League 1 Review | Season 2013/14

1

Rangers

An unbeaten 36 game League 1 season saw Rangers clinch a second consecutive title and promotion. The Ibrox side only drew 3 games against Stranraer and Stenhousemuir at home and Dunfermline away.

They also crashed through both the 100 goals and the 100 point mark.

Cup run were mixed with a defeat from Forfar in the First Round of the Scottish League Cup followed by strong runs in both the Ramsdens and the Scottish Cup.

Unfortunately for Ally McCoist’s side they suffered a disappointing week in early April where they lost to Raith Rovers 1-0 in the Ramsdens Cup Final and then suffered a 3-1 reverse against Dundee United in a Scottish semi.

Hit

2

Dunfermline
Athletic

Dunfermline’s stated objectives at the start were to finish second in the table and then secure promotion via the play-offs.

Jim Jefferies’ young side did the first bit in style finishing 12 points clear of third place Stranraer.

The play-offs started well with a comeback success against the Stair Park side, however Fife neighbours Cowdenbeath proved to be too strong in the Final.

The positive for the Pars is that their youngsters have gained a full season's worth of experience and will be better equipped for a higher league placing and promotion next term.

Rangers ended East End Park interest in Round Five of the Scottish Cup with Raith Rovers and Falkirk knocking Dunfermline out in the other cups early on.

Somewhere in-between

3

Stranraer

Stephen Aitken’s side sit below Dunfermline however their season has been a hit as they were tipped by many to be relegation contenders at the start of the season.

Aitken won a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards as his side enjoyed a great end to 2013 which included becoming the first side to take a point off Rangers.

Stranraer’s form shaded towards the end of the season however the play-offs were made on the last day with a 3-1 success over Forfar.

Dunfermline edged out Aitken’s men in extra time in the play-offs to end a season that also saw a Scottish League Cup win over Ross County and a Scottish cup draw with Hibs.

Hit

4

Ayr United

Ayr aimed for the play-off place at the start of the season and they got there in week one. They stayed for the remainder of the season however they needed a final day win to secure an extension.

In that sense their season was a hit however they never went on a convincing run to gain the momentum required for a promotion push.

The Honest Men scored the third highest total of goals behind Rangers and Dunfermline however they actually lost one more than they scored and that undermined their season.

The play-offs brought a tie against Cowdenbeath and the outcome turned against Mark Roberts’ side in the opening second of the second tie when they lost a goal to go down 3-1.

Somewhere in-between

5

Stenhousemuir

Stenhousemuir made a strong start under Martyn Corrigan and they put in a strong finish under Scott Booth however it would be fair to say they failed to capitalise in-between times.

Corrigan was moved out of office in January with his side sitting 7 points off a play-off place and due to face Albion Rovers for a place in the Scottish Cup quarter finals.

Scott Booth was not appointed until nearly two months later by which time Rovers had booked their place against Rangers and 5 leagues games had been drawn and one lost.

Stenhousemuir finished a point behind Ayr and if one win had been secured during the gap between managers they would have fighting it out for promotion.

Somewhere in-between

6

Airdrieonians

Airdrie were looking very much as if their season was going to be a Miss until Gary Bollan came on board in October. The Diamonds were in bottom spot however the former Livingston manager worked his magic and they climbed up to sixth place.

The second half of the season was promotion winning form with Airdrie picking up 36 points from those 18 games with defeat only felt at the hands of Rangers and Ayr United.

Grant Adam came in and stabilised the goalkeeping spot at the club and that certainly helped improve a defence that been porous.

A fantastic opening spell for Bollan and the expectations for the next season will be that he can take them into the top half of the table.

Hit

7

Forfar Athletic

The Loons started the season with cup wins over East Fife and then Rangers however it was game 5 of their League 1 campaign before they secured a three point haul.

A defeat from neighbours Arbroath back in October actually sent Dick Campbell’s side into bottom spot. However they recovered quickly from that and were always comfortably mid table as opposed to promotion chasing or relegation fighting.

A disappointing end to the season kicked off with defeats from Airdrie and East Fife and only one win in seven games meant that the play-off dream was always just out of sight.

Somewhere in-between

8

Brechin City

Brechin were tipped by many to be a promotion seeking side however a push from the Glebe Park men never came.

Injuries were the key reason for that and despite encouraging performances home and away against Rangers, Ray McKinnon’s side failed to trouble the play-off places.

A slide towards relegation trouble was averted towards the end of the season with three wins and a draw in the last five games.

The Cups brought little other cheer for McKinnon’s men with a penalty kick defeat from Forfar in the Scottish Cup, a League Cup exit to Stranraer and a Ramsdens Cup knockout from Peterhead.

Somewhere in-between

9

East Fife

East Fife started the season under new management on and off the park with ambitious plans to make a challenge in League 1.

However continental signings and a change in management affected their season and they struggled in the bottom half of the table all season.

Former Scottish internationalist Gary Naysmith, who had originally signed as a player/ coach became the manager and despite a revival with wins at Dunfermline and Forfar the Fifers finished the season in ninth place.

Resilience had to be shown to get past Clyde at the semi-final stage however Stirling came from behind to win the Final and East Fife will spend next season in League 2.

Miss

10

Arbroath

The Red Lichties played a lot of good football however they did not score enough goals and they conceded softly. As a result they did not collect enough points.

A slip down the table saw the Gayfield men occupy bottom spot for the first time in February and despite a late rally they were relegated automatically.

A December defeat at Airdrie in the game where Arbroath led was a pivotal moment in the season as a potential 8 point gap became just the two.

Paul Sheerin who led the club to the Third Division in 2011 has been tasked with getting them back up at the first time of asking.

Sheerin will relish the challenge and also want to mark turning 40 by playing the full season.

Miss