Scottish Cup
2025-07-19 - Ayr United vs Arbroath
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Saturday 19th July 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Preview
The end of the 1978 season saw Ayr United's time as a top flight club concluded and they have rarely threatened to return since then. There has been a drop into the third tier of Scottish Football as recently as 2017/18, but there have been signs that this is a Football Club with big ambitions to fulfil.
They have made the promotion Play Offs in two of the last three seasons and Ayr United are hoping to open up what has sometimes been described as a 'closed shop' as far as the Scottish Premiership is concerned. It will be tough this season with two clubs relegated from the top flight joining the Championship, but that may also offer inspiration for Ayr United who were beaten by Partick Thistle in the post-season a couple of months ago.
A big 1-6 win at Annan Athletic has gotten this season off to a decent start for Ayr United, although they will be firmly aware that tougher tests are to come in this Group Stage. Back to back home games are up next for the team, who did not play in the opening round of Group games, and Ayr United may feel they can go some way to reaching the Second Round by winning both.
First up is a match against Arbroath, the League One Champions and a team who held St Mirren to a goalless draw last Saturday and who picked up the bonus point by securing the Penalty Shoot Out win. It is a relief for Arbroath to have a full week to prepare for this fixture and they could move into a very strong position in the Group if they can avoid a defeat and win another Shoot Out.
This is also an early opportunity for Arbroath to see how they may be able to hold up against fellow Scottish Championship clubs having finished with 23 points and a bottom place spot two seasons ago. They only managed to win 6 games that season, although half were earned away from home, and Arbroath know there is a big gap between the second and third tiers of Scottish Football.
Last season they finished with back to back away defeats, while two seasons ago, Arbroath lost both visits to Somerset Park by comfortable margins.
Ayr United did finish up last season with a single win in 5 home games in all competitions, but this is an opportunity for the players to lay down an early marker to the rest of the Division.
Prediction
It still something of a pre-season for clubs fighting it out to move into the Second Round of the League Cup, but performances are expected to improve and to be much more in line with what to expect when the domestic season kicks off.
After a crushing away win to open the season, Ayr United should have too much for newly promoted Arbroath, a team that struggled at the Championship level two seasons ago.
Both games at Somerset Park were won well by Ayr United and this is a club with serious ambitions to reach the top flight. They can underline the difference between a Championship club chasing promotion compared to one that would be happy to consolidate at this level and Ayr United can score at least twice on their way to the three points.
The Pick :
Ayr United 3-0 Arbroath
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Ayr United to Win & Over 1 Total Goal (Bet Builder) at 1.95 with Bet365
