2020–21 Arbroath F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Arbroath's second consecutive season in the Scottish Championship, following their promotion from Scottish League One in the 2018–19 season. They also competed in the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

Arbroath
2020–21 season
ChairmanMike Caird
ManagerDick Campbell
StadiumGayfield Park
Scottish Championship7th
Scottish CupSecond round
Scottish League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jack Hamilton (8)
All: Jack Hamilton (8)

Season summary

In June 2020, eight of the ten clubs voted in favour of shortening the season from the usual 36 games to 27 (playing each other three times), with the season tentatively scheduled to start on 17 October 2020.[1] This was done to reduce costs in light of the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

On 2 October, the SPFL announced that the Scottish Challenge Cup would be cancelled ahead of the upcoming season in order to reduce the number of fixtures being played.[2]

Competitions

Scottish Championship
Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Championship
Win Draw Loss
DateOpponentVenueResult[lower-alpha 1]ScorersAttendanceRef.
17 October 2020Raith RoversAway0–3—0[lower-alpha 2][3]
23 October 2020Heart of MidlothianHome0–1—0[lower-alpha 2][4]
31 October 2020Inverness Caledonian ThistleAway1–3Doolan 24'0[lower-alpha 2][5]
7 November 2020Queen of the SouthHome1–1Linn 48'0[lower-alpha 2][6]
21 November 2020Greenock MortonHome0–0—0[lower-alpha 2][7]
5 December 2020DundeeAway0–1—0[lower-alpha 2][8]
12 December 2020Alloa AthleticHome0–1—0[lower-alpha 2][9]
19 December 2020Ayr UnitedHome2–1Craigen 36', 39'0[lower-alpha 2][10]
26 December 2020Dunfermline AthleticAway0–1—0[lower-alpha 2][11]
29 December 2020Heart of MidlothianAway1–3Doolan 48'0[lower-alpha 2][12]
16 January 2021Queen of the SouthAway2–2Stewart 63', O'Brien 65'0[lower-alpha 2][13]
22 January 2021DundeeHome1–1Little 8' pen.0[lower-alpha 2][14]
30 January 2021Greenock MortonAway1–0Hamilton 77'0[lower-alpha 2][15]
3 February 2021Inverness Caledonian ThistleHome1–1Hamilton 45'0[lower-alpha 2][16]
6 February 2021Dunfermline AthleticHome2–0O'Brien 27', Hilson 36'0[lower-alpha 2][17]
13 February 2021Alloa AthleticAway1–1Hamilton 24'0[lower-alpha 2][18]
20 February 2021Raith RoversHome1–0Doolan 60'0[lower-alpha 2][19]
27 February 2021Ayr UnitedAway1–0McKenna 63'0[lower-alpha 2][20]
6 March 2021Queen of the SouthHome2–4Hamilton 11', McKenna 22' pen.0[lower-alpha 2][21]
13 March 2021DundeeAway0–20[lower-alpha 2][22]
20 March 2021Heart of MidlothianHome0–00[lower-alpha 2][23]
27 March 2021Inverness Caledonian ThistleAway0–10[lower-alpha 2][24]
3 April 2021Alloa AthleticHome2–1Hamilton 59', Gold 83'0[lower-alpha 2][25]
10 April 2021Raith RoversHome2–2Hamilton 72', Little 84'0[lower-alpha 2][26]
17 April 2021Ayr UnitedHome4–0Little 11', Williamson 24', Hamilton 27', Hilson 65'0[lower-alpha 2][27]
24 April 2021Dunfermline AthleticAway3–4Hamilton 33', Low 35' pen., Stewart 82'0[lower-alpha 2][28]
30 April 2021Greenock MortonHome0–0—0[lower-alpha 2][29]

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup

Group stage
Win Draw Loss
DateOpponentVenueResult[lower-alpha 1]ScorersAttendanceRef.
6 October 2020Stirling AlbionAway2–1Donnelly 14', O'Brien 32'0[lower-alpha 2][30]
10 October 2020MontroseHome3–1Swankie 27', Thomson 43', O'Brien 86'0[lower-alpha 2][31]
13 October 2020Ross CountyAway1–2Hilson 49'0[lower-alpha 2][32]
14 November 2020Elgin CityHome3–0Gold 30', 39', Stewart 82'0[lower-alpha 2][33]

Knockout phase
Win Draw Loss
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[lower-alpha 1]ScorersAttendanceRef.
Second round28 November 2020Dunfermline AthleticHome1–3Hilson 65'0[lower-alpha 2][34]

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Cup
Win Draw Loss
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[lower-alpha 1]ScorersAttendanceRef.
Second round23 March 2021FalkirkHome1–2O'Brien 8'0[lower-alpha 2][35]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 8 12 7 36 31 +5 36
6 Queen of the South 27 9 5 13 38 51 −13 32
7 Arbroath 27 7 9 11 28 34 −6 30
8 Ayr United 27 6 11 10 31 37 −6 29
9 Greenock Morton (O) 27 6 11 10 22 33 −11 29 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[36]
(O) Play-off winners

League Cup table
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS ARB ELG STI MON
1 Ross County 4 3 1 0 0 12 5 +7 11 Qualification for the Second round — 2–1 — 3–0 —
2 Arbroath 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 — — 3–0 — 3–1
3 Elgin City 4 2 0 0 2 5 7 −2 6 1–4 — — 2–0 —
4 Stirling Albion 4 1 0 0 3 3 8 −5 3 — 1–2 — — 2–1
5 Montrose 4 0 0 1 3 5 10 −5 1 3–3p — 0–2 — —
Source: [37]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[38]

Transfers

Transfers in
Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2020 MF James Craigen AFC Fylde Free transfer [39]
30 July 2020 GK Scott Gallacher Airdrieonians Free transfer [40]
14 August 2020 FW Kris Doolan Greenock Morton Free transfer [41]

Loans in
Date Position Name From End date Ref.
4 September 2020 MF Miko Virtanen Aberdeen 1 January 2021 [42]
5 September 2020 FW Michael Ruth Aberdeen 1 February 2021 [43]
29 September 2020 MF Connor Smith Heart of Midlothian 1 January 2021 [44]
8 January 2021 DF Jake Davidson Dundee United 30 May 2021 [45]
13 January 2021 DF Ben Williamson Rangers 30 May 2021 [46]
29 January 2021 FW Jack Hamilton Livingston 30 May 2021 [47]
1 February 2021 MF Lewis Moore Heart of Midlothian 30 May 2021 [48]
29 March 2021 MF Nicky Low East Stirlingshire 30 May 2021 [49]

Notes
  1. Arbroath's score written first
  2. Match played behind closed doors

References
  1. Idessane, Kheredine (14 June 2020). "Scottish Championship clubs vote for 27-game season starting in October". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. Dewar, Heather (17 October 2020). "Raith in winning return to second tier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. Lindsay, Clive (23 October 2020). "Wighton gives Hearts win over Arbroath". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. Davies, Eilidh (31 October 2020). "Inverness fight back to claim first win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. Smith, Tyrone (7 November 2020). "Arbroath & Queen of the South off the mark". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. "Morton hold Arbroath to goalless draw". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  8. Smith, Tyrone (5 December 2020). "McGowan goal moves Dundee up to sixth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  9. Dewar, Heather (12 December 2020). "Alloa move off bottom as Arbroath sink". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. Smith, Tyrone (19 December 2020). "Arbroath off bottom after beating Ayr". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  11. Dewar, Heather (5 December 2020). "Hosts grab injury-time winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. McLauchlin, Brian (29 December 2020). "Steven Naismith scores seven-minute hat-trick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. McLauchlin, Brian (29 December 2020). "Arbroath recovery seals 2–2 draw with Queen of the South". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  14. McLauchlin, Brian (22 January 2021). "Visitors miss chance to move second". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. Crawford, Kenny (30 January 2021). "Greenock Morton 0–1 Arbroath". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. "Hosts earn point in relegation scrap". BBC Sport. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  17. "Hosts up to eighth after shock win". BBC Sport. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  18. Dewar, Heather (13 February 2021). "Two red cards as Alloa score late". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  19. Crawford, Kenny (20 February 2021). "Kris Doolan keeps hosts unbeaten in 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  20. "Visitors still unbeaten in 2021". BBC Sport. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  21. Crawford, Kenny (6 March 2021). "Obileye double as visitors fight back from behind". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  22. Smith, Tyrone (13 March 2021). "Hosts move into promotion play-off places". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. McLauchlin, Brian (20 March 2021). "Leaders edge closer to title despite draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  24. Davies, Eilidh (27 March 2021). "Nikolay Todorov header keeps Caley promotion hopes alive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  25. "Late Gold goal stretches gap at bottom to seven points". BBC Sport. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  26. "Hosts collapse helps hand Hearts the title". BBC Sport. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  27. "Dick Campbell's side earn significant Scottish Championship win". BBC Sport. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  28. "Dunfermline Athletic 4–3 Arbroath: Pars confirm play-off spot". BBC Sport. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  29. Smith, Tyrone (30 April 2021). "Arbroath 0-0 Greenock Morton: Visitors consigned to relegation play-off". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  30. "Stirling Albion vs. Arbroath - 6 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  31. "Arbroath vs. Montrose - 10 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  32. "Ross County vs. Arbroath - 13 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  33. "Arbroath vs. Elgin City - 14 November 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  34. Smith, Tyrone (28 November 2020). "Dunfermline beat Arbroath to advance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  35. "Arbroath v Falkirk". BBC Sport. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  36. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  37. "Summary - League Cup Group D". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  38. "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  39. "James Craigen signs for Arbroath FC". Arbroath FC. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  40. "Scott Gallacher". Arbroath FC. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  41. "Kris Doolan". Arbroath FC. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  42. "Aberdeen's Miko Virtanen joins Arbroath for second loan spell". pressandjournal.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
  43. "Dons striker signs new deal". Aberdeen FC. 5 September 2020.
  44. "Arbroath sign young midfielder Connor Smith on loan from Hearts". thecourier.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
  45. "Arbroath sign Dundee United defender Jake Davidson on loan until end of season". thecourier.co.uk. 8 January 2020.
  46. "Ben Williamson". Arbroath FC. 13 January 2020.
  47. "Jack Hamilton". Arbroath FC. 29 January 2020.
  48. "Lewis Moore". thecourier.co.uk. 1 February 2021.
  49. "East Sitrlingshire captain Nicky Low joins Arbroath on loan". falkirkherald.co.uk. 29 March 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.