Dunfermline 3 Ayr United 0
Saturday, 20th Nov 2021cinch Championship: two changes as Vytas Gašpuitis and Ryan Dow start in place of Rhys Breen and Kevin O Hara. Lewis McCann (14) 1-0: Ryan Dow (40) 2-0: Lewis McCann (52) 3-0:
After 13 league matches without a win, two came back to back. The comfortable 3-0 home win, the first over Ayr United in six clashes helped make John Hughes an instant hit with the Pars fans.
The first match of the John Hughes era saw Ayr United at East End Park to play a Dunfermline Athletic side that showed two changes from the side that started and registered a win at Inverness the previous Saturday. Vytas Gašpuitis and Ryan Dow started in place of Rhys Breen and Kevin O ‘Hara.
The visitors brought in Jordan Houston, Aaron Muirhead and Daire O`Connor to an Ayr United team that lost 4-0 at home the previous Saturday. Nick McAllister, James Maxwell and Tomi Adeloye found themselves on the bench. Ayr United won the toss and made Dunfermline kick off into the low sun.
Aidan McAdams the Ayr goalkeeper was in immediate action to save a Josh Edwards header in just the second minute. The chance was provided after Dow, Kyle Macdonald and Aaron Comrie had linked on the right before Macdonald sent the inviting ball into the six yard box.
Four minutes later Edwards was the provider outpacing Houston down the left to send a dangerous pass across the top of six yard box but when no one connected Dow collected but could only force a corner off O’Connor. Ayr survived that but they had no answer to the one sent in from the right again in 14 minutes. Lewis McCANN was denied his first senior goal at Inverness when Danny Devine turned the ball into his own net but there was no stopping the 20 year old this time, heading in from close to the right upright. 1-0
In 22 minutes another corner from the right saw a group of players tightly marked around the penalty spot but Thomas’ cross cleared them to set up the inrunning Matthew Todd but somehow Ayr squeezed that out for a corner on the left. Graham Dorrans delivered from the left and Todd then had a powerful downward header cleared off the line.
Ayr were kept well away from Owain Fôn Williams but there were appeals for a penalty in 27 minutes when former Par Jonathan Afolabi bounced off Mark Connolly on the left side of the box. They followed that up with a corner but when Joe Chalmers crossed that in from the right Jack Baird at the far post headed wide.
There were howls from the stands when Dow’s cut back travelled right through the Ayr box with two defenders and Thomas failing to make contact. Macdonald brushed off challenges to get in shooting distance but his 33rd minute effort travelled out wide left.
Ayr enjoyed play further up the park for a spell before Dow broke down the right and sent a good ball into the centre of the Ayr box. Baird dropped his head into the challenge as McCann tried for a second and gained the wrath of the McCathie Stand for staying down after what looked a silly way to challenge.
The Pars second goal would come from a Dorrans corner from the left that DOW timed perfectly to glance into the Ayr net. 2-0
McCann was shown a yellow card after kicking a stationary ball back to where a free kick should have been taken. Fon Williams held a low shot from Afolabi before the interval arrived.
The first half had been a great success for a determined looking Pars side. They had the vast majority of the possession, had forced more corners, had more shots at goal but importantly had created really good chances two of which had resulted in the goals that gave them the half time lead. Yogi Hughes was applauded off, an instant hit with the home support.
Half time: Dunfermline 2 Ayr United 0
Six minutes into the second half Macdonald received the ball 30 yards out and from his central position fed Comrie on the right. His cross was met by McCann at the near post but he was unlucky and the effort went wide right.
Better luck next minute however. Thomas found Edwards who swung the ball from the left for Comrie on the right to head back along the six yard line and McCANN doubled his tally with a sweep into the visitors’ net. 3-0
On the hour the woodwork kept out Macdonald, the wing back being spared any embarrassment as his attempt to head an O’Connor free kick clear was edged towards the top corner of his own goal. Then at the other end the 21 year old signing from Airdrieonians in January, tested McAdams with a shot from an acute angle.
Midway through the second half Paul Allan became the first sub used by John Hughes replacing Matthew Todd who received a standing ovation from the fans. Fon Williams pulled off another good save diving full stretch to his left to stop a well struck effort from Chalmers. That was Chalmers last involvement being replaced by James Maxwell as part of a double substitution with twenty minutes remaining. Cameron Salkeld was the other Ayr sub as Daire O’Connor was withdrawn.
In 75 minutes Craig Wighton replaced Kyle Macdonald, the sub sent a shot wide before he was joined by Kevin O’Hara who took over from Lewis McCann for the final ten minutes. McCann had everyone on their feet to clap him off.
By this stage the game had been won but still every Dunfermline player was wanting the ball. The first home league win of the season sent the Pars fans home singing and Hughes joined the players in thanking the fans in the North West and McCathie Stands.
Dunfermline were off the bottom of the table and although only one point ahead of Queen of the South who go tenth, the Fifers went up into sixth!
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Kai Kennedy, Nikolay Todorov, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: McCann (14, 52), Dow (40),
YELLOW CARD: McCann (41)
AYR UNITED: Aidan McAdams: Jordan Houston, Markus Fjørtoft, Jack Baird, Patrick Reading: Aaron Muirhead (c): Mark McKenzie, Andy Murdoch, Joe Chalmers (James Maxwell 70), Daire O`Connor (Cameron Salkeld 70): Jonathan Afolabi.
SUBS NOT USED: Tomi Adeloye, Steven Bradley, Sean McGinty, Nick McAllister, Charlie Albinson (GK).
REFEREE: Alan Newlands
WEATHER: Bright 11°C
ATTENDANCE 3503
NEXT MATCH: Scottish Cup (away) v Partick Thistle, Friday 26th November 2021, kick off 7.45pm at Firhill Stadium
50/50 Ticket number 502971 won Prize fund £600, Winner purchased ticket online
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Preview Ayr United
Saturday, 20th Nov 2021cinch Championship: (home) v Ayr United, Saturday 20th November 2021, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park
The home match against Ayr United on Saturday will be the first officially of what everyone hopes will be a successful John Hughes era at East End Park.
The Honest Men arrive sitting in sixth place but a home win could take the hosts above the visitors. From having held a good record against Ayr United, Dunfermline have now only won three of the last twelve matches between the sides.
Milestones v Ayr United (home)
Last League Victory | 19/10/19 | 3-2 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 04/01/20 | 0-1 | Championship
Best League Victory | 10/12/94 | 6-0 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 13/10/73 | 0-4 | Div One (old)
Last Goalless League match | 23/01/21 | Championship
First League meeting | 30/11/1912 | 0-0 | Div Two (old)
Last time at East End Park
Dunfermline 0-0 Ayr United
Sat, 23rd Jan 2021
For the second time running these two sides played out a goalless draw. Both had chances to win it but in the end a point each was possibly fair.
Dunfermline Athletic hoped to strengthen their position in second place in the Championship with a seventh home win of the season. Their last home game was back on Boxing Day and in this first home match of 2021 the opposition were seventh placed, Ayr United.
The first half was uneventful with just one corner a piece, two shots for the home side, one for the visitors.
Fôn Williams was in early action after the break to deny Walsh. McManus had chances for the home side but the best opportunity came from a free kick in the centre of the Ayr half. Thomas sent the ball towards the far left of the box where Euan Murray headed the ball across the box. The chance fell for Dow but his 62nd minute volley escaped over the crossbar.
Then it was Ayr who almost got the opener when Moffat latched on to a misplaced McCann pass but there was great relief as the former Pars favourite rolled the ball narrowly wide of the far post.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker (Lewis Mayo 76): Ryan Dow, Iain Wilson, Dom Thomas (Fraser Murray 78): Kyle Turner (Lewis McCann 67), Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Kevin O’Hara, Kerr McInroy, Cammy Gill (GK)
AYR UNITED: Viljami Sinisalo: Michael Miller, Jack Baird (c), Aaron Muirhead, Corrie Ndaba: Andy Murdoch, Joe Chalmers: Cammy Smith: Tom Walsh, Luke McCowan, Dario Zanatta (Michael Moffat 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Patrick Reading, Mark McKenzie, Jordan Houston, Mark Kerr, Sam Roscoe-Byrne, Ellis Hare-Reid (GK)
Last Twelve Meetings v Ayr United
Dunfermline have won three of the last twelve league matches, Ayr United five and four have been drawn. The Pars have failed to win in the last five matches between the teams.
Date | H/A | F-A | W D L | League
11/09/21 | A | 1-3 | L | Championship
10/04/21 | A | 1-1 | D | Championship
23/01/21 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
7/11/20 | A | 0-0 | D | Championship
04/01/20 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship
03/12/19 | A | 1-0 | W | Championship
19/10/19 | H | 3-2 | W | Championship
29/03/19 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship
23/02/19 | A | 1-0 | W | Championship
22/12/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
25/08/18 | A | 1-4 | L | Championship
18/03/17 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship
Recent Form
Dunfermline ended their run of 14 matches without a win with their 2-1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday. They have drawn three, lost two and won one of their last six matches.
Ayr United have won just once in their last eight games. Away from home their 2-0 win over Hamilton is their only away win of the league season so far.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) W 2-1
Morton (H) L 1-3
Arbroath (A) L 2-4
Raith Rovers (H) D 1-1
Partick Thistle (A) D 0-0
Kilmarnock (H) D 2-2
AYR UNITED
Partick Thistle (H) L 0-4
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H) D 2-2
Raith Rovers (A) D 1-1
Kilmarnock (H) L 0-1
Arbroath (A) D 1-1
Queen of the South (H) W 2-1
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 10
Goal Difference: -12
League Record: P14 W1 D7 L6 GF12 GA24
Last Six Match Form: DDDLLW
AYR UNITED
League Position: 6th
League Points: 13
Goal Difference: -10
League Record: P14 W3 D4 L7 GF13 GA23
Last Six Match Form: WDLLDL
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Rhys Breen (Ross Graham 74), Josh Edwards: Kyle Macdonald, Matthew Todd (Dan Pybus 62), Graham Dorrans (c), Dom Thomas: Lewis McCann (Ryan Dow 84), Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Wighton, Nikolay Todorov, Paul Allan, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
AYR UNITED (v Partick Thistle): Aidan McAdams: Nick McAllister, Markus Fjørtoft, Jack Baird, Patrick Reading: Mark McKenzie (Daire O`Connor 58), Andy Murdoch, Joe Chalmers, James Maxwell (Steven Bradley 71), Jonathan Afolabi, Tomi Adeloye (Michael Moffat 79).
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Houston, Sean McGinty, Cameron Salkeld, Charlie Albinson (GK).
Referee will be Alan Newlands.
Other Championship Fixtures
Queen of the South v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Friday night)
Kilmarnock v Arbroath
Partick Thistle v Hamilton Academical
Raith Rovers v Morton
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