Preview Ayr United

This will be the 93rd league meeting; the Pars have won 43 to Ayr's 27, 22 have been drawn.

While Dunfermline were being held to a draw by Albion Rovers in midweek, Ayr United recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over Stenhousemuir to draw level with second-placed Peterhead. It took until midway through the second half for Ayr to get ahead, Craig Moore netting on the rebound after Ryan Stevenson's free-kick had been saved. Jamie McCormack headed Stenny level but the visitors then had Alan Cook dismissed for two bookings. Stuart Malcolm's own goal put Ayr back ahead and strikes by Stevenson and Alan Trouten completed their victory.

This will be the 93rd league meeting; the Pars have won 43 to Ayr's 27, 22 have been drawn. The Pars have lost only three of the last 29 league meetings.  Ayr United have only won 6 of the last 49 games between the sides in all competitions stretching back to 1983. 

This season the sides have already met four times. In September at East End Park goals from Alan Forrest, midway through the first half, and then Jordan Preston early in the second, secured a 2-0 victory. Dunfermline then won the Scottish Cup tie at the end of November. The first league encounter at Somerset Park saw Michael Moffat open the scoring with his first goal against his old club. Gerry McLauchlan equalised within three minutes and after the Pars were reduced to ten men as a result of Cardle's red card, it was super sub David Hopkirk's 70th minute goal that was enough to secure the three points for Allan Johnston's side.

At East End Park in February Ayr romped into a two goal lead through Andy Graham (41) and a Craig Moore penalty (44). Michael Moffat got one back from the spot (45+2 pen) as Ayr went down to ten men as a consequence of Brian Gilmour's red card. The Pars came back out in the second half and Joe Cardle (54) and Faissal El Bakhtaoui (65) ensured the win.

The four matches between them last season were all won by Dunfermline. In the six matches between the teams the previous season Dunfermline won four and two were drawn. So the record is in the Fifers favour.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Albion Rovers): Sean Murdoch; Craig Reid, Brad McKay, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot; Michael Paton, Shaun Byrne (Rhys McCabe 68) Josh Falkingham (c), Joe Cardle (David Hopkirk 55); Michael Moffat (Ryan Wallace 55), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: David Hutton (GK), Lewis Martin, Shaun Rooney, Paul Joseph Crossan

AYR UNITED (v Stenhousemuir): Greg Fleming; Nicky Devlin, Peter Murphy, Andy Graham, Paddy Boyle; McCrorie (Brian Gilmour 67), Ross Docherty (Jordan Preston 78), Jamie Adams (Allan Forrest 58), Ryan Stevenson, Alan Trouten, Craig Moore
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Donald, Gerry McLauchlan,, Michael Wardrope, Shaun Newman (GK)

Referee will be Don Robertson
C'mon Ye Pars!

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