Scottish Cup
2025-07-22 - Ayr United vs Forfar Athletic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Tuesday 22nd July 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Preview
One more big win may be enough to secure Ayr United a place in the Scottish League Cup Second Round even as one of the best Runners Up, although the team are not going to be thinking about anything other than winning this Group. The fixture at the home of Scottish Premiership St Mirren may decide the Group Winner this weekend, but it is very important for Ayr United to make sure they are heading into that fixture at the head of this section.
A draw and a Penalty Shoot Out win would be enough for that to happen, but Ayr United have to be targeting the three points.
This will push them onto 9 points within the Group having produced big wins over Annan Athletic and Arbroath and that may be enough to secure passage into the Knock Out Rounds. It is also going to give Ayr United some confidence to take into the Scottish Championship season as the club continues to build towards a return to the top flight and they are set as considerable favourites in this third League Cup tie.
No will be surprised by Ayr United's status as a strong favourite and especially not when you consider they have scored ten goals already in this Group. Add in the fact that they have lost 1 of their last 7 home games in all competitions and Ayr United fans will be expecting another strong performance from their team.
Next up is a fixture against League Two Forfar Athletic who were only narrowly beaten by St Mirren last week.
Having a few days off will have helped the League Two team, but this time they are travelling to one of the higher Seeds in the Group and not hosting as they were against St Mirren. A late goal saw Forfar Athletic raise the tension in that fixture, but it is going to be a much different challenge on their travels.
Forfar Athletic will point out that they are unbeaten in 8 away games in all competitions, albeit at a much lower level than what they will be facing on Tuesday. Last season they also won a League Cup tie at Dunfermline Athletic of the Championship, while Forfar Athletic have picked up 6 points and 9 points respectively in each of the last two Group Stages of this competition.
With that in mind, Ayr United will have to respect the opponent they are facing for the first time since both clubs were in League One. In that 2017/18 season, Ayr United did beat Forfar Athletic in 3 of the 4 League fixtures played, but the exception was a 2-3 win for Forfar Athletic here.
Prediction
All respect has to be given to Forfar Athletic who have been a competitive team at this stage of the season and who have already pushed St Mirren very hard in this Group.
However, Ayr United look like a team chasing a very strong opening to the season and they have been scoring goals for fun in the opening two Group fixtures played.
If they make a strong start to this game, Ayr United should have too much for the League Two visitors and it may be another game in which the Championship club secure a very comfortable victory.
The Pick :
Ayr United 3-0 Forfar Athletic
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Ayr United - 2 Asian Handicap at 1.87 with Bet365
