Ayr UnitedAyr United |
-- |
AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians |
League (Championship) |
Goalscorers | |
Anton Dowds (47) Sean McGinty (50) |
O'Connor (38') |
Team Managers | |
Scott Brown |
Unknown. |
Starting Eleven | |
Josh Clarke 20. Roy Syla 5. Sean McGinty 14. George Stanger 21. Harry McHugh 17. Nick McAllister 23. Jack Sanders 22. Mark McKenzie 24. Scott Tomlinson 15. Jamie Murphy 16. Anton Dowds |
40 Hemfrey 15 Megwa 16 Watson 6 Fordyce 5 Hancock 14 McMaster 24 Lyall 10 Frizzell 21 Telfer 7 O'Connor 11 Todorov |
Bench | |
1. Charlie Albinson 30. Fraser Bryden 18. Paul Smith 27. Max Guthrie 17. Franny Amartey Lucas McRoberts |
2 Ballantyne 3 Taylor-Sinclair 8 McGregor 9 Gallagher 19 Dunlop 23 McGill 26 Donnell 28 Gallagher 43 Hutton |
Substitutions | |
Fraser Bryden for Scott Tomlinson (45) Franny Amartey for George Stanger (75) Paul Smith for Roy Syla (84) Lucas McRoberts for Anton Dowds (89) |
None. |
Cautions | |
None. | None. |
Red Cards | |
None. | None. |
Match Officials | |
David Munro (Referee) |
Ayr United boosted their Scottish Championship promotion hopes while denting visitors Airdrieonians' chances.
Airdrie led after Josh O'Connor latched on to Nikolay Todorov's header and lifted the ball over Josh Clarke.
Anton Dowds pounced on Craig Watson's loose header back to goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey to slot in the hosts' equaliser just after half-time.
And Ayr quickly moved ahead when captain Sean McGinty headed in substitute Jamie Murphy's free-kick.
Dean McMaster's powerful rising drive had been tipped over by Ayr keeper Clarke and Airdrie's Adam Frizzell nicked an effort wide at 0-0. McMaster was later booked for a lunge on Harry McHugh, who had a deflected effort well saved by Hemfrey at 1-0.
Ayr United, who are six points clear of the relegation zone, climb two places to sixth and are a point off fourth-placed Airdrieonians, with Dunfermline Athletic in between also one point below the final promotion play-off place. There are four more second-tier fixtures on Saturday.
Reaction & as it happened
Ayr United manager Scott Brown: "It's good to see us looking up. The lads' endeavour has been exceptional. We knew we could be ruthless in front of goal and Anton [Dowds] was. Sean [McGinty is] in the right place, Sean's very aggressive. We know where we are and we need to try and dig ourselves out the situation, and hopefully we did that tonight. We need to try and get to 40 points as quick as we can."
Ayr United captain Sean McGinty: "It's fantastic. We've not been very good at home this season. It's a massive night for the football club. [Jamie Murphy] put it right in the perfect place and I've just directed it into the far corner. It's a big one tonight. Just delighted to get the three points."
Airdrieonians player/manager Rhys McCabe: "We get ourselves in front with a good goal but the sloppiness cost us. These are tough places to go. You have to match them with the physical side and the intensity. It's a reality check. I'm a glass half-full kind of guy. Sometimes it's good to be brought back to earth after so much success."
Match report written by BBC
2023-24 | All Time | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Nat | |||||
Josh Clarke (GK) | - | 6 | - | 6 | - | |
Roy Syla | 23 | 28 | 2 | 28 | 2 | |
Harry McHugh | - | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
George Stanger | 23 | 28 | 2 | 28 | 2 | |
Sean McGinty | 30 | 36 | 2 | 113 | 6 | |
Jack Sanders | - | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
Nick McAllister | 23 | 28 | 2 | 74 | 3 | |
Jamie Murphy | 34 | 33 | 7 | 33 | 7 | |
Scott Tomlinson | 18 | 14 | - | 15 | - | |
Mark McKenzie | 23 | 34 | 3 | 148 | 12 | |
Anton Dowds | 27 | 26 | 11 | 26 | 11 | |
Franny Amartey (sub) | 24 | 28 | 1 | 28 | 1 | |
Fraser Bryden (sub) | 19 | 32 | 5 | 64 | 8 | |
Paul Smith (sub) | 21 | 20 | - | 53 | - | |
Lucas McRoberts (sub) | - | 1 | - | 1 | - |
Pld | W | D | L | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Dundee United | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 59 |
2. | Raith Rovers | 29 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 58 |
3. | Partick Thistle | 30 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 46 |
4. | Airdrieonians | 29 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 39 |
5. | Dunfermline Athletic | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 38 |
6. | Ayr United | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 38 |
7. | Morton | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 37 |
8. | Queen's Park | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 36 |
9. | ICT | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 32 |
10. | Arbroath | 29 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 23 |