News /Game News
Arbroath match preview
Arbroath vs. Ayr United
SPFL Championship
Saturday 17th April 2021. Kick-off 12 noon.
On Saturday, the Honest Men travel to Gayfield for a huge match in the battle to avoid the League 1 play-offs. United have lost only one of their last five Championship matches but four draws mean David Hopkin’s side are yet to open up a decisive gap over ninth place.
After a 1-1 draw with Dunfermline last weekend, United head to Angus one point ahead of Arbroath and ninth placed Morton who host Champions Heart of Midlothian on Tuesday night.
Opposition
After an eight-match unbeaten run from mid-January into February, Arbroath’s form has faltered of late with just one win in their last seven in all competitions. That was an important victory over bottom side Alloa which gave Dick Campbell’s side an eight point advantage over the Wasps.
The Red Lichties followed that result up with a performance that was full of character, fighting back from two goals down with just 20 minutes left to play at Starks Park to draw 2-2 last Saturday, Jack Hamilton and Ricky Little scoring the late goals against high flying Raith.
Team News
We have a fully fit squad
The Manager Says:
Head to Head
Ayr United wins: 51
Draws: 19
Arbroath wins: 30
United are without a win in the last four meetings between the sides.
Last Meeting:
Arbroath’s 1-0 win at Somerset Park in February proved to be Mark Kerr’s last match in charge of the Honest Men. A second-half Michael McKenna strike from the edge of the box handed the Red Lichties all three points.
A quickfire first-half James Craigen double gave Arbroath the advantage in the first meeting between the sides this season, a deficit from which Ayr couldn’t recover; Jack Baird’s late goal proving just to be a consolation.
Match Officials
Referee – Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee 1 – Gary Hilland
Assistant Referee 2 – Colin McAlpine
Live Coverage
Head to https://arbroathfc.tv/payperview/ to get access to the live stream of Saturday’s game for £12.
HonestMen Picks:
Download the new HonestMen Picks app on Apple or Android and predict Saturday’s match action for a chance to top the live leaderboard and a share of the £500 prize pot.
It is great to have everyone fit and available as it is obviously a very big game. We have had a great week in training and everyone is really looking forward to it. Craig Moore took part in training for a couple of days this week and will do more next week which gave everyone a boost to see him back.