National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Ayr United or Annan Athletic that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Ayr's stadium, Somerset Park, has a grass surface. Annan Athletic have artifical turf on their own stadium. This might or might not make a difference, and to help evaluate that we give you the recent performance numbers for Annan Athletic when playing on grass; 15 wins, 2 draws and 15 losses from 32 matches. They have scored 42 goals in these games and conceded 49.
Ayr United form and stats
Last season their League Cup adventure ended in the group stage.Ayr United have collected 21 points from their Championship home games so far after 6-3-5. Their last two home games have resulted in two points, meaning they were both draws.
Times are rough for the home team, having gone 278 minutes without scoring a league goal. A. Forrest was the last player to find the net.
Ayr are hoping to put things right at home after a defeat in their previous match, the score 1-2 away versus Hamilton Academical. Before that match, a League Cup win away at Albion Rovers.
Some members of the home team might already be thinking of their next match, the Championship game versus Queen of the South in only four days. This game is also played here at Somerset Park.
The Ayr fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 18 in 14 matches. It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only -1 of these goals has been scored in their last three home matches. On the other hand, Ayr have conceded 14 goals. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Annan Athletic form and stats
Annan's mission in League Cup last season failed in the group stage.Annan Athletic have only collected 9 points from their away games in the League Two, after 3-0-10 (13 played). A depressing five defeats in a row for Annan in their away games. Unhappy days, as the last time they avoided a loss on the road was versus Stenhousemuir.
Annan are looking to quickly end their 246 minutes long goal drought in the League Two.
There were no winners in Annan's previous match, a League Cup home game that ended 1-1 vs Stranraer (after extra-time, 4-5 on penalties). Before that, Annan Athletic secured a home win against Hamilton Academical with the score 3-1.
With the home team given a winning probability of about 80% by the bookmakers, any positive result for the visitors would be a surprise. Checking earlier matches with similar odds with Annan Athletic as the away team, we found three results. Statistics from these were zero away wins, zero draws and three defeats. The outsiders lost three of these games by at least two goals.
The schedule is very tough for Annan now as they have to travel again shortly after this match. A League Two game at Cowdenbeath is waiting in only four days.
The attacking power of Annan Athletic when travelling is not overwhelming with 9 goals scored from 13 league matches away. It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only -1 of these goals has been scored in their last three away matches. For Annan Athletic, more than two goals on average per game end up in their own net. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 away matches.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head totals (for the last two meetings): Ayr won one game, zero matches ended with a draw and Annan Athletic has one win. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: one / oneAyr United missing players
Annan Athletic missing players
| Ayr United | Annan Athletic | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 8 | 4 | Won | W | 3 | 9 | ||
| 5 | 3 | Drew | D | 0 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 6 | Lost | L | 9 | 13 | ||
| 31 | 13 | Scored | S | 12 | 37 | ||
| 37 | 14 | Conceded | C | 29 | 51 | ||
| 92% | 85% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 96% | ||
| 76% | 62% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 92% | ||
| 52% | 46% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 68% | ||
| 28% | 8% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 44% | ||
| 16% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 24% | ||
| 56% | 54% | BTTS | BTTS | 42% | 52% | ||
| 24% | 31% | Clean Sheets | C S | 8% | 12% | ||
| 28% | 31% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 40% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.8 | 1.8 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.5 | 2.3 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 4 | ||
| 228 | 140 | Total Shots | T S | 64 | 171 | ||
| 94 | 55 | Shots on Target | S O | 33 | 77 | ||
| 30% | 22% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 30% | 43% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Annan Athletic | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | Ayr United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Hamilton Academical | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Stranraer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Albion Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Dundee United | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 52 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 12 | 30 | 59 |
| 2 | Inverness CT | 27 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 39 | 32 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 7 | 45 |
| 3 | Dundee | 27 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 31 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 1 | 41 |
| 4 | Ayr United | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 38 | 35 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 40 |
| 5 | Dunfermline Athletic | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 41 | 36 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 19 | 5 | 37 |
| 6 | Arbroath | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 16 | -2 | 36 |
| 7 | Greenock Morton | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 45 | 52 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 22 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 30 | -7 | 36 |
| 8 | Alloa Athletic | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 33 | 43 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 24 | -10 | 31 |
| 9 | Queen of the South | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 | 40 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 20 | -12 | 28 |
| 10 | Partick Thistle | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 32 | 47 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 25 | -15 | 26 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Cove Rangers | 28 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 76 | 34 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 39 | 27 | 42 | 68 |
| 2 | Edinburgh City | 27 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 49 | 28 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 55 |
| 3 | Elgin City | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 43 |
| 4 | Cowdenbeath | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 37 | 35 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 41 |
| 5 | Queen's Park | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 37 | 35 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 40 |
| 6 | Stirling Albion | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 14 | -1 | 36 |
| 7 | Annan Athletic | 27 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 54 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 32 | -21 | 31 |
| 8 | Stenhousemuir | 28 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 32 | 48 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 19 | -16 | 29 |
| 9 | Albion Rovers | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 28 | -14 | 24 |
| 10 | Brechin City | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 31 | 60 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 35 | -29 | 17 |