Dunfermline Athletic travel to Somerset Park this Saturday to face Ayr United in a Championship fixture. The match kicks off at 3pm local time as both sides look to improve their league positions.
Dunfermline currently sit fifth in the Championship table with 12 points from seven games. Their recent form includes three wins, a draw and a loss from their last five league outings. The Pars suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Aberdeen in a friendly last week, with Kane Bray scoring their only goal in the 36th minute. Manager James McPake will be hoping his team can bounce back from that result and secure a positive outcome on the road.
Ayr United's recent form
Ayr United come into the match with inconsistent results, having beaten Livingston 2-1 away last weekend. Their last five games show two wins and three defeats, including losses to Stenhousemuir and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. They currently occupy sixth place in the standings, one spot below their visitors. Head coach Scott Brown will be looking for more consistency from his side as they aim to move up the table. Ayr's victory over Livingston was a significant boost, and they will be confident playing at home in front of their own supporters.
Dunfermline's recent form
James McPake's side have won two of their last four competitive matches, including a 1-0 victory at Morton where Danny Lobban scored the decisive goal. Their last league meeting with Ayr ended in a 1-1 draw at East End Park in August. The team's most recent starting lineup featured Aiden Oxborough in goal with a defensive line of Danny Lobban, Sam Cleall-Harding, Nana Abdulai and Rhys Fraser. Midfielder Joe Chalmers has been a key creative influence this season, while striker Alex Jakubiak will be looking to add to his goal tally. The Pars have shown resilience in away games this campaign, picking up important points on their travels.
Both clubs fielded settled lineups in their previous matches, with Ayr using a 3-4-3 formation against Livingston. Dunfermline's next fixture after this is another away trip, with the full schedule available on our fixtures page. The squad list for the season can be viewed on our squad page. This match represents an important opportunity for both teams to gain ground in a tightly packed Championship table, where only a few points separate several clubs. The historical record between these two sides is evenly balanced, suggesting a closely contested encounter is likely at Somerset Park.
