Jay Henderson gives Ayr early lead with shot from edge of packed box
George Oakley drills home second at near post from low Frankie Musonda cross
Henderson gets his second early into second half.
Dowds exploits a chaotic penalty box to make it four before the hour mark, then converts a penalty for Ayr's fifth.
Queen's Park 1-1 Livingston in evening's other Championship tie
Ayr United 3-0 Airdrieonians
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Somerset Park
I’ll tell you how much the home fans liked that one, a Capri-Sun has just hit me.
Gotta be good if you’re launching one of those away half-full.
*Other beverages are available.
Ayr United 3-0 Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians are crumbling at the back.
Wayward passes and poor decisions are gifting the hosts chances.
Jay Henderson
Well, that Airdrie comeback isn't looking likely...
Marco Rus finds Jay Henderson with a deft cutback and the Ayr forward coolly slots in his side's third goal of the evening.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Airdrie captain Adam Frizzell is now on the park following his half-time introduction.
He's taken back his armband and is playing through a slight injury issue he picked up last weekend. Desperate measures from Rhys McCabe.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Airdrie are right up the pitch and knocking the ball about the Ayr United box.
A good delivery from inswinging corner isn't headed goalward by Aidan Wilson, who misses the ball by inches.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Three changes indeed, Amy...
Craig Watson, Lewis McGrattan and Murray Aiken are hooked for Airdrie
Terrell Agyemang, Cameron Bruce and Adam Frizzell are on in their place.
Can these changes help the Diamonds mount a comeback?
HT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Somerset Park
Airdrie players are out already.
I would probably want out that dressing room quickly too…
A triple sub is also coming.
HT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSHT: Ayr United v Airdrieonians (19:45)
A little more from Ayr United head coach Scott Brown from before the match, as he was asked on his thoughts following the international retirement of Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor.
“Callum is his own man and he’s done fantastic things for Celtic, and fantastic things for Scotland as well," he told BBC Scotland.
"I’m sure he’s just thought about how he is going to look after his body now and give everything he’s got for Celtic. It’s similar to what I done, I knew it was time to retire from international duty just as I knew it was time to retire from professional football.
“It’s the hardest thing in the world. For Callum, it’s obviously a hard thing to do but he’ll be thinking long-term."
Image source, SNSHT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportscene
Airdrie have been cut apart.
Ayr United have been utterly dominant and should be further ahead.
Airdrie have no answers and are still trying to play. They're getting absolutely done on both wings. The change of shape has not helped them.
HT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
HT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Who wants to see that tidy George Oakley finish again then?
HT: Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Leanne Crichton
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportscene
Ayr have been impressive. They dominated possession from the get-go and marked their intent early on.
As a collective, everybody is in alignment and executing the game plan as they would have liked.
Airdrie have played into Ayr's hands. They don't look like the side we are used to seeing last season. It's been a really poor performance from them.
Jay Henderson and George Oakley strikes have the hosts two-up at the break.
Scott Brown's men have been dominant in every aspect of the game, while Airdrie have struggled to get going whatsoever.
Image source, SNSAyr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Just the one minute added on. How rare to see these days.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
End-to-end finish to this first half.
Airdrie struggling to even get a shot off, however, whilst the hosts look threatening every time they surge forward.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Somerset Park
Steven Whittaker just turned round to face the fans behind the dugout and had a smile slapped across his face.
He knows his - and Scott Brown, of course - team are operating like a well-oiled machine.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Lewis McGrattan picks up a booking a very late, intentional foul on Anton Dowds.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Michael Stewart
Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportscene
It was marginal.
But I think that's the right call. Offside.
Ayr United 2-0 Airdrieonians
Jamie Murphy has the hosts up by three after slotting underneath Murray Johnson.
But his celebrations are very short-lived as the lino's flag is up.
Highlights: Ayr United 5-0 Airdrieonians
Ayr United put five past Scottish Championship rivals Airdrieonians in a wonderful display of attacking football, as Scott Brown's side continued their impressive start to the season.
Jay Henderson opened the scoring with a sharp turn and strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box following a quick start to the game, and the visitors never recovered.
George Oakley swept home Frankie Musonda's cross to double Ayr's advantage, and they could have led by more in a first half where Airdrieonians goalkeeper Murray Johnson made several saves and Marco Rus hit the outside of the post.
The pattern of play continued after the break. Ayr carved out chances almost at will, playing with real tempo and pressing Airdrie high up the park.
Henderson slotted home his second goal of the night after good work from Rus down the left, before Anton Dowds capitalised on a Johnson error to put Ayr four up before the hour mark.
The impressive Rus then won a penalty after he was hacked down by Dylan MacDonald, and Dowds calmly converted to complete the rout.
Ayr lead the way at the top of the Championship before the rest of the weekend's action with two wins from two.
Ayr United manager Scott Brown: "I thought the lads did really well. Everything went inch-perfect for us.
"We have a good bunch of lads; it's showing on the park. They understand each other. We want to push this club as far as we can. There's a long way to go.
"We struggled with clean sheets last season. We've made a couple of changes for the better. We are aggressive, on the front foot, and we've got strength in depth, which helps."
Airdrieonians player-manager Rhys McCabe: "I thought we started very poorly. It's always hard to pick up momentum if you don't start well. Ayr from start to finish were the better side.
"I think we started the second half on the front foot, which sounds daft, but we had initiative. But then 15 seconds after a chance, we concede. We'll re-evaluate our performance and take it as a wake-up call."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
| |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| |
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Manager: Scott Brown
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Rhys McCabe
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Scott Brown
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Rhys McCabe
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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