Saints Extend the Lead, Fighting Diamonds and Staggies Back in the Hunt: Scottish Championship Review

Scottish Championship - Saturday's Round 27 Review

St Johnstone 3-1 Ayr United

_McLear (15'), Diabate (42'), Paton (86'); Dick (17')

Morning, Saints fans 💙

Start your day right by checking out our match highlights on #SaintsTV and YouTube now 📺#SJFC

— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) March 1, 2026

With only two wins in their last seven Championship games, leaders St. Johnstone were hoping to get back to winning ways at home against an Ayr side who are becoming inconsistent in the Championship and have only managed one league win so far in 2026.

St. Johnstone, as expected, started the match on the front foot and Sam Stanton was the first to test his luck in front of goal but his effort was deflected of an Ayr defender and out for a corner kick. But the Saints would get their goal eventually it was through Reece McLear who struck home from the edge of the Ayr penalty box and past Max Thompson and the league leaders were ahead. But it would not last too long as Ayr, practically straight from kick-off equalised with their first meaningful attack of the game; Liam Dick with his first goal for the Honest Men and it was all level in Perth.

Saints went up the pitch and could have put themselves back ahead moments later, Stanton once again causing all kinds of trouble for the Ayr United defenders and tried his luck on goal but Thompson saved well to deny the midfielder. However the league leaders did retake the lead, shortly before the half-time interval, Jamie Gullan with a corner-kick which was floated into the box and was headed home by Cheick Diabate past Thompson. Saints could have taken a two goal lead into the break but McAlear's strike struck the crossbar and out for an Ayr goal-kick.

Saints kept knocking on the door in the second-half but were unable to get a third goal early on; Stanton again trying his luck but was denied by Thompson who saved the midfielder's first-time effort well. Ayr had chances to find themselves an equaliser once again; substitute George Finney managed to win back possession but when his delivery was played into the Saints box, there was no takers to finish home. Scott McMann tried from distance but Toby Steward in the St. Johnstone goal was able to gather comfortably.

The hosts then finally managed to get the goal which secured the game off as a contest; Ruari Paton coming off the bench and rounded past Thompson into an empty net and made it 3-1 and the win and the points were staying in Perth.

Back to winning ways for St. Johnstone as they looked to pull clear between themselves and Partick Thistle in the race for the Championship title. As for Ayr, the inconsistency only continues.

Airdrieonians 3-1 Greenock Morton

Thomas (17', 47'), McArthur (85'); Garrity (10'), Ballantyne 🟥 (35'), Main 🟥 (82')

🎥 | The goals from today's William Hill Championship match against Greenock Morton. Full DiamondsTV highlights will follow tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dqjRrwaTyv

— Airdrieonians FC (@AirdrieoniansFC) February 28, 2026

It was four defeats for Airdrieonians, in all competitions, heading into their home match v Greenock Morton as they attempted to win only their second home league match of the season. Ian Murray returned to one of his former clubs after unbeaten Championship start to life as the Morton manager came to an end v Queen's Park last weekend.

Morton started this one on the front foot; Owen Moffat was the first to try his luck in front of goal but was unable to beat Harry Stone to a passback. But Murray's men did take the lead just moments later; Iain Wilson freeing Michael Garrity who slotted home past Stone and the Ton were ahead. Airdrie's heads did not drop down after going a goal behind; Dean McMaster with a long range effort but his shot was blocked and spun behind. Then two minutes later the Diamonds levelled through a trademark Dom Thomas strike from 25 yards out and the January addition from Ayr United scored his first Airdrieonians goal.

The Ton were reduced to ten men before half-time; Cammy Ballantyne flied into a challenge on Lewis Strapp and referee Grant Irvine waved a straight red card to the former Diamonds defender. They were made to pay for being a man down just minutes into the second-half; Strapp with a trademark long throw which was flicked on by Owen Stirton straight into Thomas' who volleyed home past Murray Johnston and the hosts took the lead.

Johnston was keeping Morton in the game with a double-save from Stirton and Thomas which prevented Airdrie with a two goal lead. However they were soon to get more of an advantage when Morton were reduced to nine men; just like Ballantyne's red, it was a foul on Strapp by Curtis Main who dived in with both feet off the ground and a second straight red card of the afternoon for the on. And three minutes later Airdrie secured the win when McMaster's corner was floated in and headed home by on-loan Newcastle defender Charlie McArthur, his first goal for Airdrieonians.

Aaron Taylor Sinclair's side get only a second home league win of the campaign but do remain in the relegation play-off. As for Morton, two straight defeats mean they remain in seventh spot.

Ross County 2-0 Raith Rovers

White (33'), Ikpeazu (43')

📹 Today's action from Dingwall. pic.twitter.com/vgAS8xTwPW

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) February 28, 2026

Ross County remain bottom of the Championship heading into their match v Raith Rovers but have won three matches under Stuart Kettlewell since his appointment in late December but came into this game with a defeat at home v Queen's Park and a 0-0 draw away at Ayr United. Raith Rovers booked their place in the KDM Evolution Trophy final in midweek, defeating Airdrieonians on penalties on Wednesday.

The Staggies had the ball in the back of the net, former Scotland defender Declan Gallagher with an excellent header at the far-post but the linesman's flag came to the rescue for the Rovers as he deemed Gallagher to be in an offside position. Innes Cameron was looking to score his first goal for Dougie Imrie's side following his loan move from Barrow but his header was comfortably saved by Trevor Carson in the County goal.

Ross County eventually went ahead with 12 minutes to go before half-time; a Sean Mackie corner causing all sorts of issues in the Rovers box and Jordan White was able to smash home at the back post and put the Staggies ahead. Moments later Darragh O'Connor had an excellent chance to put the Rovers on level terms, a corner kick found the on-loan York defender at the back post but his shot was fired over and out.

Jamie Lindsay had a great chance to double County's lead following a brilliant delivery from Jay Henderson but his header just glanced past the back post and out. But County kept upping the pressure, a series of corner-kicks was cleared by the Rovers defence but when the fifth in a row came in from Henderson, Uche Ikpeazu managed to head home past Josh Rae and County had a two goal lead.

Not much to talk about in terms of proper goalscoring chances in the second-half; Connor Randall struck with the outside of his boot but was blocked and deflected wide. Ikpeazu had another chance to get his second of the match but his shot flashed just wide of the post and County were able to see the game through to the end without much to trouble Carson in goals.

Ross County remain bottom but are on level points with ninth place Airdrieonians and two points behind Queen's Park in eighth place. Raith Rovers dreadful away record continues, they are without an away league goal since the 8th of November and without an away Championship win since the 6th of September and next up for them is the last Fife Derby of the season away at Dunfermline Athletic.

Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 Queen's Park

Morrison (Pen 25')

📹 Today's action from Dingwall. pic.twitter.com/vgAS8xTwPW

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) February 28, 2026

Neil Lennon's Dunfermline have stuttering of late in their quest to secure a promotion playoff spot; their away win v St. Johnstone on the 24th of January was the last time the Pars tasted victory in the Championship. After being thrashed at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup, Queen's Park have been unbeaten in the Championship with two wins and a late draw v St. Johnstone in midweek for Sean Crighton's side.

The Pars started this one on the front foot forcing a corner inside two minutes, the ball finding the path to Callumn Morrison but the recent signing from Linfield could not control the ball quick enough. The hosts kept upping the early pressure; Olly Thomas broke into the penalty box and sent an inviting ball to Josh Cooper and then Andy Tod but no chance came for a shot at goal. Former Dunfermline defender Euan Murray scored v St. Johnstone in midweek and he had the Spiders' first chance of the game but his shot was well saved by on-loan Motherwell keeper Aston Oxborough.

Dunfermline kept pushing up the pitch in the search for the opening goal and were rewarded a penalty kick when Seb Drozd brought down Charlie Gilmour and David Dickinson had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Morrison took the spot kick and managed to send the ball past Calum Ferrie and into the back of the Queen's Park net. This would not despair the Spiders as they could have equalised almost immediately; Drozd hit the crossbar and Aidan Connolly was unable to finish the follow up.

A goal advantage for the hosts and they were looking for a second in the early stages of the second-half; Kieran Ngwenya sent Tod but the Scotland U21 striker was unable to control for a clear shot at goal. The teenager then tried his luck from distance but Spiders' captain Murray was able to block the shot taken 25 yards from goal. Drozd was causing Dunfermline problems and any chance of an equaliser was sure to come from him; a corner kick was played in by Drozd which managed to find the path of substitute Michael Ruth but he could not score from 12 yards out.

In the end it was three points for the Pars and combining all the results sees them climb into the promotion playoffs at the expense of Ayr United. Queen's Park's recent good run is over and will have to wait for another two weeks for their next game which could be big in the relegation battle as they host Airdrieonians.

Partick Thistle 0-0 Arbroath

O'Reilly 🟥 (59'); O'Brien 🟥 (86')

Second place Partick Thistle and third place Arbroath was built up to be the game of the day in the Championship. The Red Litchies came into this unbeaten v Thistle this season, winning the last match at Gayfield in mid December.

Arbroath had the game's first chance and it fell to Harry Cochrane, who found himself in space, but his effort could not trouble Josh Clarke in the Jags' goal. Thistle had plenty of the ball but couldn't create too many chances and were looking to be patient to break the Red Litchies defence down; Tony Watt had their first attempt, to trouble Aidan McAdams in the Arbroath goal, but his toe poke was intercepted by the goalkeeper.

A cagey first-half by both teams high standards and there must have been hopes that the second-half would have been much better; Arbroath's recent signing Aidan Nesbitt, signed on-loan from Falkirk, tried his luck in front of goal but his shot went wide of Clarke's post. Then the game's first real big moment; Harry Cochrane was brought down just outside the Jags' box by Dan O'Reilly and the Thistle defender was shown a straight red card by Sean Murdoch.

Thistle, despite being a man down, was starting to have the better chances; Ben Stanway teeing up Aidan Fitzpatrick which looked like was sending the Jags' forward through on McAdams' goal but Fitzpatrick took a bad touch and then dragged his effort wide. The Red Litchies then started upping the pressure; Thomas O'Brien was the first to threaten for the visitors in the second-half but Clarke was at his best to stop the Arbroath captain. Findlay Marshall then looked like he was about to open the scoring but once again Clarke was the hero as he tipped over the on-loan Aberdeen midfielder's effort.

Then late drama as Arbroath themselves were also reduced to 10 men, O'Brien pulled down Alex Samuel and Sean Murdoch once again produced a straight red card. From the resulting free-kick Oisin Smyth managed to beat McAdams but not the woodwork and the game would go on to finish goalless.

Second straight draw for Thistle means they now trail St. Johnstone by five points in the title race. Arbroath remain in third place with 41 points and have a game in hand over St. Johnstone and Thistle.