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) | Ayr United |
| Youth Cup | Dundee United | 2 – 0 | Hibernian |
| Junior Cup | Auchinleck Talbot | 1 – 0 | Newtongrange Star |

### Individual honours
#### SPFA awards

| Award | Winner | Club |
| Players' Player of the Year | Paul Elliott | Celtic |
| Young Player of the Year | Eoin Jess | Aberdeen |

#### SFWA awards

| Award | Winner | Club |
| Footballer of the Year | Maurice Malpas | Dundee United |
| Manager of the Year | Alex Totten | St Johnstone |

## Scotland national team

| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Competition | Scotland scorer(s) |
| 12 September 1990 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) | Romania | 2–1 | ECQG2 | John Robertson, Ally McCoist |
| 17 October 1990 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) | Switzerland | 2–1 | ECQG2 | John Robertson, Gary McAllister |
| 14 November 1990 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia (A) | Bulgaria | 1–1 | ECQG2 | Ally McCoist |
| 6 February 1991 | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) | USSR | 0–1 | Friendly | |
| 27 March 1991 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) | Bulgaria | 1–1 | ECQG2 | John Collins |
| 1 May 1991 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle (A) | San Marino | 2–0 | ECQG2 | Gordon Strachan (pen.), Gordon Durie |
Key:
* (H) = Home match
* (A) = Away match
* ECQG2 = European Championship qualifying – Group 2