2020–21 Arbroath F.C. season

Arbroath 2020–21 football season
Arbroath
2020–21 season
ChairmanMike Caird
ManagerDick Campbell
StadiumGayfield Park
Scottish Championship7th
Scottish CupSecond round
Scottish League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jack Hamilton (8)
All: Jack Hamilton (8)
Home colours
Away colours

The 2020–21 season was Arbroath's second consecutive season in the Scottish Championship, following their promotion from Scottish League One in the 2018–19 season. They also competed in the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

Season summary

In June 2020, eight of the ten clubs voted in favour of shortening the season from the usual 36 games to 27 (playing each other three times), with the season tentatively scheduled to start on 17 October 2020.[1] This was done to reduce costs in light of the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

On 2 October, the SPFL announced that the Scottish Challenge Cup would be cancelled ahead of the upcoming season in order to reduce the number of fixtures being played.[2]

Competitions

Scottish Championship

Win Draw Loss
Date Opponent Venue Result[a] Scorers Attendance Ref.
17 October 2020 Raith Rovers Away 0–3 — 0[b] [3]
23 October 2020 Heart of Midlothian Home 0–1 — 0[b] [4]
31 October 2020 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Away 1–3 Doolan 24' 0[b] [5]
7 November 2020 Queen of the South Home 1–1 Linn 48' 0[b] [6]
21 November 2020 Greenock Morton Home 0–0 — 0[b] [7]
5 December 2020 Dundee Away 0–1 — 0[b] [8]
12 December 2020 Alloa Athletic Home 0–1 — 0[b] [9]
19 December 2020 Ayr United Home 2–1 Craigen 36', 39' 0[b] [10]
26 December 2020 Dunfermline Athletic Away 0–1 — 0[b] [11]
29 December 2020 Heart of Midlothian Away 1–3 Doolan 48' 0[b] [12]
16 January 2021 Queen of the South Away 2–2 Stewart 63', O'Brien 65' 0[b] [13]
22 January 2021 Dundee Home 1–1 Little 8' pen. 0[b] [14]
30 January 2021 Greenock Morton Away 1–0 Hamilton 77' 0[b] [15]
3 February 2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Home 1–1 Hamilton 45' 0[b] [16]
6 February 2021 Dunfermline Athletic Home 2–0 O'Brien 27', Hilson 36' 0[b] [17]
13 February 2021 Alloa Athletic Away 1–1 Hamilton 24' 0[b] [18]
20 February 2021 Raith Rovers Home 1–0 Doolan 60' 0[b] [19]
27 February 2021 Ayr United Away 1–0 McKenna 63' 0[b] [20]
6 March 2021 Queen of the South Home 2–4 Hamilton 11', McKenna 22' pen. 0[b] [21]
13 March 2021 Dundee Away 0–2 0[b] [22]
20 March 2021 Heart of Midlothian Home 0–0 0[b] [23]
27 March 2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Away 0–1 0[b] [24]
3 April 2021 Alloa Athletic Home 2–1 Hamilton 59', Gold 83' 0[b] [25]
10 April 2021 Raith Rovers Home 2–2 Hamilton 72', Little 84' 0[b] [26]
17 April 2021 Ayr United Home 4–0 Little 11', Williamson 24', Hamilton 27', Hilson 65' 0[b] [27]
24 April 2021 Dunfermline Athletic Away 3–4 Hamilton 33', Low 35' pen., Stewart 82' 0[b] [28]
30 April 2021 Greenock Morton Home 0–0 — 0[b] [29]

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Win Draw Loss
Date Opponent Venue Result[a] Scorers Attendance Ref.
6 October 2020 Stirling Albion Away 2–1 Donnelly 14', O'Brien 32' 0[b] [30]
10 October 2020 Montrose Home 3–1 Swankie 27', Thomson 43', O'Brien 86' 0[b] [31]
13 October 2020 Ross County Away 1–2 Hilson 49' 0[b] [32]
14 November 2020 Elgin City Home 3–0 Gold 30', 39', Stewart 82' 0[b] [33]

Knockout phase

Win Draw Loss
Round Date Opponent Venue Result[a] Scorers Attendance Ref.
Second round 28 November 2020 Dunfermline Athletic Home 1–3 Hilson 65' 0[b] [34]

Scottish Cup

Win Draw Loss
Round Date Opponent Venue Result[a] Scorers Attendance Ref.
Second round 23 March 2021 Falkirk Home 1–2 O'Brien 8' 0[b] [35]

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

As of 30 April 2021
No. Pos Player Championship League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland Derek Gaston 27 0 5 0 1 0 33 0
2 DF Scotland Jason Thomson 25 0 5 1 0 0 30 1
3 DF Scotland Colin Hamilton 24 0 4 0 1 0 29 0
4 DF Scotland Ricky Little 26 3 5 0 1 0 32 3
5 DF Scotland Thomas O'Brien 26 2 4 2 1 0 31 4
6 MF Scotland Mark Whatley 2+3 0 0+1 0 0 0 6 0
7 MF Scotland David Gold 16+7 1 3+1 2 0+1 0 28 3
8 MF Scotland Michael McKenna 15+11 2 4+1 0 0+1 0 32 2
9 FW Scotland Dale Hilson 22+4 2 3+2 2 1 0 32 4
10 MF Scotland Gavin Swankie 4 0 2+3 1 0 0 9 1
11 MF Scotland Bobby Linn 13+6 1 3+2 0 1 0 25 1
12 DF Scotland Scott Stewart 9+13 2 3+2 1 1 0 28 3
14 FW Scotland Kris Doolan 14+6 3 2+3 0 0 0 25 3
15 FW Scotland Luke Donnelly 4+11 0 3+2 1 0 0 20 1
16 MF Scotland Lewis Moore 3+4 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
17 DF Scotland Jake Davidson 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
18 MF Scotland Ben Williamson 17 1 0 0 0+1 0 18 1
19 FW Scotland Jack Hamilton 14 8 0 0 1 0 15 8
21 GK Scotland Scott Gallacher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF Scotland Carlo Pignatiello 1+2 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
28 MF England James Craigen 16+4 2 3+1 0 1 0 25 2
32 MF Scotland Nicky Low 5+1 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season
16 FW Scotland Michael Ruth 4+7 0 2+3 0 0 0 16 0
17 MF Scotland Connor Smith 1+2 0 1+3 0 0 0 7 0
22 MF Finland Miko Virtanen 8+1 0 3 0 0 0 12 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 8 12 7 36 31 +5 36
6 Queen of the South 27 9 5 13 38 51 −13 32
7 Arbroath 27 7 9 11 28 34 −6 30
8 Ayr United 27 6 11 10 31 37 −6 29
9 Greenock Morton (O) 27 6 11 10 22 33 −11 29 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[36]
(O) Play-off winners

League Cup table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS ARB ELG STI MON
1 Ross County 4 3 1 0 0 12 5 +7 11 Qualification for the Second round — 2–1 — 3–0 —
2 Arbroath 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 — — 3–0 — 3–1
3 Elgin City 4 2 0 0 2 5 7 −2 6 1–4 — — 2–0 —
4 Stirling Albion 4 1 0 0 3 3 8 −5 3 — 1–2 — — 2–1
5 Montrose 4 0 0 1 3 5 10 −5 1 3–3p — 0–2 — —
Source: [37]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[38]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2020 MF England James Craigen England AFC Fylde Free transfer [39]
30 July 2020 GK Scott Gallacher Airdrieonians [40]
14 August 2020 FW Kris Doolan Greenock Morton [41]

Transfers out

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
9 June 2020 MF Omar Kader Retired Free transfer [42]
6 July 2020 GK Darren Jamieson Kelty Hearts Free transfer [43]
9 July 2020 MF United States James Murphy United States Rio Grande Valley Free transfer

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
4 September 2020 MF Finland Miko Virtanen Aberdeen 1 January 2021 [44]
5 September 2020 FW Michael Ruth 1 February 2021 [45]
29 September 2020 MF Connor Smith Heart of Midlothian 1 January 2021 [46]
8 January 2021 DF Jake Davidson Dundee United 30 May 2021 [47]
13 January 2021 MF Ben Williamson Rangers [48]
29 January 2021 FW Jack Hamilton Livingston [49]
1 February 2021 MF Lewis Moore Heart of Midlothian [50]
24 February 2021 DF Carlo Pignatiello Livingston [51]
29 March 2021 MF Nicky Low East Stirlingshire [52]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Arbroath's score written first
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Match played behind closed doors

References

  1. ^ a b Idessane, Kheredine (14 June 2020). "Scottish Championship clubs vote for 27-game season starting in October". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. ^ Dewar, Heather (17 October 2020). "Raith in winning return to second tier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. ^ Lindsay, Clive (23 October 2020). "Wighton gives Hearts win over Arbroath". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ Davies, Eilidh (31 October 2020). "Inverness fight back to claim first win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. ^ Smith, Tyrone (7 November 2020). "Arbroath & Queen of the South off the mark". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Morton hold Arbroath to goalless draw". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  8. ^ Smith, Tyrone (5 December 2020). "McGowan goal moves Dundee up to sixth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  9. ^ Dewar, Heather (12 December 2020). "Alloa move off bottom as Arbroath sink". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. ^ Smith, Tyrone (19 December 2020). "Arbroath off bottom after beating Ayr". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  11. ^ Dewar, Heather (5 December 2020). "Hosts grab injury-time winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (29 December 2020). "Steven Naismith scores seven-minute hat-trick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (29 December 2020). "Arbroath recovery seals 2–2 draw with Queen of the South". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  14. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (22 January 2021). "Visitors miss chance to move second". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. ^ Crawford, Kenny (30 January 2021). "Greenock Morton 0–1 Arbroath". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Hosts earn point in relegation scrap". BBC Sport. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Hosts up to eighth after shock win". BBC Sport. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  18. ^ Dewar, Heather (13 February 2021). "Two red cards as Alloa score late". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  19. ^ Crawford, Kenny (20 February 2021). "Kris Doolan keeps hosts unbeaten in 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Visitors still unbeaten in 2021". BBC Sport. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  21. ^ Crawford, Kenny (6 March 2021). "Obileye double as visitors fight back from behind". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  22. ^ Smith, Tyrone (13 March 2021). "Hosts move into promotion play-off places". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (20 March 2021). "Leaders edge closer to title despite draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  24. ^ Davies, Eilidh (27 March 2021). "Nikolay Todorov header keeps Caley promotion hopes alive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Late Gold goal stretches gap at bottom to seven points". BBC Sport. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Hosts collapse helps hand Hearts the title". BBC Sport. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Dick Campbell's side earn significant Scottish Championship win". BBC Sport. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic 4–3 Arbroath: Pars confirm play-off spot". BBC Sport. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  29. ^ Smith, Tyrone (30 April 2021). "Arbroath 0-0 Greenock Morton: Visitors consigned to relegation play-off". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Stirling Albion vs. Arbroath - 6 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  31. ^ "Arbroath vs. Montrose - 10 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  32. ^ "Ross County vs. Arbroath - 13 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  33. ^ "Arbroath vs. Elgin City - 14 November 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  34. ^ Smith, Tyrone (28 November 2020). "Dunfermline beat Arbroath to advance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Arbroath v Falkirk". BBC Sport. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  36. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group D". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  39. ^ "James Craigen signs for Arbroath FC". Arbroath FC. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Scott Gallacher". Arbroath FC. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  41. ^ "Kris Doolan". Arbroath FC. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  42. ^ "Omar Kader hailed by Arbroath manager Dick Campbell following experienced winger's retirement from football". The Courier. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Jamieson Signs". Kelty Hearts FC. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  44. ^ "Aberdeen's Miko Virtanen joins Arbroath for second loan spell". pressandjournal.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
  45. ^ "Dons striker signs new deal". Aberdeen FC. 5 September 2020.
  46. ^ "Arbroath sign young midfielder Connor Smith on loan from Hearts". thecourier.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
  47. ^ "Arbroath sign Dundee United defender Jake Davidson on loan until end of season". thecourier.co.uk. 8 January 2020.
  48. ^ "Ben Williamson". Arbroath FC. 13 January 2020.
  49. ^ "Jack Hamilton". Arbroath FC. 29 January 2020.
  50. ^ "Lewis Moore". thecourier.co.uk. 1 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Carlo Pignatiello joins Arbroath on loan". livingstonfc.co.uk. 24 February 2021.
  52. ^ "East Sitrlingshire captain Nicky Low joins Arbroath on loan". falkirkherald.co.uk. 29 March 2021.
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