The SPFL have confirmed Dunfermline possess a crucial advantage over Ayr United as they go into the last two games of the season neck and neck in their relegation battle.
John Hughes ’ side produced a stunning late comeback to earn a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Honest men in Saturday’s potentially pivotal encounter between the pair.
Remarkably, it left the sides level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded.
Both now face Partick Thistle and Queen of the South in their remaining fixtures knowing that, with Queen of the South all but doomed to automatic relegation, it looks to be a straight shoot-out between them to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off.
And it has emerged the significance of Saturday’s result could be massive in the Scottish Championship shake-up.
Should the teams match each other’s results and end up still tied on points and goal difference, it will come down to goals scored.
If that tally is still equal, they will be separated based on their head-to-head results.
With the sides having shared a win apiece and a draw this season before the weekend, Saturday’s win for Dunfermline – sitting eighth and one spot above Ayr United – gives them the edge in the event they are still level on every other measure.
Rule C35 of ‘The Rules and Regulations of the Scottish Professional Football League’ states: “In the event of the goal difference being equal, the higher placed club shall be the club, which has scored the most goals in league matches during the season.
“In the event of each of the clubs having the scored the same number of goals in league matches during the season, the higher placed club shall be the club, having the greater number of points in league matches between the relevant clubs in the season in question.”
