Match ends, Falkirk 0, Ayr United 1.
FalkirkFalkirk0AyrAyr United1
Ayr United have opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Championship by beating bottom club Falkirk.
After a poor first half, Ayr improved after the break and Craig Moore gave them the lead from the edge of the box - though goalkeeper David Mitchell might have done better with the effort.
Rudden went close for Falkirk, while Alan Forrest and Lawrence Shankland had good efforts for Ayr.
But the visitors ground out their ninth league win of the season.
Falkirk manager Ray McKinnon: "We limited Ayr to virtually nothing, lost a goal to a goalkeeping error, so I am disappointed but pleased with the effort.
"We must take the positives out of the game. The hard work is there, the discipline is there, but when you are bottom of the league you seem to get punished for every mistake you make."
Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "I don't think there was a lot of football played, but the bottom line is we have ground out a result and a big, big three points.
"It has been a great week and a great nine points out of nine. We are going a bit better than we thought we would have at this stage, but we have a lot of good players, so you always have a chance."
Line-ups
Falkirk
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Mitchell
- 3McGhee
- 15Harrison
- 18Brough
- 2KiddSubstituted forSammutat 74'minutes
- 22McKeeSubstituted forHaberat 65'minutes
- 17BuabenSubstituted forLewisat 73'minutes
- 25IrvingBooked at 87mins
- 14Robson
- 7Petravicius
- 19Rudden
Substitutes
- 1Fasan
- 5Dallison-Lisbon
- 8Sammut
- 9Lewis
- 24Haber
- 26Russell
- 41Laverty
Ayr
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Doohan
- 27Smith
- 5Rose
- 15Bell
- 3HarvieBooked at 67mins
- 6Geggan
- 4KerrSubstituted forAdamsat 67'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 18MurdochBooked at 57mins
- 10ForrestSubstituted forMcDaidat 65'minutes
- 9Moore
- 17ShanklandBooked at 64minsSubstituted forMoffatat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Moffat
- 8Crawford
- 11McDaid
- 12McGuffie
- 16Adams
- 19Hare-Reid
- 23Docherty
- Referee:
- Greg Aitken
- Attendance:
- 4,310
Match Stats
Home TeamFalkirkAway TeamAyr
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Falkirk 0, Ayr United 1.
Booking
Jamie Adams (Ayr United) is shown the yellow card.
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(Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Jamie Adams (Ayr United).
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Scott Harrison (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Michael Moffat (Ayr United).
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Attempt blocked. Zak Rudden (Falkirk) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Zak Rudden (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jamie Adams (Ayr United).
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Attempt missed. Andrew Irving (Falkirk) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Foul by Marcus Haber (Falkirk).
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Daniel Harvie (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jordan McGhee (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Declan McDaid (Ayr United).
Booking
Andrew Irving (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card for dangerous play.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Irving (Falkirk).
Post update
Declan McDaid (Ayr United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Declan McDaid (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Ayr United. Michael Moffat replaces Lawrence Shankland.
