2018–19 Scottish Championship Explained

Competition:Ladbrokes Championship
Season:2018–19
Winners:Ross County
Promoted:Ross County
Relegated:Falkirk
Matches:180
Total Goals:439
League Topscorer:Lawrence Shankland (24 goals)[1] [2]
Biggest Home Win:[3]
(1 September 2018)

(27 October 2018)
Biggest Away Win:
(30 November 2018)
Highest Scoring:9 matches:
6 goals
Longest Wins:6 matches:
Ross County
Longest Unbeaten:14 matches:
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Longest Winless:9 matches:
Partick Thistle
Longest Losses:7 matches:
Partick Thistle
Queen of the South
Highest Attendance:6,532

(4 August 2018)
Lowest Attendance:592

(1 December 2018)
Attendance:561,688
Average Attendance:3,120 (239)
Prevseason:2017–18
Nextseason:2019–20
Updated:4 May 2019

The 2018–19 Scottish Championship (known as the Ladbrokes Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th season in the current format of 10 teams in the second tier of Scottish football. The fixtures were published on 15 June 2018, with the league starting on 4 August 2018.[4]

Ten teams contested the league: Alloa Athletic, Ayr United, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Falkirk, Greenock Morton, Inverness CT, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South and Ross County.

Ross County won the league following a 4–0 win over Queen of the South on 26 April 2019 to return to the Premiership after only one season's absence.[5]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2017–18 season:

To Championship

Ayr United secured promotion to the Championship on 28 April 2018 after a 2–0 victory over Albion Rovers.[6] Ross County were relegated to the Championship on 12 May 2018 after a 1–1 draw with St Johnstone.[7] Alloa Athletic won promotion following a 2–1 aggregate victory in the play-off final.[8] Partick Thistle were also relegated to the Championship following a 3–1 aggregate defeat to Livingston in the play-off final.

From Championship

Brechin City were relegated to League One on 24 March 2018 after a 2–0 defeat to Greenock Morton.[9] St Mirren secured promotion to the Premiership on 14 April 2018 after a goalless draw with Livingston,[10] who were also promoted after winning the Premiership play-off final.[11] Dumbarton were relegated after losing the Championship play-off final.[8]

Stadia and locations

Alloa AthleticAyr UnitedDundee UnitedDunfermline Athletic
Recreation ParkSomerset ParkTannadice ParkEast End Park
Capacity: 3,100[12] Capacity: 10,185[13] Capacity: 14,223[14] Capacity: 11,480[15]
FalkirkGreenock Morton
Falkirk StadiumCappielow Park
Capacity: 7,937[16] Capacity: 11,589[17]
Inverness Caledonian ThistlePartick ThistleRoss County
Caledonian StadiumFirhill StadiumPalmerston ParkVictoria Park
Capacity: 7,750[18] Capacity: 10,102[19] Capacity: 8,690[20] Capacity: 6,541[21]

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Alloa Athletic [22] PendleThe Energy Check[23]
Ayr United [24] Adidas[25] Bitcoin BCH[26]
Dundee United [27] Nike[28] Utilita
Dunfermline Athletic [29] Joma[30] SRJ Windows
FalkirkPuma[31] Central Demolition
Greenock Morton [32] Vision Outsourcing[33] Millions
Inverness CT [34] Erreà[35] McEwan Fraser Legal
Partick ThistleJoma[36] Just Employment Law[37]
Queen of the South [38] Macron[39] Border Finance Ltd
Ross County Steven Ferguson and [40] Macron[41] McEwan Fraser Legal

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Greenock Morton Jim DuffyMutual consent29 April 2018[42] Pre-season Ray McKinnon30 May 2018[43]
Falkirk Paul HartleyMutual consent27 August 2018[44] 10th Ray McKinnon31 August 2018[45]
Greenock Morton Ray McKinnonSigned by Falkirk31 August 20182nd Jonatan Johansson6 September 2018[46]
Dundee United Csaba LászlóMutual consent30 September 2018[47] 4th Robbie Neilson8 October 2018[48]
Partick Thistle Alan ArchibaldSacked6 October 2018[49] 8th Gary Caldwell15 October 2018[50]
Dunfermline Athletic Allan JohnstonResigned9 January 2019[51] 7th Stevie Crawford10 January 2019
Greenock Morton Jonatan JohanssonResigned4 May 2019[52] 5th David Hopkin15 May 2019
Queen of the South Gary NaysmithSacked4 May 2019[53] 9th Allan Johnston5 May 2019

League summary

League table

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Leader - Promotion to 2019–20 Scottish Premiership
Qualification for Premiership play-off semi-final
Qualification for Premiership play-off quarter-final
Qualification for Championship play-offs
Relegation to 2019-20 Scottish League One
Team \ Round1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
4 1 4 1 2 4 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
7 5 3 4 5 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 4 5 2 1 2 3 3 3 5 4 5 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 3 4 4 4 4 4 3
1 3 1 6 3 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4
5 2 2 5 6 5 6 7 6 6 6 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 5 4 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 5 5
10 7 7 7 7 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 8 8 9 9 10 10 9 10 8 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 10 6 7 6
2 6 8 8 8 8 8 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 5 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7
8 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 9 10 8 8 9 10 10 10 10 8 6 9 9 8
6 8 6 3 4 7 5 6 5 4 5 6 6 6 5 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 9
9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 8 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 10 9 10 10 10

Source: BBC Sport
Updated: 4 May 2019

Results

Teams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 180 games, with each team playing 36.

Second half of season (Matches 19-36)

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Lawrence ShanklandAyr United24
2 Stephen DobbieQueen of the South21
3 Billy MckayRoss County17
4 Pavol ŠafrankoDundee United12
Zak RuddenFalkirk
6 Alan TroutenAlloa Athletic10

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Stephen DobbieQueen of the SouthFalkirk0–3 (A)25 August 2018[54]
Stephen Dobbie4Queen of the SouthAyr United5–0 (H)1 September 2018[55]
Billy MckayRoss CountyDundee United1–5 (A)29 September 2018[56]
Stephen DobbieQueen of the SouthAlloa Athletic3–3 (H)6 October 2018[57]
Billy MckayRoss CountyGreenock Morton5–0 (H)27 October 2018[58]
Lawrence Shankland4Ayr UnitedDundee United0–5 (A)30 November 2018[59]
Billy MckayRoss CountyAyr United3–2 (H)26 February 2019[60]
Brian GrahamRoss CountyAyr United1–3 (A)19 April 2019[61]

Note

4 Player scored four goals; (H) = Home, (A) = Away

Attendances

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthRef.
ManagerClubPlayerClub
August Ian McCallAyr United Lawrence ShanklandAyr United[62]
September Steven Ferguson
Stuart Kettlewell
Ross County Stephen DobbieQueen of the South
October Steven Ferguson
Stuart Kettlewell
Ross County Billy MckayRoss County
November Robbie NeilsonDundee United Fraser AirdDundee United
December Jim GoodwinAlloa Athletic Dario ZanattaAlloa Athletic
January Gary NaysmithQueen of the South Stephen DobbieQueen of the South
February Stevie CrawfordDunfermline Athletic Billy MckayRoss County
March John RobertsonInverness Caledonian Thistle Aaron DoranInverness Caledonian Thistle
April Steven Ferguson
Stuart Kettlewell
Ross County Brian GrahamRoss County

Championship play-offs

The second bottom team (Queen of the South) entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2018–19 Scottish League One (Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers and Montrose). Queen of the South secured their place in the Championship after defeating Raith 3–1 on aggregate in the final.

Semi-final

Second leg

Final

Second leg

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top Scorers - Scottish Championship . BBC Sport . BBC . 13 August 2018.
  2. Web site: Scottish Championship Top Scorers . ESPN . 20 October 2018.
  3. Web site: Scottish Championship Performance Stats 2018–19 . . 9 August 2018.
  4. Web site: 2018/19 fixture release day confirmed . . 26 April 2018 . 26 April 2018 . 26 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180426213458/https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/201819-fixture-release-day-confirmed/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Ross County 4-0 Queen of the South: County secure Championship title and promotion . BBC Sport . 26 April 2019 . 26 April 2019.
  6. Web site: Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion . BBC Sport . BBC . 28 April 2018 . 12 May 2018.
  7. Web site: St Johnstone 1–1 Ross County . BBC Sport . BBC . 12 May 2018 . 12 May 2018.
  8. Web site: Dumbarton 0–2 Alloa Athletic . BBC Sport . BBC . 13 May 2018 . 13 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Greenock Morton 2–0 Brechin City . BBC Sport . BBC . 24 March 2018 . 12 May 2018.
  10. Web site: St Mirren 0–0 Livingston . BBC Sport . BBC . 14 April 2018 . 14 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Partick Thistle 0–1 Livingston (agg 1–3) . BBC Sport . BBC . 20 May 2018 . 20 May 2018.
  12. Web site: Alloa Athletic Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  13. Web site: Ayr United Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  14. Web site: Dundee United Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  15. Web site: Dunfermline Athletic Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  16. Web site: Falkirk Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  17. Web site: Greenock Morton Football Club . Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013 . 19 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419012922/https://spfl.co.uk/clubs/morton . dead .
  18. Web site: Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  19. Web site: Partick Thistle Football Club . Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013 . 6 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170506192335/http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/partick/ . dead .
  20. Web site: Queen of the South Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  21. Web site: Ross County Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  22. Web site: Goodwin's delight in landing midfielder Thomas Grant . Jamie . Hall . Alloa Advertiser . Newsquest . 27 June 2017 . 19 July 2017.
  23. Web site: New sponsor announced . Alloa Athletic F.C. . 6 September 2017 . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233703/http://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/BlogView.aspx?pageid=2&ItemID=1682&mid=2 . dead .
  24. Web site: Doc signs as new club captain . Ayr United FC . 25 May 2017 . 25 May 2017 . 6 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170606041131/http://www.ayrunitedfc.co.uk/doc-signs-as-new-club-captain/ . dead .
  25. Web site: New Ayr United “Strip” 2017-18 by Adidas . Football Kit News . 9 July 2017.
  26. Web site: New sponsor announced . Ayr United F.C. . 10 April 2018 . 30 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180501024600/http://www.ayrunitedfc.co.uk/new-sponsor-announced/ . dead .
  27. Web site: Fraser Fyvie to captain Dundee United for new . Tom . Duthie . Evening Telegraph . DC Thomson Co Ltd . 13 July 2018 . 14 July 2018.
  28. Web site: ‘We look like United again’ — With a tangerine top and black shorts Dundee United’s new strip is refreshingly like their older ones . Richard . Rooney . The Courier . DC Thomson Ltd . 17 May 2018 . 22 May 2018.
  29. Web site: Lee Ashcroft ‘fits the bill perfectly’ as Allan Johnston names ex-Kilmarnock defender as new Dunfermline captain . Iain . Collin . Deadline News . Capital City Press . 26 July 2018 . 26 July 2018.
  30. Web site: Away kit launched . Dunfermline Athletic F.C. . 14 June 2017 . 24 June 2017.
  31. Web site: New strips on sale now! . Falkirk F.C. . 12 May 2017 . 13 June 2017 . 18 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180418093225/http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/new-strips-on-sale-monday/ . dead .
  32. Web site: Jim McAliser appointed club captain . Jonathan . Mitchell . Greenock Morton F.C. . 16 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233721/https://gmfc.net/2018/07/16/jim-mcalister-appointed-club-captain/ . dead .
  33. Web site: Order the new tartan away kit today . Jonathan . Mitchell . Greenock Morton F.C. . 7 April 2017 . 13 June 2017 . 22 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180422133008/https://gmfc.net/2017/04/07/order-the-new-tartan-away-kit-today/ . dead .
  34. Web site: Carl Tremarco named new Caley Thistle captain . Danny . Law . Press & Journal . Aberdeen Journals Ltd . 5 July 2018 . 14 July 2018.
  35. Web site: A new kit - a new season . Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. . 9 May 2017 . 13 June 2017 . 25 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170625153406/http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/1918-a-new-kit-a-new-season . dead .
  36. Web site: 2018/19 kits launched . Partick Thistle F.C. . 18 June 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  37. Web site: Just Employment Law backs the Jags for another season . Partick Thistle F.C. . 11 June 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  38. Web site: Report - Stranrer 14.7.18 . Queen of the South F.C. . 15 July 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  39. Web site: Introducing ... 2017/18 kit . Queen of the South F.C. . 27 April 2017 . 13 June 2017 . 15 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180415064128/http://www.qosfc.com/news-3564 . dead .
  40. Web site: Marcus Fraser named as new club captain . Ross County F.C. . 27 June 2018 . 14 July 2018.
  41. Web site: 2018/19 kitsunveiled as new sponsor McEwan Fraser Legal announce that first 100 junior sizes sold come with Golden Ticket to participate in official team photo . Ross County F.C. . 22 May 2018 . 22 May 2018.
  42. Web site: Morton: Jim Duffy leaves Cappielow club 'by mutual consent' . BBC Sport . BBC . 29 April 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  43. Web site: Ray McKinnon: Greenock Morton appoint former Dundee United boss . BBC Sport . BBC . 30 May 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  44. Web site: Paul Hartley: Falkirk manager leaves after losing opening three league games . BBC Sport . BBC . 27 August 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  45. Web site: Morton 'saddened' by Ray McKinnon's departure for Falkirk . BBC Sport . BBC . 31 August 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  46. Web site: Morton: Former Rangers assistant Jonatan Johansson named as manager . BBC Sport . BBC . 6 September 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  47. Web site: Dundee United: Csaba Laszlo 'mutually agrees' to leave as manager . BBC Sport . BBC . 30 September 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  48. Web site: Robbie Neilson: Dundee United appoint former Hearts head coach . BBC Sport . BBC . 8 October 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  49. Web site: Partick Thistle: Alan Archibald sacked as manager . BBC Sport . BBC . 6 October 2018 . 8 October 2018.
  50. Web site: Gary Caldwell: Partick Thistle appoint former Wigan manager as new boss . BBC Sport . 15 October 2018 . 15 October 2018.
  51. Web site: Dunfermline: Allan Johnston and club 'part company' . BBC Sport . BBC . 9 January 2019 . 9 January 2019.
  52. Web site: Morton manager Jonatan Johansson leaves Greenock club . BBC Sport . BBC . 4 May 2019 . 4 May 2019.
  53. Web site: Queen of the South 0 Partick Thistle 3 . BBC Sport . BBC . 4 May 2019 . 4 May 2019.
  54. Web site: Stephen Dobbie hat-trick for Queen of the South sinks Falkirk to bottom spot. 25 August 2018. BBC Sport.
  55. Web site: Queen of the South 5-0 Ayr United. 1 September 2018. BBC Sport.
  56. Web site: Dundee Utd 1-5 Ross County: Csaba Laszlo's future in fresh doubt. 29 September 2018. BBC Sport.
  57. Web site: Queen of the South 3-3 Alloa Athletic: Dobbie treble rescues hosts. 6 October 2018. BBC Sport.
  58. Web site: Ross County 5-0 Morton: Dingwall side stay top of the Championship. 27 October 2018. BBC Sport.
  59. Web site: Dundee Utd 0-5 Ayr Utd: Lawrence Shankland scores four in win. 30 November 2018. BBC Sport.
  60. Web site: Ross County 3-2 Ayr United: Billy McKay suffers injury as hat-trick maintains lead. 26 February 2019. BBC Sport.
  61. Web site: Ayr Utd 1-3 Ross County: Ross County on brink of Championship title. 19 April 2019. BBC Sport.
  62. Web site: SPFL monthly awards. www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 8 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160531033109/http://spfl.co.uk/awards. 2016-05-31. dead.