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
Chairman	Mike Caird
Manager	Dick Campbell
Stadium	Gayfield Park
Scottish Championship	7th
Scottish Cup	Second round
Scottish League Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Jack Hamilton (8) All: Jack Hamilton (8)
Home colours Away colours
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

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

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result[a]	Scorers	Attendance	Ref.
17 October 2020	Raith Rovers	Away	0–3	—	0[b]	[3]
23 October 2020	Heart of Midlothian	Home	0–1	—	0[b]	[4]
31 October 2020	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Away	1–3	Doolan 24'	0[b]	[5]
7 November 2020	Queen of the South	Home	1–1	Linn 48'	0[b]	[6]
21 November 2020	Greenock Morton	Home	0–0	—	0[b]	[7]
5 December 2020	Dundee	Away	0–1	—	0[b]	[8]
12 December 2020	Alloa Athletic	Home	0–1	—	0[b]	[9]
19 December 2020	Ayr United	Home	2–1	Craigen 36', 39'	0[b]	[10]
26 December 2020	Dunfermline Athletic	Away	0–1	—	0[b]	[11]
29 December 2020	Heart of Midlothian	Away	1–3	Doolan 48'	0[b]	[12]
16 January 2021	Queen of the South	Away	2–2	Stewart 63', O'Brien 65'	0[b]	[13]
22 January 2021	Dundee	Home	1–1	Little 8' pen.	0[b]	[14]
30 January 2021	Greenock Morton	Away	1–0	Hamilton 77'	0[b]	[15]
3 February 2021	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Home	1–1	Hamilton 45'	0[b]	[16]
6 February 2021	Dunfermline Athletic	Home	2–0	O'Brien 27', Hilson 36'	0[b]	[17]
13 February 2021	Alloa Athletic	Away	1–1	Hamilton 24'	0[b]	[18]
20 February 2021	Raith Rovers	Home	1–0	Doolan 60'	0[b]	[19]
27 February 2021	Ayr United	Away	1–0	McKenna 63'	0[b]	[20]
6 March 2021	Queen of the South	Home	2–4	Hamilton 11', McKenna 22' pen.	0[b]	[21]
13 March 2021	Dundee	Away	0–2		0[b]	[22]
20 March 2021	Heart of Midlothian	Home	0–0		0[b]	[23]
27 March 2021	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Away	0–1		0[b]	[24]
3 April 2021	Alloa Athletic	Home	2–1	Hamilton 59', Gold 83'	0[b]	[25]
10 April 2021	Raith Rovers	Home	2–2	Hamilton 72', Little 84'	0[b]	[26]
17 April 2021	Ayr United	Home	4–0	Little 11', Williamson 24', Hamilton 27', Hilson 65'	0[b]	[27]
24 April 2021	Dunfermline Athletic	Away	3–4	Hamilton 33', Low 35' pen., Stewart 82'	0[b]	[28]
30 April 2021	Greenock Morton	Home	0–0	—	0[b]	[29]

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Win

Draw

Loss

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result[a]	Scorers	Attendance	Ref.
6 October 2020	Stirling Albion	Away	2–1	Donnelly 14', O'Brien 32'	0[b]	[30]
10 October 2020	Montrose	Home	3–1	Swankie 27', Thomson 43', O'Brien 86'	0[b]	[31]
13 October 2020	Ross County	Away	1–2	Hilson 49'	0[b]	[32]
14 November 2020	Elgin City	Home	3–0	Gold 30', 39', Stewart 82'	0[b]	[33]

Knockout phase

Win

Draw

Loss

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result[a]	Scorers	Attendance	Ref.
Second round	28 November 2020	Dunfermline Athletic	Home	1–3	Hilson 65'	0[b]	[34]

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Cup

Win

Draw

Loss

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result[a]	Scorers	Attendance	Ref.
Second round	23 March 2021	Falkirk	Home	1–2	O'Brien 8'	0[b]	[35]

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

As of 30 April 2021

No.	Pos	Player	Championship		League Cup		Scottish Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	Derek Gaston	27	0	5	0	1	0	33	0
2	DF	Jason Thomson	25	0	5	1	0	0	30	1
3	DF	Colin Hamilton	24	0	4	0	1	0	29	0
4	DF	Ricky Little	26	3	5	0	1	0	32	3
5	DF	Thomas O'Brien	26	2	4	2	1	0	31	4
6	MF	Mark Whatley	2+3	0	0+1	0	0	0	6	0
7	MF	David Gold	16+7	1	3+1	2	0+1	0	28	3
8	MF	Michael McKenna	15+11	2	4+1	0	0+1	0	32	2
9	FW	Dale Hilson	22+4	2	3+2	2	1	0	32	4
10	MF	Gavin Swankie	4	0	2+3	1	0	0	9	1
11	MF	Bobby Linn	13+6	1	3+2	0	1	0	25	1
12	DF	Scott Stewart	9+13	2	3+2	1	1	0	28	3
14	FW	Kris Doolan	14+6	3	2+3	0	0	0	25	3
15	FW	Luke Donnelly	4+11	0	3+2	1	0	0	20	1
16	MF	Lewis Moore	3+4	0	0	0	1	0	8	0
17	DF	Jake Davidson	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
18	MF	Ben Williamson	17	1	0	0	0+1	0	18	1
19	FW	Jack Hamilton	14	8	0	0	1	0	15	8
21	GK	Scott Gallacher	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	DF	Carlo Pignatiello	1+2	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
28	MF	James Craigen	16+4	2	3+1	0	1	0	25	2
32	MF	Nicky Low	5+1	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season
16	FW	Michael Ruth	4+7	0	2+3	0	0	0	16	0
17	MF	Connor Smith	1+2	0	1+3	0	0	0	7	0
22	MF	Miko Virtanen	8+1	0	3	0	0	0	12	0

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	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 v t e	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		[40]
14 August 2020	FW	Kris Doolan	Greenock Morton		[41]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
9 June 2020	MF	Omar Kader	Retired		[42]
6 July 2020	GK	Darren Jamieson	Kelty Hearts	Free transfer	[43]
9 July 2020	MF	James Murphy	Rio Grande Valley

Loans in

Date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
4 September 2020	MF	Miko Virtanen	Aberdeen	1 January 2021	[44]
5 September 2020	FW	Michael Ruth		1 February 2021	[45]
29 September 2020	MF	Connor Smith	Heart of Midlothian	1 January 2021	[46]
8 January 2021	DF	Jake Davidson	Dundee United	30 May 2021	[47]
13 January 2021	MF	Ben Williamson	Rangers		[48]
29 January 2021	FW	Jack Hamilton	Livingston		[49]
1 February 2021	MF	Lewis Moore	Heart of Midlothian		[50]
24 February 2021	DF	Carlo Pignatiello	Livingston		[51]
29 March 2021	MF	Nicky Low	East Stirlingshire		[52]

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. "Omar Kader hailed by Arbroath manager Dick Campbell following experienced winger's retirement from football". The Courier. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
43. "Jamieson Signs". Kelty Hearts FC. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
44. "Aberdeen's Miko Virtanen joins Arbroath for second loan spell". pressandjournal.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
45. "Dons striker signs new deal". Aberdeen FC. 5 September 2020.
46. "Arbroath sign young midfielder Connor Smith on loan from Hearts". thecourier.co.uk. 4 September 2020.
47. "Arbroath sign Dundee United defender Jake Davidson on loan until end of season". thecourier.co.uk. 8 January 2020.
48. "Ben Williamson". Arbroath FC. 13 January 2020.
49. "Jack Hamilton". Arbroath FC. 29 January 2020.
50. "Lewis Moore". thecourier.co.uk. 1 February 2021.
51. "Carlo Pignatiello joins Arbroath on loan". livingstonfc.co.uk. 24 February 2021.
52. "East Sitrlingshire captain Nicky Low joins Arbroath on loan". falkirkherald.co.uk. 29 March 2021.