Five star Saints, goals aplenty in Fife and Diamonds caught in the Spiders web - William Hill Championship: Round 19 Review

William Hill Championship: Round 19 Review

St. Johnstone 5-0 Greenock Morton

McPake (12'), Stanton (24'), Gullan (39', 70'), Sidibeh (76')

Back-to-back wins for St. Johnstone, in the Championship and in the KDM Evolution Trophy, have eased some pressure following a run of three games without a win before it. The Saints hosted Morton who changed their interim management team over the course of the week; Billy Davies returning to his Technical Head Coach role with Gary Miller, the club's Head of Youth and Emerging Talent, now the interim manager.

Saints almost made a perfect start, Adama Sidibeh playing in a low ball across the Ton's goal with Sam Stanton inches away from following home. The hosts started brightly with Josh McPake crossing into the path of Jamie Gullan but his header went wide. Morton just simply couldn't deal with the hosts' fast start and went behind when McPake cut in from the left and sent home an excellent strike into the corner past James Storer. Simo Valakari's side was in the mood of finishing the game early on as possible and made it two after only 24 minutes; McPake sending a cross into the box where it was met by Stanton who finished from close range.

Morton were shellshocked and wanting to get into the break with a way back into the game, but went futher behind when Sidibeh won possession from Jackson Longridge and squared to Gullan who slotted home the third. A commanding lead could have been more if it wasn't for Iain Wilson who blocked a McPake's strike from the edge of the penalty box.

The Ton had the first chance in the second-half but Wilson's strike from distance couldn't trouble Toby Steward to give them a chance of a quick response. Then at the midway stage of the half, Saints were awarded a free-kick from around 30 yards out after a Cammy Blues foul on Adam Forrester. Gullan stepped up to take the free-kick and curled home a brilliant effort in to the top corner and if the game wasn't over before, it certainly was now. Then, with 14 minutes remaining, it was five for the hosts; Forrester with the delivery to the head of Sidibeh who sent a glancing header past Storer.

It's Saints biggest league win since 2006 and they now extend their Championship lead and will head up to Dingwall for their first match after Christmas as they take on Ross County. For Morton, they have lost three games in a row, in all competitions, and all they would want for Christmas is a new manager in the dugout for their match against Ayr United after Dougie Imrie's departure nearly five weeks ago.

😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

Full highlights from today's win are now available to watch over on our YouTube channel 🍿⤵️#SJFC

— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) December 20, 2025

Ross County 0-2 Arbroath

MacIntyre (33'), Steven (83')

A 6-0 defeat at the hands of Raith Rovers last week meant the short lived Tony Docherty era is now over in Dingwall, the former Dundee manager and assistant Callum Davidson left their roles last weekend. For the second time this season, the Staggies were under the interim charge of John Robertson as they welcomed the promotion chasing Red Litchies.

Arbroath had the first real clear cut chance after a surge from Jack Wilkie was met by the head of Gavin Reilly, whose effort was not far off the mark but had too much height. Their next chance provided the opener when Victor Enem sent in a cross which was met by Jacob MacIntyre, who lashed home a low drive past Trevor Carson in the County goal. The Staggies response was positive following the opener; Jay Henderson flashed a shot just wide moments after MacIntyre's opener. Jordan White was next to test his luck; He was sent through on goal by Ronan Hale, but a brilliant save from Aidan McAdams' feet sent the ball over the crossbar.

Into the second half and a swift County attack almost lead to the equaliser when White picked out Jamie Lindsay, but his effort was held by McAdams. Arbroath tried the spectacular to double their lead; Brooklyn Kabongolo tried his luck with an overhead kick in the box but his effort was saved well by Carson. Taylor Steven, on loan from fellow Championship side St. Johnstone, fired a shot, but it went wide.

However, Steven would not be denied his goal, a brilliant curling shot went high beyond Carson and into the net which sent the travelling Red Litchies supporters wild and sent the home fans heading for the exits and to their cars.

It's five wins in a row, in all competitions, for Arbroath with the co-player/manager pairing of David Gold and Colin Hamilton doing a fine job in their return to the Championship. Gold himself has been linked with the managerial vacancy in Dingwall, if this was to be an audition then you can consider that a job very much well done. However, Arbroath will want to keep their prized assets for their home match against Airdrieonians on the 27th.

For Ross County, it's five defeats in their six Championship matches and they need to stop conceding goals - during the run they have conceded fifteen goals, scoring only once. Another disappointing afternoon for County as they look to appoint their third permanent manager of the season, they will need a manager who can change their fortunes around as they remain bottom, five points adrift from the relegation playoff spot.

Dunfermline Athletic 2-3 Ayr United

Ngwenya (63', 65'); McKenzie (5'), Dowds (26'), King (45+4')

Two defeats in their last three Championship games have seen Dunfermline slip out of the promotion playoff spots with Scott Brown's Honest Men taking their place. However, Ayr came into this game having thrown away a 2-0 half-time lead to St. Johnstone last Friday.

Ayr, like the week before, started brightly at East End Park and took the lead early on when Marco Rus teed up Mark McKenzie who couldn't miss from close range past Billy Terrell. Dunfermline responded well; Robbie Fraser was the first Pars player to try his luck in front of goal in the afternoon but his shot was deflected away and didn't trouble Liam Russell in the Ayr goal.

It was Ayr's first-half; They had the better chances and went two up when Ben Dempsey's shot was partially blocked but spun forward to the path of Anton Dowds who headed home past Terrell. Dunfermline attempted to respond immediately, as Josh Cooper's cross to Rory MacLeod was looped goalward, but Russell held onto his effort. Into first-half stoppage time Ayr went further ahead; a corner kick was not dealt with by Terrell or the Pars defence and after a scramble in the box on-loan Rangers defender Leon King smashed home and it was 3-0.

Dunfermline's second-half response was urgent, perhaps they reminded themselves of Ayr's throwaway defeat the week before; Kieran Ngwenya headed a Matty Todd free-kick narrowly wide only seconds after the restart. Ngwenya would be the player who really kickstarted the Pars response; his first goal came when Robbie Fraser crossed to the right where Ngwenya converted. Then, a Todd corner was fed back from Andy Tod for Ngwenya yet again to volley home from the edge the box. Surely Ayr weren't going to throw away another half-time lead? Dunfermline upped the pressure to get an equaliser; substitute Keith Bray came the closest but his header was comfortably saved.

Ayr held on for the win and claimed a big three points in the promotion playoff hunt, it's the Honest Men's first win in December. It's now three defeats in their last four games for Dunfermline, who have fallen to sixth place in the table and are four points behind Scott Brown's side.

Airdrieonians 0-3 Queen's Park

Fowler (45', 64'), Fieldson (75')

Four wins in a row, in all competitions, increased the chances of Aaron Taylor-Sinclair landing the permanent manager's job in Airdrie. Queen's Park have been on an inconsistent run in all competitions, two wins and a draw in their last five.

The Spiders started off on the front foot; Josh Fowler inside the opening minutes saw his shot well blocked by the Airdrie defence. It was a box-to-box opening to the game, with Cade Melrose coming to the home side's rescue, claiming a Carlo Pignatiello cross, then starting the counter attack for the Diamonds. Gavin Gallagher could, and probably should have opened the scoring for Airdrie; A square pass from Chris Mochrie to Gallagher and his curling effort went just past the post.

Queen's Park took the lead just before half-time; Roddy McGregor playing in Josh Fowler who squeezed the ball home past Melorse and Sean McGinty, who was defending his lines, to open the scoring for the Spiders. Airdrie didn't let the disappointment of the late goal effect their play and came out on the front foot after the restart, Jamie Barjonas firing just over before McGinty sent in a low strike which went just wide of the goal.

Josh Fowler has been in fine form over the course of the season and after already scoring in the first-half, he bagged a double when he converted from the edge of the Diamonds six yard box. He tried his luck again 10 minutes late with a free-kick, forcing a good save from Melrose, but the ball was loose and returned to Henry Fieldson who scored from close range.

With three goals and a clean sheet, Queen's Park go above Airdrieonians in the table; The Spiders are up to eighth with the Diamonds failing to put some breathing space between them, Queen's Park, and Ross County.

J🤫4️⃣ doing what he does best⚽️🕷️ pic.twitter.com/8iWuNzcPI8

— Queen's Park FC (@queensparkfc) December 21, 2025

Partick Thistle 0-0 Raith Rovers

Mullin 🟥 (66')

A draw and a defeat in the last two Championship games has derailed Partick Thistle's title ambitions slightly and they knew that coming to Firhill was a Raith Rovers side who had scored six goals against Ross County the week before and were unbeaten under Dougie Imrie.

Raith took some early control in this one but Thistle slowly grew more into the game. Aidan Fitzpatrick was the first to try his luck but his shot, from the edge of the box, went wide. Dylan Easton sent in a number of free-kicks into the Thistle box but none could really trouble Josh Clarke in the Jags' goal. Raith were forced to reshuffle things when Paul Hanlon took a nasty head knock after 30 minutes played, with the defender playing no further part and being sent to hospital for checks.

Thistle started the second half looking to take the game to the Rovers', Lee Ashcroft looked certain to open the scoring but his header from a corner kick went just wide. Josh Rae has been in some inspiring form in the Rovers goal of late and he was needed to deny Kyle Turner's shot at the near post. The game suddenly had some tension; A late challenge from Oisin Smyth on Darragh O'Connor sent mayhem and caused friction between the two sides with Smyth and Tony Watt both going into the book for Thistle, and Josh Mullin for Raith.

The tension boiled over when Jags goalkeeper Clarke rolled the ball straight to Ben McPherson who was brought down by a late tackle from Josh Mullin, resulting in a second yellow card, reducing Rovers to 10 men. Despite Thistle throwing lots at the Rovers, they just couldn't get a goal. The closest they came was a scramble in the box after Rae flapped at a corner kick, but Ashcroft sent his shot over the crossbar.

A goalless draw but not for the lack of trying from both sides. Ultimately, Thistle lose points in the league title push against St. Johnstone; They are now five points adrift of Simo Valakari's side. Raith are now six games unbeaten in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets in a row, and continue their push up the table to fifth place ahead of their matchup against Dunfermline who they face next up in the Fife Derby.

A hard-earned point with ten men.

📹 The match highlights from this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/xHsUAP2DRn

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) December 20, 2025