And then there were four! Falkirk, Alloa, Queens and Partick left battling to avoid the drop
Issues at the foot of the Championship are slightly clearer after the weekend’s fixtures as the gang of six clubs that could be facing relegation worries was reduced to four.
Falkirk are at the head of the queue of three sides that could drop automatically after losing 2-0 at Dundee United. The Bairns are three points behind Alloa Athletic, who went down 2-1 to Inverness, and Queen of the South, who were defeated 4-0 by champions Ross County on Friday night.
Ray Mckinnon’s side are one goal better off than the Wasps, however the Doonhamers do have the comfort of being nine goals better off than Falkirk.
Dunfermline and Morton have the comfort of knowing that they are safe after the Greenock side’s 1-0 win at East End Park and the final club in danger, Partick Thistle, who were beaten 2-1 by Ayr, could yet end up in the relegation play-offs should they lose their final game at Queen of the South.
Falkirk fielded only one player in their starting line-up that faced Inverness when they kicked off their league campaign under Paul Hartley, and they fell behind on 15 minutes when Rachid Bouhenna glanced home a header.
Paul Mcmullan doubled Dundee United’s lead 11 minutes later when he buried a Pavol Safranko pass past Harry Burgoyne. “It is disappointing but the attitude and desire from the players was good,” said Mckinnon.
“We lost a goal from a setpiece and that was disappointing, and it feels like we get punished for every mistake. The boys are determined to beat Ross County. We know exactly what we need to do to give ourselves a chance and that is win. The players will give everything to get the right result.”
Alloa looked on course for a fifth win in six games when Alan Trouten notched a penalty against John Robertson’s side after 27 minutes. But they dropped back into the bottom two after Shaun Rooney volleyed in an equaliser from close range midway through the second half and Charlie Trafford drilled home after a corner with 18 minutes left.
Morton jumped above the Pars and into fifth place thanks to their solitary-goal success which came when Greg Kiltie converted a penalty six minutes from time. The goal came nine minutes after the hosts’ Jackson Longridge was dismissed.
Partick Thistle were safe and sound when they led Ayr United thanks to Shea Gordon’s header after nine minutes but nerves crept in when Liam Smith tucked in an equaliser with half an hour played.
Former Jag Aaron Muirhead lashed home a corner seven minutes into the second half to send Thistle off to Dumfries facing an uncertain future.