2020–21 Scottish Championship

Scottish Championship
Season2020–21
Dates16 October 2020 – 30 April 2021
ChampionsHeart of Midlothian
PromotedHeart of Midlothian
Dundee
RelegatedAlloa Athletic
Matches played135
Goals scored380 (2.81 per match)
Top goalscorerLiam Boyce (14 goals)[1]
Biggest home winHeart of Midlothian 6–0 Alloa Athletic (9 April 2021)
Biggest away winRaith Rovers 0–4 Heart of Midlothian (26 January 2021)
Highest scoringHeart of Midlothian 6–2 Dundee (16 October 2020)
Heart of Midlothian 5–3 Ayr United (26 December 2020)

The 2020–21 Scottish Championship was the eighth season of the Scottish Championship, the second tier of Scottish football.

Ten teams contested the league: Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Ayr United, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton, Heart of Midlothian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers.

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 instead of four times), with the season starting on 16 October 2020.[2] This was done to reduce costs in light of the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Teams

The following teams changed division after the 2019–20 season.[3]

To Championship

Promoted from League One

Relegated from the Premiership

From Championship

Relegated to League One

Promoted to the Premiership

Stadia and locations

Alloa Athletic Arbroath Ayr United Dundee
Recreation Park Gayfield Park Somerset Park Dens Park
Capacity: 3,100[4] Capacity: 6,600[5] Capacity: 10,185[6] Capacity: 11,775[7]
Dunfermline Athletic
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2020–21 Scottish Championship
 Greenock Morton
East End Park Cappielow
Capacity: 11,480[8] Capacity: 11,589[9]
Heart of Midlothian Inverness Caledonian Thistle Queen of the South Raith Rovers
Tynecastle Park Caledonian Stadium Palmerston Park Stark's Park
Capacity: 19,852[10] Capacity: 7,750[11] Capacity: 8,690[12] Capacity: 8,867[13]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Alloa Athletic Scotland Peter Grant Scotland Andy Graham[14] Pendle Northern Gas and Power
Arbroath Scotland Dick Campbell Scotland Mark Whatley[15] Pendle[16] Megatech[16]
Ayr United Scotland David Hopkin Scotland Jack Baird Hummel[17] Bitcoin BCH[18]
Dundee Northern Ireland James McPake Scotland Charlie Adam Macron[19] Crown Engineering Services[20]
Dunfermline Athletic Scotland Stevie Crawford Scotland Euan Murray[21] Joma[22] SRJ Windows[22]
Greenock Morton Scotland Gus MacPherson Republic of Ireland Sean McGinty est 1874 Millions[23]
Heart of Midlothian Scotland Robbie Neilson Scotland Steven Naismith Umbro Save the Children
Inverness CT Scotland Neil McCann (interim) Scotland Sean Welsh Puma[24] ILI Group[24]
Queen of the South Scotland Allan Johnston Scotland Stephen Dobbie[25] Macron[26] BP's Taxis
Raith Rovers Scotland John McGlynn Scotland Kyle Benedictus Joma[27] valmcdermid.com[27](Home)
TAG (Away)

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Heart of Midlothian Germany Daniel Stendel End of contract 21 June 2020[28] Pre-season Scotland Robbie Neilson 21 June 2020[29]
Greenock Morton Scotland David Hopkin Resigned 10 December 2020[30] 7th Scotland Anton McElhone (interim) 10 December 2020[30]
Inverness CT Scotland John Robertson Compassionate leave 22 February 2021 7th Scotland Neil McCann (interim) 23 February 2021
Ayr United Scotland Mark Kerr Mutual consent 28 February 2021[31] 9th Scotland David Hopkin 11 March 2021[32]
Greenock Morton Scotland Anton McElhone End of interim 10 March 2021[33] 6th Scotland Gus MacPherson 10 March 2021[33]

League summary

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Heart of Midlothian (C, P) 27 17 6 4 63 24 +39 57 Promotion to the Premiership
2 Dundee (O, P) 27 12 9 6 49 40 +9 45 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3 Raith Rovers 27 12 7 8 45 36 +9 43 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4 Dunfermline Athletic 27 10 9 8 38 34 +4 39
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
10 Alloa Athletic (R) 27 5 7 15 30 60 −30 22 Relegation to League One
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).[34]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Teams play each other three times, twice in the first two thirds of the season (home and away) and once in the last third of the season, making a total of 135 games, with each team playing 27.

First two thirds of season (Matches 1–18)

Home \ Away ALL ARB AYR DUN DNF GMO HOM INV QOS RAI
Alloa Athletic — 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–3 2–1 2–1 2–5
Arbroath 0–1 — 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0
Ayr United 4–1 0–1 — 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–2 2–1 0–0
Dundee 3–1 1–0 1–3 — 3–3 1–0 3–1 2–1 2–3 1–1
Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 — 1–2 2–1 3–1 3–2 4–1
Greenock Morton 1–0 0–1 3–2 2–2 0–0 — 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–1
Heart of Midlothian 3–0 3–1 5–3 6–2 1–0 1–1 — 2–1 6–1 2–3
Inverness CT 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 — 0–1 2–0
Queen of the South 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–3 — 2–5
Raith Rovers 3–1 3–0 0–0 3–1 2–2 5–0 0–4 0–1 0–2 —
Source: SPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Last third of season (Matches 19–27)

Home \ Away ALL ARB AYR DUN DNF GMO HOM INV QOS RAI
Alloa Athletic — — 2–2 0–3 1–0 — — 1–1 — 1–2
Arbroath 2–1 — 4–0 — — 0–0 0–0 — 2–4 —
Ayr United — — — 0–3 1–1 — — — 0–0 1–1
Dundee — 2–0 — — 3–2 1–1 — — — 2–1
Dunfermline Athletic — 4–3 — — — 1–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 —
Greenock Morton 1–1 — 0–2 — — — 0–0 1–4 2–1 —
Heart of Midlothian 6–0 — 2–0 2–1 — — — 3–0 2–3 —
Inverness CT — 1–0 2–2 1–1 — — — — — 0–0
Queen of the South 2–3 — — 0–2 — — — 1–1 — 0–1
Raith Rovers — 2–2 — — 5–1 1–0 0–4 — — —
Source: SPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of 30 April 2021
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Northern Ireland Liam Boyce Hearts 14
2 Scotland Declan McManus Dunfermline Athletic 9
Scotland Craig Wighton Hearts & Dunfermline Athletic
Bulgaria Nikolay Todorov Inverness Caledonian Thistle
England Ayo Obileye Queen of the South
6 Scotland Jack Hamilton Arbroath 8
Scotland Jason Cummings Dundee
Sweden Osman Sow Dundee
Scotland Kevin O'Hara Dunfermline Athletic
Scotland Connor Shields Queen of the South

Source:[1]

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Scottish Professional Football League hat-tricks § Scottish Championship
Player For Against Score Date
Scotland Kevin O'Hara Dunfermline Athletic Alloa Athletic 4–1 (A) 24 October 2020
Sweden Osman Sow Dundee Queen of the South 3–1 (A) 26 December 2020
Scotland Steven Naismith Hearts Arbroath 3–1 (H) 29 December 2020
Northern Ireland Liam Boyce Hearts Alloa Athletic 6–0 (H) 9 April 2021

Attendances

Games are mostly being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited attendance is allowed at some grounds with strict conditions under the Scottish Government Tier system, dependent on the club's geographical location.

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
October Scotland Stevie Crawford Dunfermline Athletic Scotland Euan Murray Dunfermline Athletic
November Scotland Stevie Crawford Dunfermline Athletic Scotland Kyle Turner Dunfermline Athletic
December Scotland Robbie Neilson Heart of Midlothian Scotland Charlie Adam Dundee
January Scotland Allan Johnston Queen of the South Scotland Connor Shields Queen of the South
February Scotland Dick Campbell Arbroath Scotland Willie Gibson Queen of the South
March Northern Ireland James McPake Dundee England David Carson Inverness Caledonian Thistle
April Scotland Robbie Neilson Heart of Midlothian Scotland Jack Hamilton Arbroath

End-of-season awards

Manager of the Year Player of the Year
Manager Club Player Club
Scotland James McPake Dundee Scotland Charlie Adam Dundee

Championship play-offs

The second bottom team (Greenock Morton) entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2020–21 Scottish League One. Cove Rangers and Airdrieonians have also secured playoff spots.

Semi-final

First leg

8 May 2021 Montrose 2–1 Greenock Morton Montrose
15:00
  • McLean 57'
  • Webster 77'
 Report
Stadium: Links Park
Referee: Grant Irvine
8 May 2021 Cove Rangers 1–1 Airdrieonians Aberdeen
15:00
Report
Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Referee: David Dickinson

Second leg

11 May 2021 Greenock Morton 3–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 agg.)		 Montrose Greenock
19:45
Report McLean 35' Stadium: Cappielow
Referee: Euan Anderson
11 May 2021 Airdrieonians 3–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 agg.)		 Cove Rangers Airdrie
19:45
Report
Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Referee: Colin Steven

Final

First leg

18 May 2021 Airdrieonians 0–1 Greenock Morton Airdrie
19:35 Report Muirhead 90+4' Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 500
Referee: David Munro

Second leg

21 May 2021 Greenock Morton 3–0
(4–0 agg.)		 Airdrieonians Greenock
19:35
Report Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 600
Referee: Alan Muir

References

  1. ^ a b "Scottish Championship Top Scorers". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Idessane, Kheredine (14 June 2020). "Scottish Championship clubs vote for 27-game season starting in October". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Alloa Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Arbroath Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Ayr United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Dundee Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Greenock Morton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Heart of Midlothian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Queen of the South Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Raith Rovers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. ^ Hall, Jamie (27 June 2017). "Goodwin's delight in landing midfielder Thomas Grant". Alloa Advertiser. Newsquest. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  15. ^ Johnstone, Darren (30 January 2016). "Arbroath captain Mark Whatley insists play-offs firmly in Red Litchties' sights". Deadline News. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  16. ^ a b "New strips – sneak peak![sic]". Arbroath FC. 24 June 2017. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
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  18. ^ "New sponsor announced". Ayr United F.C. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Dee sign with Macron". dundeefc.co.uk. 14 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Crown Engineering Services become main club sponsor". dundeefc.co.uk. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Captain and vice-captain appointed". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Away kit launched". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  23. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (7 April 2017). "Order the new tartan away kit today". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  24. ^ a b "New partners and new kit for season 2020-21". Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Report - Stranrer 14.7.18". Queen of the South F.C. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Introducing ... 2017/18 kit". Queen of the South F.C. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  27. ^ a b "introducing our 2020-21 home kit". Raith Rovers FC. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Robbie Neilson: Hearts name Dundee Utd boss to replace Daniel Stendel". BBC. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Robbie Neilson: Hearts name Dundee Utd boss to replace Daniel Stendel". BBC. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Greenock Morton: David Hopkin quits in 'selfless act' to save money". BBC. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Ayr United: Mark Kerr departs as manager". BBC. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  32. ^ "David Hopkin named Ayr United manager day after Morton appoint Gus MacPherson". BBC Sport. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Gus MacPherson: Morton look to experienced manager for run-in". BBC Sport. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  34. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.