Premier stats: 150th MPL match for Farrugia Cann

Referee Trustin Farrugia-Cann, Mosta's Clayton Failla and the return of Jean-Paul Farrugia with Sliema Wanderers are the main highlights in this week's BOV Premier Division statistical overview. We picked out the most interesting facts and figures of Match Day 8 of the MPL. 5 – Valletta’s 5-3 win over Santa Lucia was the fifth time in history that Valletta recorded such a scoreline. The other four were: 13 November 1948 against Naxxar Lions, 11 September 1999 versus Pietá Hotspurs, 16 October 2000 again against Pietá Hotspurs and 27 October 2002 versus Marsaxlokk. 50 – Birkirkara v Hibernians (1-1) was the 50th game for match official Ishmael Barbara in the top flight. He made his debut on 21st October 2017 – Valletta v Tarxien Rainbows (6-0) at the Centenary Stadium and was assisted by Mitchell Scerri and Paul Apap with Philip Farrugia being the fourth official.  50 – Mosta’s 3-2 win against Sliema Wanderers was coach Joe Grech’s 50th match in the Premier League. His first appearance was on 24th August 2003 in Msida St Joseph’s 3-2 defeat against Hibernians. He also managed Floriana in 2006/07. 50 – Valmir Berisha netted the 50th goal for the month of October. The Swedish striker drew level temporarily for Sliema Wanderers (1-1) in the 3-2 defeat against Mosta.   60 – Luke Montebello’s opening goal for Birkirkara in a 1-1 draw against Hibernians was the 60th goal at Tony Bezzina’s Stadium this season.    88 – It is interesting to note that 176 players featured on Match Day 8 ... 88 of whom were Maltese and the other 88 were foreigners.  100 – Clayton Failla’s goal for Mosta against Sliema Wanderers was his 100th in the Malta Premier Division. He is only one of 19 players who have score (more than) 100 top flight goals in their career. Failla scored his first MPL goal while playing for St Patrick on 5 December 2004 in a 2-2 draw with Hibernians. He scored 89 of the 100 for Hibernians, 4 for Mosta, 2 for Sliema Wanderers and Floriana and one each for St Patrick, Birkirkara and Hamrun Spartans. 150 – International referee Trustin Farrugia Cann reached his 150th appearance in the Premier Division during the match Sliema Wanderers v Mosta (2-3). His first ever match at top level was 11 years ago to the day, on 31st October 2010 in the match Vittoriosa Stars v Hibernians (2-0) at the Hibernians Stadium. On that day, he was assisted by Ingmar Spiteri and Alan Camilleri, while Adrian Azzopardi was the fourth official.  200 – Jean-Paul Farrugia entered as a late substitution for Sliema Wanderers in their match against Mosta, which was the first appearance this season for the striker, but his 200th in total in the Premier Division. He made his MPL debut on 20 September 2008 in the colours of Hibernians against Hamrun Spartans (4-1), immediately scoring one of the goals. He played 92 of these 200 for Hibernians, 82 for Sliema Wanderers and 26 for Marsaxlokk. 250 – Santa Lucia substitune Bradley Agius became the 250th player to feature in the Premier League this season. He entered the field of play in the 80th minute for Nicholas Pulis, in Santa Lucia’s 5-3 defeat against Valletta.   300 – Liam McKay of Santa Lucia became the 300th subsitute of the season. He replaced Dexter Xuereb in the 75th minute in a 5-3 defeat against Valletta.