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]
| 2020–21 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Lachlan Cameron (until 12 January 2021) David Smith | ||
| Manager | Mark Kerr (until 28 February) David Hopkin (from 11 March) | ||
| Stadium | Somerset Park | ||
| Scottish Championship | 8th | ||
| Scottish League Cup | Second round | ||
| Scottish Cup | Third round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Cammy Smith (6) All: Luke McCowan (9) | ||
|
| |||
Summary edit
Season edit
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 edit
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Scottish Championship edit
| 17 October 2020 1 | Ayr United | 2–1 | Queen of the South | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Miller  13', 18'McCowan  90+1' |
Report | Dobbie 56 pen.' Maxwell 66' |
Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven McLean |
| 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 |
| 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 52'Smith 74' |
Attendance: 0 Referee: Greg Aitken |
| 7 November 2020 4 | Ayr United | 0–0 | Dunfermline Athletic | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier |
| 21 November 2020 5 | Ayr United | 2–0 | Dundee | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Smith 3' Moffat 16' |
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Graham Beaton |
| 5 December 2020 6 | Alloa Athletic | 0–2 | Ayr United | Recreation Park, Alloa |
| 15:00 | Report | McCowan 38' Murdoch 61'Smith 84' |
Attendance: 0 Referee: Barry Cook |
| 11 December 2020 7 | Ayr United | 0–0 | Raith Rovers | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 0 |
| 19 December 2020 8 | Arbroath | 2–1 | Ayr United | Gayfield Park, Arbroath |
| 15:00 | Craigen 36', 39' |
Report | Baird 88' |
Attendance: 0 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 23 January 2021 13 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–0 | Ayr United | East End Park, Dunfermline |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Don Robertson |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 27 February 2021 16 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Arbroath | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | McKenna 63' |
Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine |
| 6 March 2021 17 | Greenock Morton | 0–2 | Ayr United | Cappielow, Greenock |
| 15:00 | Report | Smith 55', 87' |
Attendance: 0 Referee: Mike Roncone |
| 9 March 2021 18 | Raith Rovers | 0–0 | Ayr United | Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Scott Lambie |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 24 April 2021 26 | Ayr United | 0–0 | Queen of the South | Somerset Park, Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Nick Walsh |
| 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 edit
Group stage edit
Results
| 6 October 2020 1 | Albion Rovers | 2–5 | Ayr United | Coatbridge |
| 19:45 | Aitken 23 pen.', 38' Wilson 78' |
Report | McCowan 30' Walsh 35'Anderson 40', 82'Zanatta 59' |
Stadium: Cliftonhill Attendance: 0 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 edit
| 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 edit
| 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 |
| 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 edit
Appearances edit
- 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 |  SCO
|
P. J. Morrison | 4 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | MF | SCO
|
Jordan Houston | 23 | 0 | 17+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO
|
Patrick Reading | 24 | 1 | 21+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO
|
Aaron Muirhead | 29 | 4 | 24+0 | 3 | 3+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF |  ENG
|
Sam Roscoe | 21 | 0 | 14+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | SCO
|
Andy Murdoch | 28 | 1 | 21+3 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | SCO
|
Michael Moffat | 32 | 4 | 16+9 | 1 | 5+0 | 2 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | SCO
|
Michael Miller | 27 | 4 | 16+5 | 4 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG
|
Andre Wright | 6 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | SCO
|
Tom Walsh | 21 | 4 | 10+8 | 3 | 1+0 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | SCO
|
Luke McCowan | 33 | 9 | 26+0 | 5 | 5+0 | 2 | 2+0 | 2 |
| 15 | MF | ENG
|
Josh Todd | 5 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF |  IRL
|
Corrie Ndaba | 14 | 0 | 13+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | SCO
|
Joe Chalmers | 31 | 1 | 21+3 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 19 | FW |  CAN
|
Dario Zanatta | 18 | 1 | 3+10 | 0 | 3+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | SCO
|
Michael Hewitt | 8 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK |  NZL
|
Ellis Hare-Reid | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | SCO
|
Mark McKenzie | 27 | 2 | 6+14 | 2 | 2+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG
|
Brett McGavin | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | SCO
|
Liam Miller | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | SCO
|
Jamie Barjonas | 6 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 29 | GK |  SVK
|
Peter Urminský | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | SCO
|
Jack Baird | 34 | 1 | 27+0 | 1 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | SCO
|
Paul Smith | 3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | 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 |  FIN
|
Viljami Sinisalo | 29 | 0 | 22+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | SCO
|
Bruce Anderson | 12 | 2 | 7+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO
|
Cammy Smith | 21 | 6 | 19+1 | 6 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | SCO
|
Innes Cameron | 6 | 1 | 0+5 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | SCO
|
Finn Ecrepont | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | SCO
|
Mark Kerr | 2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Team statistics edit
League table edit
| Pos | Team | 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
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 edit
| Pos | Team | 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 | — | — | — |
Transfers edit
Transfers in edit
| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2020 | DF | Patrick Reading | Stevenage
|
Free transfer | [7] |
| MF | 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 | Andre Wright
|
Bohemian
|
[14] |
Transfers out edit
| 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 | 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 |  Indy Eleven
|
[22] |
Loans in edit
| Date | Position | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2020 | GK | Viljami Sinisalo
|
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 | Corrie Ndaba
|
Ipswich Town
|
31 May 2021 | [28] |
| 1 February 2021 | MF | Brett McGavin
|
[29] | ||
| 27 February 2021 | GK | Peter Urminský
|
St Mirren | [30] | |
| 18 March 2021 | MF | Jamie Barjonas | Rangers | [31] | |
| 9 April 2021 | GK | P. J. Morrison | Motherwell | [32] |
Loans out edit
| 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 edit
- ^ "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Message from Lachlan". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Cammy Smith agrees deal".
- ^ "Andre Wright Signs". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Good Luck to Geggan". Somerset Road End Forum. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Player Update". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ "Steven Bell arrives to strengthen defence as season approaches". eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Indy Eleven Signs Scottish Premier League Striker Cammy Smith". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bruce is an Honest Man". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Evening Express the Press and Journal combined".
- ^ "Dundee United ace Cammy Smith joins Ayr United on loan as 'delighted' Mark Kerr hails signing". The Courier. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Striker Innes Cameron joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Corrie Ndaba signs". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ "United sign McGavin". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ "St Mirren goalkeeper Peter Urminsky joins Ayr United on emergency loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Rangers talent Jamie Barjonas joins Ayr United on loan". Not the Old Firm. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "PJ Morrison loaned to Ayr United". motherwellfc.co.uk. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Summer Signings". SPFL. Retrieved 7 October 2020.