Lower league focus

cinch Championship – Cove Rangers v Ayr United (Friday 27th January)

Friday night Championship football returns to our screens this evening with Ayr United’s trip north to face Cove Rangers in Aberdeen.

Cove’s form this season has been patchy at best, with the Toonsers currently in 8th place – just 4 points above 9th placed Arbroath. Paul Hartley’s return to the dug-out is yet to yield a victory but Cove bounced back from their 6-0 thrashing against Queen’s Park to nick a point late on against Raith Rovers a fortnight ago. Morgyn Neill’s 90th minute equaliser will have no doubt lifted spirits, but Cove need to start picking up wins quickly if they are to climb the table.

By just about every metric, 22/23 has been a successful season so far from the Honest Men. Despite conceding top spot to Queen’s Park in recent weeks, Ayr remain right in the promotion mix at the top end of the Championship. Currently occupying 2nd place with a +12 goal difference, Ayr will look to kick on again and look set to mount a serious title challenge. This evening’s fixture is one which Lee Bullen’s side will be relishing, having already beaten Cove at the Balmoral Stadium this season – 2-1 back in August. Top scorer Dipo Akinyemi is without a goal in his last 3 league matches but has scored in both meetings with the Toonsers this season. Will he rediscover his scoring touch tonight? 

cinch League 1 – Edinburgh v Falkirk (Saturday 28th January)

A huge capital city clash beckons in League 1 with 3rd placed Edinburgh welcoming 2nd placed Falkirk to Meadowbank on Saturday.

Edinburgh have been one of the stories of the season in the lower leagues. After promotion through the play-offs many thought it could be a season of consolidation or even struggle for the Citizens. But they have defied the odds and currently sit in a prime position to mount a real promotion push in the second half of the campaign. The division’s top scorers with 43 goals, Edinburgh certainly aren’t lacking firepower but they have lost their last two league matches. Saturday’s match against Falkirk is a huge opportunity for Edinburgh - victory would move them 3 points clear of the Bairns.

Consistency, or lack of it, has been Falkirk’s downfall in pretty much their whole tenure in L1 – this season being no different. However, it seems as though John McGlynn’s side may have turned a corner having won each of their last 4 matches in all competitions and having last tasted defeat in the league back in November. McGlynn seems to have just about found the right formula with his current squad and has also used the January window to strengthen. Blaine Rowe has impressed at right back since signing and the Bairns boss has added further firepower this week. Loan captures of Archie Meekison & Matthew Wright will add strength in depth, while the permanent acquisition of Clyde forward Jordan Allan may well be a game changer in the race for promotion. 

cinch League 2 – Dumbarton v Bonnyrigg Rose (Saturday 28th January)

It’s top against bottom in cinch League 2 this weekend. Dumbarton have a four-point lead over Stirling Albion, who play Stranraer at Forthbank in what will be their first outing of 2023, while Rose find themselves three points adrift of Albion Rovers at the wrong end of the table.

The Sons go into this one as strong favourites. They almost took Kilmarnock to extra time at Rugby Park in the Scottish Cup last weekend and are unbeaten at home in League 2 this season, conceding a miserly four goals in eight matches. They beat Bonnyrigg 1-0 back in September although it finished 1-1 at New Dundas Park last month.

Robbie Horn’s men started the season well following promotion to the SPFL but a recent run of four draws and a win was followed by 4-0 defeats to both Albion Rovers and Annan and they have only won once on their travels – at East Fife back in August. Rose will hope the additions of Zander Murray (Gala Fairydean), Aaron Arnott (Raith Rovers, loan) Robbie McGale (Peterhead) and Paddy Martin (Falkirk, loan) can help them get back on track but it will be a tough ask against Stevie Farrell’s league leaders.