Big dog theory as Ayr host Dunfermline live on BBC

Scott Brown and Neil Lennon are both Celtic legends

Scottish Championship - Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic

Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Date: Friday, 31 October Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app; live text commentary online

Big dog theory comes to the Scottish Championship as Scott Brown's Ayr United go head-to-head with Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic live on the BBC on Friday (coverage starts at 19:30).

No Celebrity Traitors but both former Celtic captains, both uncompromising competitors, both snarling midfielders in their time, both powerful personalities.

They also share the more recently developed trait of savaging Championship referees.

"The referee cost us the game - it's as simple as that," were the first words out of Lennon's mouth post-match last weekend after his Dunfermline side lost away to Ross County.

And he wasn't finished.

"The referees at this level are embarrassing to tell you the truth," he said. "I don't think I have been as angry with a referee for a long, long time. We will be reporting this to the head of the referees."

Cue flashbacks to the countless occasions last season when Brown delivered similar broadsides to the refereeing fraternity over decisions he felt had gone against his Ayr side unfairly.

Brown seems to have mellowed somewhat this season when it comes to the officials, his criticism last weekend aimed primarily at his own players after a 0-0 draw away to Queens Park.

"We never looked like scoring a goal," he said. "We opened them up really well. We have got to be sharper on the ball."

Consistency has also been a shared trait between Dunfermline and Ayr this season.

Brown's side failed to win any of their first five Championship matches of the season but then won four out of five, starting with a 1-0 win in Dunfermline.

However, their last two matches were a 2-1 defeat away to Partick Thistle and then that draw with Queens Park.

Despite that, the Honest Men find themselves third in the table, three points ahead of Friday's visitors.

With Brown and Lennon in the dugouts, and with both sides hungry for a win, this has all the makings of a combustible encounter.

The questions is, who will get the flak come the final whistle?