Both sides go into this final game of the league season knowing that they will meet again in next season’s Championship. It is seventh placed Ayr United v sixth place Dunfermline Athletic at Somerset Park. A win for either team could see them overtake Morton should they not win against points chasing Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium. Dunfermline’s league record against Ayr United is won 51, lost 33 and drawn 30.

Milestones v Ayr United (away)
Last League Victory | 03/12/19 | 1-0 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 11/09/21 | 1-3 | Championship
Best League Victory | 12/03/94 | 4-0 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 07/04/51 | 0-8 | Div Two (old)
Last Goalless Draw | 07/11/20 | 0-0 | Championship
First Ever Meeting | 29/03/13 | 0-1 | Division Two

Last Time at Somerset Park
Ayr United 2 Dunfermline 2
Scottish Championship, Saturday 30th December 2023

The Pars took the game to Ayr with Chalmers heavily involved and they had instant success scoring in third minute from an O’Halloran cross in from the right. Alex JAKUBIAK controlled, turned and finished from eight yards out. 0-1  The Fifers increased their advantage just seven minutes later. Ben Summers played the ball into the path of JAKUBIAK on the left side of the penalty box and the striker brushed off the challenge of his marker to drill the ball in at the near post. 0-2

Ayr got back into the game in 41 minutes when Aiden McGEADY, taking advantage of Joe Chalmers losing his footing, converted a cross in from the right from Dowds. 1-2  Dunfermline had some dogged defending to do in the second half as Ayr turned up the pressure. The defence held out until in 63 minutes. A free kick midway inside the Pars half on the left side was lobbed into the box, attempts to avert the ball reaching Stanger at the far post failed and from his header back across the six yard line, Frankie MUSONDA looped a header beyond Mehmet. 2-2

AYR UNITED: Robbie Mutch: Elicha Ahui, Frankie Musonda (c), George Stanger, Paddy Reading: Ben Dempsey, Jack Young: Logan Chalmers, Aiden McGeady ( Jamie Murphy 62), Francis Amartey: Anton Dowds
SUBS NOT USED: Jack Senga, Akheem Rose, Mark McKenzie, Fraser Bryden, Paul Smith, Roy Syla, Nick McAllister, Charlie Albinson (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Sam Fisher, Rhys Breen (Kyle Benedictus 69): Michael O’Halloran (Jake Sutherland 78), Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers (c), Ben Summers (Owen Moffat 65), Josh Edwards: Craig Wighton, Alex Jakubiak
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Hoggan, Miller Fenton, Harry Sharp (GK), Max Little (GK)

Recent Form

Ayr United have won two of their last six matches, they have won just two of their last seven home matches.  They hit Arbroath for five but failed to score in their last two games. Dunfermline have lost only once in their last seven, away from home they have lost only twice in their last seven matches on the road.

League Record

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 44
Goal Difference: -5
Away League Record: P17 W6 D6 L5 GF20 GA20
Last Six Match Form: WWDLDD

AYR UNITED
League Position: 7th
League Points: 43
Goal Difference: -8
Home League Record: P17 W6 D3 L8 GF25 GA28
Last Six Match Form: WLDWLD

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Queen’s Park (H) D 0-0
Airdrieonians (A) L 1-2
Partick Thistle (H) D 1-1
Arbroath (A) W 3-2
Morton (A) W 1-0

AYR UNITED
Partick Thistle (A) D 0-0
Dundee United (A) L 0-1
Arbroath (H) W 5-0
Morton (H) D 1-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 1-2
Airdrieonians (H) W 2-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE ( v Inverness Caley Thistle): Deniz Mehmet, Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Miles Welch-Hayes 75), Chris Hamilton, Paul Allan, Josh Edwards, Matty Todd (Andrew Tod 62), Owen Moffat (Lewis McCann 79), Chris Kane (Alex Jakubiak 69)
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Chalmers, Rhys Breen, Michael O’Halloran, Brad Holmes, Max Little (GK)

AYR UNITED (v Partick Thistle): Josh Clarke: Frankie Musonda, Sean McGinty, Ben Dempsey, Logan Chalmers (Scott Tomlinson 89), George Stanger, Jamie Murphy (Kurt Willoughby 71), Francis Amartey (Lucas McRoberts 77), Harry McHugh, Mark McKenzie, Jack Sanders
SUBS NOT USED: Aiden McGready, Paul Smith,  Nathan McGinley,  Charlie Albinson (GK)

Referee will be Willie Collum.

Other cinch Championship Fixtures

Dundee United v Partick Thistle
Inverness Caley Thistle v Morton
Queen’s Park v Airdrieonians
Raith Rovers v Arbroath