Dunfermline lose to Ayr United in SPFL Championship

Their preparation may not have been ideal but James McPake felt failing to test the opposition goalkeeper enough was a main contributing factor in Dunfermline's defeat at Ayr United.

On a difficult day for the Pars, who took more than five hours to get to Somerset Park because of Storm Bert, Jay Henderson's thunderous strike condemned them to a ninth league loss of the season.

It was a second successive setback on the road, sandwiched between home victories over Alloa Athletic, in the SPFL Trust Trophy, and Airdrieonians, and leaves McPake's outfit second bottom of the Championship table.

They've been beaten in all-but one of their seven away fixtures in the division, picking up just one point on the road, and McPake felt his team's performance, rather than the issues they had ahead of the game, was why they headed home empty-handed.

"The main issue was performance in the game," the Athletic boss said post-match.

"I think other than the first 10 or so minutes, which I thought we were pretty lively, then the game became a bit scrappy from both teams.

"I think Tobi (Oluwayemi) was called into action a few times from long range, without them breaking us down, and we never worked their goalkeeper anywhere near enough, and that carried on to the second half, even with the change of shape.

"That was the reason for doing that, to try and nullify certain problems they were causing us, but then to try and get in positions where we positions where we could hurt their goalkeeper.

"We never done that enough today."

The Pars struggled to create chances at Somerset Park. (Image: Craig Brown.) Kick off was pushed back to 3.45pm - despite the Pars only arriving at 2.50pm - after they suffered significant travel disruption, which also saw a member of their squad being involved in a minor car accident whilst on their way to a meeting point to catch the team bus.

READ MORE: McPake hits out at 'baffling' time taken to agree Ayr kick off

The club were critical of the revised start time, stating that their "players' welfare" was "compromised" by the decision, but Oluwayemi in their goal was in top form.

The on-loan Celtic star did well to tip over a fine shot from Scott McMann from range, before showing excellent reflects to block Paddy Reading's header at the far post.

George Stanger hooked over from a corner kick as Scott Brown's Honest Men continued to press, and Connor McLennan went close with a fine strike from outside the box, which went wide of target.

The same player was out of luck once more, from the edge of Dunfermline's penalty area after a period of patient build-up by the hosts, before Craig Clay had a shot deflected wide at the other end for the Pars.

Craig Clay had an effort for Athletic in the first half. (Image: Craig Brown.)Clay was replaced at the break by Chris Hamilton, but play continued in the direction of the away side's goal when Henderson's neat chip was dealt with by Oluwayemi.

There was a rare sight of goal for Chris Kane, who latched on to a loose header out of defence, before skewing an effort well wide, with Ayr's George Oakley then seeing a header comfortably saved.

Another opportunity was thwarted by Oluwayemi when he saved well from Dylan Watret, after a good counter attack involving McLennan, Oakley and Marco Rus, but there was nothing the Pars keeper could do when the hosts broke the deadlock in the 67th minute.

After Kyle Benedictus had headed a lofted ball forward clear, Hamilton's attempts to send the ball further upfield landed at the feet of Ben Dempsey.

He brought the ball under control before playing it wide right for Henderson, who took one touch before lashing an unstoppable shot high beyond Oluwayemi and into the net.

Dunfermline tried to respond and find a leveller, and Dapo Mebude tested the reflexes of Liam Russell in Ayr's goal with a good effort from distance, but they couldn't do it and remain two points from safety.