2020–21 Ayr United F.C. season

Ayr United 2020–21 football season
Ayr United
2020–21 season
ChairmanLachlan Cameron
(until 12 January 2021)
David Smith
ManagerMark Kerr
(until 28 February)
David Hopkin
(from 11 March)
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish Championship8th
Scottish League CupSecond round
Scottish CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cammy Smith (6)
All: Luke McCowan (9)
Home colours
Away colours

The 2020–21 season was Ayr United's 3rd consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr also competed in the, League Cup and the Scottish Cup. On 2 October 2020, the SPFL confirmed that the Scottish Challenge Cup had been cancelled for the upcoming season.[1]

Summary

Season

Ayr began the season on 6 October in the League Cup group stages with the Scottish Championship season set to begin on 17th October. Club chairman Lachlan Cameron stepped down from his position in January 2021 after 13 years in the role with local businessman David Smith being appointed in his place.[2]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Championship

Ayr United v Queen of the South
17 October 2020 1 Ayr United 2–1 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Miller 13', 18'
McCowan Red card 90+1'		 Report Dobbie 56 pen.'
Maxwell Red card 66'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
Inverness CT v Ayr United
24 October 2020 2 Inverness CT 1–1 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 Todorov 86' Report Cameron 57' Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
Greenock Morton v Ayr United
31 October 2020 3 Greenock Morton 3–2 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Oliver 83'
Blues 85'
Strapp 88'		 Report Strapp 32 o.g.'
Muirhead Red card 52'
Smith 74'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic
7 November 2020 4 Ayr United 0–0 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
Ayr United v Dundee
21 November 2020 5 Ayr United 2–0 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Smith 3'
Moffat 16'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Graham Beaton
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
5 December 2020 6 Alloa Athletic 0–2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Report McCowan 38'
Murdoch 61'
Smith Red card 84'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Barry Cook
Ayr United v Raith Rovers
11 December 2020 7 Ayr United 0–0 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Report Attendance: 0
Arbroath v Ayr United
19 December 2020 8 Arbroath 2–1 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00 Craigen 36', 39' Report Baird 88' Attendance: 0
Heart of Midlothian v Ayr United
26 December 2020 9 Heart of Midlothian 5–3 Ayr United Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
15:00 Kingsley 11'
Wighton 68', 74'
Lee 71'
Boyce 81'		 Report Smith 57'
McCowan 60'
Walsh 90+4'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
Ayr United v Greenock Morton
29 December 2020 10 Ayr United 1–1 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
18:00 McCowan 38' Report Nesbitt 26 pen.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Queen of the South v Ayr United
2 January 2021 11 Queen of the South 3–2 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Obileye 29 pen.'
Shields 32', 90+1'		 Report Reading 7'
Buchanan 90 o.g.'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
Dunfermline Athletic v Ayr United
23 January 2021 13 Dunfermline Athletic 0–0 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
Ayr United v Alloa Athletic
30 January 2021 12 Ayr United 4–1 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Walsh 6'
McCowan 30', 69'
Muirhead 61 pen.'		 Report Trouten 11' Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Stuart
Ayr United v Heart of Midlothian
5 February 2021 14 Ayr United 0–1 Heart of Midlothian Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Report Boyce 48 pen.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
Inverness CT v Ayr United
20 February 2021 15 Inverness CT 2–0 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 MacKay 31'
Todorov 54'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Stuart
Ayr United v Arbroath
27 February 2021 16 Ayr United 0–1 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report McKenna 63' Attendance: 0
Referee: Grant Irvine
Greenock Morton v Ayr United
6 March 2021 17 Greenock Morton 0–2 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Report Smith 55', 87' Attendance: 0
Referee: Mike Roncone
Raith Rovers v Ayr United
9 March 2021 18 Raith Rovers 0–0 Ayr United Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
19:45 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Scott Lambie
Heart of Midlothian v Ayr United
13 March 2021 19 Heart of Midlothian 2–0 Ayr United Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
15:00 Gnanduillet 72'
Walker 86'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
Dundee v Ayr United
16 March 2021 20 Dundee 1–3 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
19:30 Sow 86' Report McKenzie 18', 84'
Smith 49'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Newlands
Ayr United v Raith Rovers
20 March 2021 21 Ayr United 1–1 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Muirhead 72' Report Benedictus 57' Attendance: 0
Referee: David Dickinson
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
27 March 2021 22 Alloa Athletic 2–2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Cameron 31'
Williamson 46'		 Report Walsh 15'
Robertson 76 o.g.'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
Ayr United v Dundee
6 April 2021 23 Ayr United 0–3 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
19:00 Report Anderson 68'
Afolabi 74'
McGowan 87'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic
10 April 2021 24 Ayr United 1–1 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Miller 24' Report McManus 12' Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
Arbroath v Ayr United
17 April 2021 25 Arbroath 4–0 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00 Little 11'
Williamson 24'
Hamilton 27'
Hilson 65'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Ayr United v Queen of the South
24 April 2021 26 Ayr United 0–0 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
Inverness CT v Ayr United
30 April 2021 27 Inverness CT 2–2 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:05 MacKay 6'
Welsh 47 pen.'		 Report Muirhead 39 pen.'
Todd 67'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Results

Albion Rovers v Ayr United
6 October 2020 1 Albion Rovers 2–5 Ayr United Coatbridge
19:45 Aitken 23 pen.', 38'
Wilson Red card 78'		 Report McCowan 30'
Walsh 35'
Anderson 40', 82'
Zanatta 59'		 Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 0
Hamilton Academical v Ayr United
10 October 2020 2 Hamilton Academical 2–1 Ayr United Hamilton
15:00 Ogkmpoe 19'
Trafford 36'		 Report Moffat 68' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
Ayr United v Annan Athletic
13 October 2020 3 Ayr United 1–0 Annan Athletic Ayr
19:45 Moffat 24 pen.' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Grant Irvine
Ayr United v Stranraer
14 November 2020 4 Ayr United 1–1
(6–5 p)		 Stranraer Ayr
15:00 McCowan 47' Report Duffy 2' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Barry Cook

Knockout round

Livingston v Ayr United
28 November 2020 Second round Livingston 4–0 Ayr United Livingston
15:00 Chalmers 4 o.g.'
Fitzwater 6', 12'
Forrest 44'		 Report Stadium: Almondvale
Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro

Scottish Cup

Elgin City v Ayr United
23 March 2021 Second round Elgin City 0–4 Ayr United Borough Briggs, Elgin
19:45 Report Chalmers 5'
Moffat 18'
McCowan 25', 43'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
Ayr United v Clyde
3 April 2021 Third round Ayr United 0–1 Clyde Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Cuddihy 4' Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 30 April 2021[3]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Championship League Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland SCO P. J. Morrison 4 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
2 MF Scotland SCO Jordan Houston 23 0 17+2 0 2+1 0 1+0 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Reading 24 1 21+0 1 1+0 0 2+0 0
4 DF Scotland SCO Aaron Muirhead 29 4 24+0 3 3+1 1 1+0 0
5 DF England ENG Sam Roscoe 21 0 14+0 0 5+0 0 1+1 0
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Murdoch 28 1 21+3 1 4+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 32 4 16+9 1 5+0 2 2+0 1
8 MF Scotland SCO Michael Miller 27 4 16+5 4 4+0 0 2+0 0
9 FW England ENG Andre Wright 6 0 3+2 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
10 MF Scotland SCO Tom Walsh 21 4 10+8 3 1+0 1 2+0 0
11 MF Scotland SCO Luke McCowan 33 9 26+0 5 5+0 2 2+0 2
15 MF England ENG Josh Todd 5 1 3+1 1 0+0 0 0+1 0
17 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Corrie Ndaba 14 0 13+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
18 MF Scotland SCO Joe Chalmers 31 1 21+3 0 5+0 0 2+0 1
19 FW Canada CAN Dario Zanatta 18 1 3+10 0 3+2 1 0+0 0
20 DF Scotland SCO Michael Hewitt 8 0 0+4 0 2+2 0 0+0 0
21 GK New Zealand NZL Ellis Hare-Reid 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
22 FW Scotland SCO Mark McKenzie 27 2 6+14 2 2+3 0 1+1 0
23 MF England ENG Brett McGavin 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
24 MF Scotland SCO Liam Miller 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Barjonas 6 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 0+2 0
29 GK Slovakia SVK Peter Urminský 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
30 DF Scotland SCO Jack Baird 34 1 27+0 1 5+0 0 2+0 0
31 FW Scotland SCO Paul Smith 3 0 0+0 0 0+3 0 0+0 0
33 DF Scotland SCO Ross Love 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season
1 GK Finland FIN Viljami Sinisalo 29 0 22+0 0 5+0 0 2+0 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Bruce Anderson 12 2 7+2 0 2+1 2 0+0 0
14 MF Scotland SCO Cammy Smith 21 6 19+1 6 0+0 0 1+0 0
15 FW Scotland SCO Innes Cameron 6 1 0+5 1 1+0 0 0+0 0
21 DF Scotland SCO Finn Ecrepont 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 MF Scotland SCO Mark Kerr 2 0 1+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
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
10 Alloa Athletic (R) 27 5 7 15 30 60 −30 22 Relegation to League One
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).[4]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

League Cup table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR ANN STR HAM ALB
1 Ayr United 4 2 1 0 1 8 5 +3 8 Qualification for the Second round — 1–0 p1–1 — —
2 Annan Athletic 4 2 0 1 1 9 4 +5 7 — — 1–1p 3–1 —
3 Stranraer 4 1 1 2 0 6 5 +1 7 — — — 2–1 2–2p
4 Hamilton Academical 4 2 0 0 2 7 6 +1 6 2–1 — — — 3–0
5 Albion Rovers 4 0 1 0 3 5 15 −10 2 2–5 1–5 — — —
Source: [5]
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.[6]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
21 July 2020 DF Patrick Reading England Stevenage Free transfer [7]
MF Canada Dario Zanatta Partick Thistle [8]
6 August 2020 DF Michael Miller Raith Rovers [9]
MF Tom Walsh Inverness CT [10]
4 September 2020 DF Jack Baird St Mirren [11]
15 September 2020 Joe Chalmers Ross County [12]
20 January 2021 FW Cammy Smith Dundee United [13]
25 January 2021 England Andre Wright Republic of Ireland Bohemian [14]

Transfers out

Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
1 June 2020 MF Ross Docherty Partick Thistle Free transfer [15]
Alan Forrest Livingston [16]
27 July 2020 DF Daniel Harvie England MK Dons Undisclosed [17]
11 August 2020 MF Grant Gillespie Queen's Park Free transfer [18]
19 August 2020 Andy Geggan BSC Glasgow [19]
5 October 2020 DF Steven Bell East Kilbride [20][21]
1 April 2021 FW Cammy Smith United States Indy Eleven [22]

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
26 September 2020 GK Finland Viljami Sinisalo England Aston Villa 8 April 2021 [23]
5 October 2020 FW Bruce Anderson Aberdeen 4 January 2021 [24][25]
22 October 2020 FW Cammy Smith Dundee United 20 January 2021 [26]
23 October 2020 FW Innes Cameron Kilmarnock 15 January 2021 [27]
7 January 2021 DF Republic of Ireland Corrie Ndaba England Ipswich Town 31 May 2021 [28]
1 February 2021 MF England Brett McGavin [29]
27 February 2021 GK Slovakia Peter Urminský St Mirren [30]
18 March 2021 MF Jamie Barjonas Rangers [31]
9 April 2021 GK P. J. Morrison Motherwell [32]

Loans out

Start date Position Name To End date Ref.
31 August 2020 MF Finn Ecrepont Albion Rovers 31 May 2021 [33]
FW Gabe Skeoch [34]

References

  1. ^ "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Message from Lachlan". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Cammy Smith agrees deal".
  14. ^ "Andre Wright Signs". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Good Luck to Geggan". Somerset Road End Forum. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Player Update". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Steven Bell arrives to strengthen defence as season approaches". eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Indy Eleven Signs Scottish Premier League Striker Cammy Smith". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  23. ^ Preece, Ashley (26 September 2020). "'One of the best, anywhere in Europe' - Aston Villa talent joins Ayr United on season-long loan". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Bruce is an Honest Man". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Evening Express the Press and Journal combined".
  26. ^ "Dundee United ace Cammy Smith joins Ayr United on loan as 'delighted' Mark Kerr hails signing". The Courier. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Striker Innes Cameron joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Corrie Ndaba signs". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  29. ^ "United sign McGavin". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  30. ^ "St Mirren goalkeeper Peter Urminsky joins Ayr United on emergency loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Rangers talent Jamie Barjonas joins Ayr United on loan". Not the Old Firm. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  32. ^ "PJ Morrison loaned to Ayr United". motherwellfc.co.uk. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  34. ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
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