The 2018–19 season was Ayr United’s 109th season of competitive football and their first season back in the Scottish Championship following their promotion from League One in the 2017–18 season.[1] Ayr also competed in the League Cup, Scottish Cup and the Challenge Cup.
| 2018–19 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Ian McCall | ||
| Stadium | Somerset Park | ||
| Scottish Championship | Fourth Place | ||
| Scottish Cup | Fourth round | ||
| League Cup | Quarter-final | ||
| Challenge Cup | First round | ||
| Premiership play-offs | Quarter-final | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Lawrence Shankland (24) All: Lawrence Shankland (34) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 3,249 v Partick Thistle, Championship, 4 August 2018 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 1,227 v Stenhousemuir, League Cup, 24 July 2018 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 2,157 | ||
|
| |||
Summary edit
Season edit
In their first season back in the second–tier of Scottish football, Ayr United finished in fourth place and qualified for the Premiership play-offs, losing to Inverness CT in the quarter-final.
Results and fixtures edit
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Scottish Championship edit
| 4 August 2018 1 | Ayr United | 2–0 | Partick Thistle | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland  7 pen.', 18' |
Report | Attendance: 3,249 Referee: Craig Thomson |
| 11 August 2018 2 | Inverness CT | 0–0 | Ayr United | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
| 15:00 | Report | Harvie  30' |
Attendance: 2,376 Referee: Andrew Dallas |
| 25 August 2018 3 | Ayr United | 4–1 | Dunfermline Athletic | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Forrest 5', 37' Shankland 39'Moffat 81' |
Report | Longridge 55' |
Attendance: 2,597 Referee: Euan Anderson |
| 1 September 2018 4 | Queen of the South | 5–0 | Ayr United | Palmerston Park, Dumfries |
| 15:00 | Dobbie 12', 20 pen.', 22', 84' Harkins 37' |
Report | Harvie 79' |
Attendance: 2,498 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 15 September 2018 5 | Ayr United | 3–2 | Falkirk | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland 48' Geggan 63'Fasan 65 o.g.' |
Report | Rudden 18' Petravičius 25' |
Attendance: 2,250 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 22 September 2018 6 | Alloa Athletic | 0–2 | Ayr United | Recreation Park, Alloa |
| 15:00 | Report | Shankland 23', 65' |
Attendance: 949 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
| 29 September 2018 7 | Greenock Morton | 1–5 | Ayr United | Cappielow, Greenock |
| 15:00 | Telfer 35' |
Report | Shankland 19', 75' Moore 73', 81'McDaid 89' |
Attendance: 2,273 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 6 October 2018 8 | Ayr United | 2–0 | Dundee United | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland 21' McDaid 74' |
Report | Attendance: 2,621 Referee: Greg Aitken |
| 20 October 2018 9 | Ross County | 2–1 | Ayr United | Victoria Park, Dingwall |
| 15:00 | McKay 23' Mullin 34' |
Report | Shankland 50' |
Attendance: 3,140 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 27 October 2018 10 | Partick Thistle | 0–1 | Ayr United | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Report | Rose 77' |
Attendance: 3,491 Referee: Bobby Madden |
| 30 October 2018 11 | Ayr United | 3–0 | Alloa Athletic | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Shankland 46', 90+2' Forrest 81' |
Report | Attendance: 1,742 Referee: David Munro |
| 3 November 2018 12 | Falkirk | 0–1 | Ayr United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
| 15:00 | Report | Moore 51' |
Attendance: 4,310 Referee: Greg Aitken |
| 10 November 2018 13 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Queen of the South | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Rose 75' |
Report | Murray 81' |
Attendance: 2,539 Referee: John Beaton |
| 17 November 2018 14 | Ayr United | 0–0 | Greenock Morton | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Moore 62' |
Report | Attendance: 2,346 Referee: Willie Collum |
| 30 November 2018 15 | Dundee United | 0–5 | Ayr United | Tannadice Park, Dundee |
| 19:45 | Report | Shankland 3', 41', 87 pen.', 89' Moffat 78' |
Attendance: 6,097 Referee: Don Robertson |
| 15 December 2018 16 | Ayr United | 3–3 | Ross County | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland 21 pen.', 25' Geggan 43' |
Report | Mullin 12' McKay 48 pen.'Cowie 52' |
Attendance: 2,030 Referee: Bobby Madden |
| 22 December 2018 17 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–0 | Ayr United | East End Park, Dunfermline |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 4,916 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 29 December 2018 18 | Queen of the South | 1–1 | Ayr United | Palmerston Park, Dumfries |
| 15:00 | Todd 29' |
Report | Moffat 41' |
Attendance: 2,349 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 5 January 2019 19 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Falkirk | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Rudden 56' |
Attendance: 2,729 Referee: Bobby Madden |
| 12 January 2019 20 | Inverness CT | 1–0 | Ayr United | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
| 15:00 | White 64' |
Report | Attendance: 2,283 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 25 January 2019 21 | Ayr United | 1–0 | Dundee United | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Moore 4' |
Report | Gomis 89' |
Attendance: 2,232 Referee: Don Robertson |
| 29 January 2019 22 | Ayr United | 2–3 | Inverness CT | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | McDaid 53' Shankland 85' |
Report | Austin 9', 12' Polworth 18' |
Attendance: 1,559 Referee: Nick Walsh |
| 2 February 2019 23 | Alloa Athletic | 1–3 | Ayr United | Recreation Park, Alloa |
| 15:00 | Trouten 30' |
Report | Moffat 29', 88' Shankland 52' (pen.) |
Attendance: 957 Referee: Mike Roncone |
| 16 February 2019 24 | Greenock Morton | 0–0 | Ayr United | Cappielow, Greenock |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 2,335 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 23 February 2019 25 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Dunfermline Athletic | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Longridge 71' (pen.) |
Attendance: 2,202 Referee: David Munro |
| 26 February 2019 26 | Ross County | 3–2 | Ayr United | Victoria Park, Dingwall |
| 19:45 | McKay 35', 70', 75' |
Report | Shankland 62' Murdoch 73' |
Attendance: 3,489 Referee: Nick Walsh |
| 8 March 2019 27 | Falkirk | 2–0 | Ayr United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
| 19:05 | McGhee 27', 40' |
Report | Attendance: 4,344 Referee: Alan Muir |
| 29 March 2019 28 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–1 | Ayr United | East End Park, Dunfermline |
| 19:05 | Report | McDaid 31' |
Attendance: 4,671 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
| 2 April 2019 29 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Greenock Morton | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Shankland 21 pen.' |
Report | Kiltie 71' |
Attendance: 1,802 Referee: Willie Collum |
| 6 April 2019 30 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Inverness CT | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | McKay 66' |
Attendance: 1,566 Referee: Craig Thomson |
| 9 April 2019 31 | Ayr United | 1–0 | Queen of the South | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Shankland 43 pen.' |
Report | Attendance: 1,582 Referee: Greg Aitken |
| 12 April 2019 32 | Dundee United | 2–1 | Ayr United | Tannadice Park, Dundee |
| 19:05 | Šafranko 63' McMullan 74' |
Report | Bell 24' |
Attendance: 4,392 Referee: Bobby Madden |
| 19 April 2019 33 | Ayr United | 1–3 | Ross County | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:05 | Miller 12' Docherty 90+5' |
Report | Graham 42', 46', 71' |
Attendance: 1,692 Referee: Euan Anderson |
| 23 April 2019 34 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Partick Thistle | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Report | Gordon 17' |
Attendance: 2,429 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 27 April 2019 35 | Partick Thistle | 1–2 | Ayr United | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Gordon 9' |
Report | Smith 17' Muirhead 56' |
Attendance: 3,855 Referee: Nick Walsh |
| 4 May 2019 36 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Alloa Athletic | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland 37' |
Report | Shields 33' |
Attendance: 1,665 Referee: Willie Collum |
Premiership Play–Off edit
| 7 May 2019 Quarter-final 1st Leg | Ayr United | 1–3 | Inverness CT | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Rose 65' |
Report | Trafford 33' White 51', 76 pen.' |
Attendance: 2,171 Referee: Alan Muir |
| 11 May 2019 Quarter-final 2nd Leg | Inverness CT | 1–1 (4–2 agg.) | Ayr United | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
| 19:45 | Donaldson 79' |
Report | McCowan 19' |
Attendance: 2,323 Referee: Steven McLean |
Scottish League Cup edit
| 14 July 2018 Group Stage | Ayr United | 3–1 | Greenock Morton | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shankland 48', 72', 75' |
Report | Tidser 14' |
Attendance: 1,586 Referee: Willie Collum |
| 21 July 2018 Group Stage | Albion Rovers | 0–2 | Ayr United | Cliftonhill, Coatbridge |
| 15:00 | Report | Forrest 15' Bell 80' |
Attendance: 519 Referee: Mike Roncone |
| 24 July 2018 Group Stage | Ayr United | 5–0 | Stenhousemuir | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Shankland 2', 8', 46' Moffat 41', 86' |
Report | Attendance: 1,227 Referee: David Munro |
| 28 July 2018 Group Stage | Partick Thistle | 0–2 | Ayr United | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Report | Moffat 6' Shankland 66' |
Attendance: 2,871 Referee: Nick Walsh |
Knockout round edit
| 8 August 2018 Round 2 | Dundee | 0–3 | Ayr United | Dens Park, Dundee |
| 19:45 | Moussa 77' Kusunga 90+3' |
Report | Shankland 51', 86' Moffat 89' |
Attendance: 3,151 Referee: John Beaton |
| 26 September 2018 Quarter-final | Rangers | 4–0 | Ayr United | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow |
| 19:45 | Katić 16' Middleton 31', 70'Morelos 49' |
Report | Attendance: 35,042 Referee: Bobby Madden |
Scottish Challenge Cup edit
| 14 August 2018 First Round | Queen's Park | 0–0 (4–2 p) | Ayr United | Hampden Park, Glasgow |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 834 |
Scottish Cup edit
| 24 November 2018 Third Round | Beith Juniors | 0–3 | Ayr United | Bellsdale Park, Beith |
| 15:00 | Report | Shankland 64' Docherty 79'Moffat 88' |
Attendance: 1,780 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 19 January 2019 Fourth Round | Auchinleck Talbot | 1–0 | Ayr United | Beechwood Park, Auchinleck |
| 15:00 | McCracken 78' |
Report | Attendance: 3,100 Referee: Euan Anderson |
Squad statistics edit
Appearances edit
- As of 11 May 2019[2]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League One | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK |  SCO
|
Ross Doohan | 47 | 0 | 36+0 | 0 | 6+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO
|
Chris Higgins | 5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO
|
Daniel Harvie | 44 | 0 | 31+2 | 0 | 6+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | SCO
|
Mark Kerr | 30 | 0 | 18+4 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO
|
Michael Rose | 44 | 1 | 34+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | SCO
|
Andy Geggan | 28 | 2 | 22+1 | 2 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | SCO
|
Michael Moffat | 44 | 10 | 29+5 | 5 | 4+2 | 4 | 2+0 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | SCO
|
Robbie Crawford | 44 | 0 | 30+3 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | SCO
|
Craig Moore | 26 | 4 | 8+12 | 4 | 1+3 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | SCO
|
Alan Forrest | 25 | 4 | 10+7 | 3 | 6+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO
|
Declan McDaid | 45 | 4 | 20+14 | 4 | 1+5 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | SCO
|
Craig McGuffie | 16 | 0 | 0+9 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | SCO
|
David Ferguson | 6 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | SCO
|
Steven Bell | 33 | 2 | 21+5 | 1 | 2+2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | SCO
|
Jamie Adams | 19 | 0 | 9+4 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | SCO
|
Lawrence Shankland | 41 | 34 | 29+2 | 24 | 6+0 | 9 | 1+0 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | SCO
|
Andy Murdoch | 44 | 1 | 33+1 | 1 | 6+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 19 | GK |  NZL
|
Ellis Hare-Reid | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | SCO
|
James Hilton | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | SCO
|
Finn Ecrepont | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | SCO
|
Ross Docherty | 23 | 1 | 9+10 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | SCO
|
Luke McCowan | 9 | 1 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 27 | DF | SCO
|
Liam Smith | 39 | 1 | 32+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | SCO
|
Nicky Cadden | 11 | 0 | 6+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | SCO
|
Calvin Miller | 14 | 1 | 8+5 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | SCO
|
Aaron Muirhead | 11 | 1 | 8+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
Team statistics edit
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dundee United | 36 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 49 | 40 | +9 | 65 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final |
| 3 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 36 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 48 | 40 | +8 | 56 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final |
| 4 | Ayr United | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 38 | +12 | 54 | |
| 5 | Greenock Morton | 36 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 46 | |
| 6 | Partick Thistle | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 43 |
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]
Division summary edit
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
League Cup table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AYR | PAR | GMO | STE | ALB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayr United (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 12 | Qualification for the Second round | — | — | 3–1 | 5–0 | — | |
| 2 | Partick Thistle (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 9 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 | — | — | ||
| 3 | Greenock Morton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 | — | — | — | 2–0 | 5–0 | ||
| 4 | Stenhousemuir | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 3 | — | 0–2 | — | — | 4–0 | ||
| 5 | Albion Rovers | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | −13 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | — | — |
Transfers edit
Players in edit
|
Players out edit
|
References edit
- ^ "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Harvie signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Kiwi keeper Ellis Hare-Reid signs for Scottish second tier club Ayr United". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Thursday treble signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Smith is latest signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Muirhead signs 18 month deal". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Celtic kid Calvin Miller hopes to impress Brendan Rodgers with Ayr United loan switch". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Livingston winger Nicky Cadden vows to help Ayr United's Championship title bid after deadline day move". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Avci signs for Stranraer". stranraerfc.org. Stranraer FC. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "We've signed a keeper". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queen's Park FC. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "East Kilbride new boy Craig Reid hoping promotion experiences can pay off for Kilby". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "McInally says Boyle signed due to blue toons reputation among the players". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Chris Higgins Joins On Loan". eastfifefc.info. East Fife FC. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.