St Johnstone vs Ayr Predictions

• No team picked up fewer home points in last season’s Premiership than St Johnstoney
• Ayr United boasted the best away record in the Scottish Championship last season
• The visitors have score in both their Scottish League Cup matches this term

Good travellers Ayr can get a result

St Johnstone face an uphill battle if they are to make it through to the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup after their surprise defeat at Stenhousemuir in their opening match, although they did follow that up with an emphatic 4-0 win at Alloa.

Steven MacLean’s side will now be on home soil when they take on Ayr, although McDiarmid Park was not a happy hunting ground for the Saint last season, as no team picked up fewer home points in the Premiership during 2022/23.

By contrast, Ayr collected more away points than any team in the Championship last term, as Lee Bullen’s side won exactly half of their 18 matches on the road in the second tier.

Entertaining draw a possibility

Ayr didn’t just collect the most away points in last season’s Championship, but they also scored the most goals on the road, averaging nearly two-per-game.

The Honest Men have also netted in both their Scottish League Cup ties this term while, including friendlies, they have scored in six matches on the spin.

St Johnstone flexed their goalscoring credentials with their four strikes away to Alloa, but having recorded just two clean-sheets on home soil in 2023, the Saints may struggle to keep their Championship opponents at bay.