Preview Ayr United

SPFL League One: Somerset Park, kick off 3.00pm

How different things are for both these teams since they last met at Somerset Park. Last time it was second against third, the Pars three points better off than Mark Roberts' side. The Friday night fixture meant that with league leaders Forfar not playing until the following day Dunfermline took the opportunity to return to the top, if only for 20 hours.

Look at them now though - Dunfermline out of the play off places in fifth and Ayr in the play off place at the wrong end of the table. Both have dreadful records since that 10th October meeting. Dunfermline have only won three times but one of those was in the cup against East Stirlingshire, Ayr United have only won once (at Cappielow).

It would seem that something has to go - Ayr without a win in 13 matches and Pars without a win in the seven since they defeated Ayr United at East End Park at the start of  December. Already gone are both managers who started the season so it will be Ian McCall v John Potter this time around.

This will be the 88th league meeting; the Pars have won 39 to Ayr's 26, 22 have been drawn.

The Pars have lost only two of the last 24 league meetings.  Ayr United have only won 5 of the last 44 games between the sides in all competitions stretching back to 1983. 

In the six matches between the teams last season Dunfermline won four and two were drawn. The two matches between them this season have both been won by Dunfermline. Faissal El Bakhtaoui's goal on the half hour led to the first victory and then a 4-2 win at home came after Andy Stirling and Allan Smith before the midway point in the first half. Scott McLaughlin got one back but Shaun Byrne restored the two goal advantage. Eleven minutes into the second half  Alan Forrest made it 3-2 only for Allan Smith to score again in the following minute.

In a dramatic loss of form having won four of their first five matches of the season, Ayr United have won only two of the 21 that followed. Dunfermline have only won two of their last twelve league games.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Ryan Scully; Ross Millen, Lewis Martin, Kyle McAusland, Alex Whittle; Josh Falkingham (c), Shaun Byrne (Lewis Spence 84), Andy Geggan, Andy Stirling (Faissal El Bakhtaoui 66); Andy Barrowman, Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Thomson, Jim Paterson, Allan Smith, Stuart Urquhart, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)

AYR UNITED (v Stenhousemuir): David Hutton, Nicky Devlin, Adam Blakeman (Scott McLaughlin 75), Morgyn Neill, Michael Donald, Craig Murray, Robbie Crawford, Alan Forrest (Paul Slane 82), Brian Gilmour, Jon Paul McGovern, Ryan Donnelly (Craig Beattie 55) 
SUBS NOT USED: Craig McCracken, Ryan Nisbet, Dale Shirkie, Shaun Newman (GK).

Referee will be Mat Northcroft.

C'mon Ye Pars!

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