Ayr United 3
Dunfermline Athletic 0
League (Championship)

Match Report

Ayr United moved back into second place in the Scottish Championship as Neil Lennon suffered a disappointing debut as Dunfermline Athletic manager, with high-profile signing Victor Wanyama sent off.

The former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was dismissed 20 minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement.

The 33-year-old Kenyan handled the ball after blocking Mark McKenzie and pulling him to the ground.

By that stage, Ayr were 2-0 up thanks to a fine strike from Connor McLennan and a cool chip from Jamie Murphy.

Ethan Walker added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time following a nice United move.

Scott Brown will feel his side were well worth the win that puts them above Livingston on goal difference, especially as Curtis Main also had the ball in the net, but his effort was ruled out for a foul on a defender.

There will be plenty of thinking for Lennon to do, with the Fifers remaining ninth, two points behind Hamilton Academical and six above Airdrieonians.

Facing Livingston on Wednesday, the former Celtic and Hibs boss now has just six games of the regular season remaining in the fight against the drop.

He will also have to do without the suspended Wanyama in midweek.

Ayr United manager Scott Brown: "We were up for the battle and the shape and the structure of the team was good. The desire was there and that's what we've maybe lacked in the last couple of weeks.

"There's a long way to go in the season. We need a lot of help as well, but we just need to keep winning as many games as we possibly can."

Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon: "I'm disappointed with our lack of goal threat, our lack of belief and quality in the final third. That's something we have to improve on as that's five games out of six in which we haven't scored.

"I know we've got a mountain of work to do but that's why I'm here. There's a fragility at the minute that we need to change.

"Victor (Wanyama) is in there with his head down. We knew he would be rusty but we wanted to give him some minutes. He slipped, didn't he? You can tell he needs work."

Match report written by BBC