2016–17 Scottish Championship

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Ladbrokes Championship
Season2016–17
ChampionsHibernian
PromotedHibernian
RelegatedAyr United
Raith Rovers
Matches played180
Goals scored469 (2.61 per match)
Top goalscorerJason Cummings
Stephen Dobbie
(19 goals)[1][2]
Biggest home winSt Mirren 5–0 Raith Rovers[3]
(29 April 2017)
Biggest away winQueen of the South 0–5 Greenock Morton[3]
(15 October 2016)
Highest scoringAyr United 4–4 Dumbarton[3]
(24 December 2016)
St Mirren 6–2 Ayr United[3]
(1 April 2017)
Longest winning run5 matches:[3]
Dundee United
Hibernian
Queen of the South
Longest unbeaten run12 matches:[3]
Dundee United
Longest winless run15 matches:[3]
Ayr United
Raith Rovers
Longest losing run7 matches:[3]
Queen of the South
Highest attendance19,764[3]
Hibernian 1–1 St Mirren
(6 May 2017)
Lowest attendance600[3]
Dumbarton 0–0 Raith Rovers
(19 November 2016)
Total attendance808,085[3]
Average attendance4,489[3] (2,908[4])
All statistics correct as of 7 May 2017.

The 2016–17 Scottish Championship (known as the Ladbrokes Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the 23rd season in the current format of 10 teams in the second tier of Scottish football. The fixtures were published on 17 June 2016.[5]

Hibernian won the league title and promotion after a 3–0 win against Queen of the South on 15 April 2017.[6]

Teams[edit]

The following teams have changed division since the 2015–16 season.

Stadia and locations[edit]

Ayr United Dumbarton Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic
Somerset Park Dumbarton Football Stadium Tannadice Park East End Park
Capacity: 10,185[7] Capacity: 2,020[8] Capacity: 14,223[9] Capacity: 11,904[10]
Falkirk Greenock Morton
Falkirk Stadium Cappielow Park
Capacity: 7,937[11] Capacity: 11,589[12]
Hibernian Queen of the South Raith Rovers St. Mirren
Easter Road Palmerston Park Stark's Park Paisley 2021 Stadium
Capacity: 20,421[13] Capacity: 8,690[14] Capacity: 9,031[15] Capacity: 8,023[16]

Personnel and kits[edit]

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Ayr United Scotland Ian McCall Scotland Nicky Devlin Adidas Bodog
Dumbarton Scotland Stephen Aitken Scotland Darren Barr Joma Turnberry Homes
Dundee United Scotland Ray McKinnon Republic of Ireland Seán Dillon Nike McEwan Fraser Legal
Dunfermline Athletic Scotland Allan Johnston Scotland Andy Geggan Joma SRJ Windows
Falkirk Scotland Peter Houston Scotland Mark Kerr Puma Central Demolition
Greenock Morton Scotland Jim Duffy Scotland Lee Kilday Vision Outsourcing Millions
Hibernian Northern Ireland Neil Lennon Scotland David Gray Nike Marathonbet
Queen of the South Scotland Gary Naysmith Scotland John Rankin Macron KBT Pharmacy
Raith Rovers Scotland John Hughes Scotland Jason Thomson Puma valmcdermid.com (Home shirt)
Myeloma UK (Away shirt)
St Mirren Scotland Jack Ross Scotland Stephen McGinn Carbrini JD Sports

Managerial changes[edit]

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Dundee United Finland Mixu Paatelainen Sacked 4 May 2016[17] Pre-season Scotland Ray McKinnon 12 May 2016[18]
Raith Rovers Scotland Ray McKinnon Resigned 11 May 2016[19] Scotland Gary Locke 20 May 2016[20]
Hibernian England Alan Stubbs Signed by Rotherham United 1 June 2016[21] Northern Ireland Neil Lennon 8 June 2016[22]
St Mirren Scotland Alex Rae Sacked 18 September 2016[23] 10th Scotland Allan McManus (interim) 18 September 2016[23]
St Mirren Scotland Allan McManus (interim) End of interim 4 October 2016 10th Scotland Jack Ross 4 October 2016[24]
Queen of the South England Gavin Skelton Resigned 7 November 2016[25] 6th Scotland Jim Thomson (caretaker) 7 November 2016[25]
Queen of the South Scotland Jim Thomson (caretaker) End of interim 5 December 2016[26] 6th Scotland Gary Naysmith 5 December 2016[26]
Raith Rovers Scotland Gary Locke Sacked 7 February 2017[27] 8th Scotland John Hughes 10 February 2017[28]

League summary[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hibernian (C, P) 36 19 14 3 59 25 +34 71 Promotion to the Premiership
2 Falkirk 36 16 12 8 58 40 +18 60 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-finals
3 Dundee United 36 15 12 9 50 42 +8 57 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-finals
4 Greenock Morton 36 13 13 10 44 41 +3 52
5 Dunfermline Athletic 36 12 12 12 46 43 +3 48
6 Queen of the South 36 11 10 15 46 52 −6 43
7 St Mirren 36 9 12 15 52 56 −4 39
8 Dumbarton 36 9 12 15 46 56 −10 39
9 Raith Rovers (R) 36 10 9 17 35 52 −17 39 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Ayr United (R) 36 7 12 17 33 62 −29 33 Relegation to League One
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Positions by round[edit]

Leader - Promotion to 2017–18 Scottish Premiership
Qualification to Premiership play-off semi-finals
Qualification to Premiership play-off quarter-finals
Qualification to Championship play-offs
Relegation to 2017–18 Scottish League One

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.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Hibernian322112221111111112111111111111111111
Falkirk978654333555553334444433322222222222
Dundee United484445554222222221222222234444443333
Greenock Morton566897866764334443333344443333334444
Dunfermline Athletic247789788889989777665666666676665555
Queen of the South633321112346666666777555555555556666
St Mirren799910101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101098987
Dumbarton855568999998898988888877787788779778
Raith Rovers111233445433445555556788878867887899
Ayr United101010107667767777789999999999999991010101010
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2017. Source: [citation needed]

Results[edit]

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.

Season statistics[edit]

Scoring[edit]

Top scorers[edit]

As of matches played on 6 May 2017
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Australia Jason Cummings Hibernian 19
Scotland Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South
3 Scotland Nicky Clark Dunfermline Athletic 15
4 France Tony Andreu Dundee United 13
5 Scotland Robert Thomson Dumbarton 11
6 Scotland Simon Murray Dundee United 10
Scotland Craig Sibbald Falkirk
Scotland Derek Lyle Queen of the South
9 Scotland Lee Miller Falkirk 9
Scotland Ross Forbes Greenock Morton
Scotland Ryan Hardie Raith Rovers [note 1]

Source:[1][2][29]

note 1 3 league goals scored whilst on loan with St Mirren

Hat-tricks[edit]

Player For Against Result Date Ref
England Joe Cardle Dunfermline Athletic Dumbarton 4–3 6 August 2016 [30]
Scotland Alan Forrest Ayr United Dumbarton 3–0 15 October 2016 [31]
Scotland Nicky Clark4 Dunfermline Athletic Dumbarton 5–1 4 March 2017 [32]
Scotland Stevie Mallan St Mirren Raith Rovers 5–0 29 April 2017 [33]
Notes
  • 4 Player scored 4 goals

Discipline[edit]

Player[edit]

Club[edit]

Attendances[edit]

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Ayr United 33,592 3,100 1,103 1,866 −41.9%
2 Dumbarton 20,345 1,660 600 1,130 +8.5%
3 Dundee United 118,516 10,925 4,661 6,584 −17.4%
4 Dunfermline Athletic 79,885 7,622 2,653 4,438 +26.9%
5 Falkirk 90,580 6,747 4,160 5,032 +7.8%
6 Greenock Morton 42,513 4,609 1,451 2,361 −13.5%
7 Hibernian 277,096 19,764 13,604 15,394 +64.8%
8 Queen of the South 33,418 3,703 1,147 1,856 −12.2%
9 Raith Rovers 47,365 5,899 1,161 2,631 +13.6%
10 St Mirren 64,775 4,997 2,126 3,598 +1.4%
League total 808,085 19,764 600 4,489 −39.3%

Updated to games played on 6 May 2017
Source: [3][4]

Awards[edit]

Monthly awards[edit]

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
August Northern Ireland Neil Lennon Hibernian Scotland Jason Cummings Hibernian [36]
September Scotland Peter Houston Falkirk Scotland Cammy Bell Dundee United
October Scotland Jim Duffy Greenock Morton Scotland Thomas O'Ware Greenock Morton
November Scotland Ray McKinnon Dundee United Scotland John McGinn Hibernian
December Scotland Stephen Aitken Dumbarton Scotland Mark Docherty Dumbarton
January Northern Ireland Neil Lennon Hibernian Scotland Ross Forbes Greenock Morton
February Scotland Peter Houston Falkirk Scotland Jason Cummings Hibernian
March Scotland Jack Ross St Mirren Nigeria Efe Ambrose Hibernian
April Scotland Jack Ross St Mirren Scotland Stevie Mallan St Mirren

Annual awards[edit]

Championship Manager of the Season[edit]

Championship Player of the Season[edit]

PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year[edit]

The PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year was:[37][38]

Championship play-offs[edit]

Raith Rovers the second bottom team, entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2016–17 Scottish League One; Alloa Athletic, Airdrieonians and Brechin City.

Semi-finals[edit]

First leg[edit]

10 May 2017[43] Brechin City 1 – 1 Raith Rovers Brechin
19:45 Caldwell 45+1' (pen.) BBC Sport report McManus 70' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 1,022
Referee: Don Robertson

Second leg[edit]

Final[edit]

The winners of the semi-finals will compete against one another over two legs, with the winner competing in the 2017–18 Scottish Championship.

First leg[edit]

17 May 2017[43] Brechin City 1 – 0 Alloa Athletic Brechin
19:35 Ford 56' BBC Sport report Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 702
Referee: Euan Anderson

Second leg[edit]

20 May 2017[43] Alloa Athletic 4 – 3 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 4 agg.)
(4 – 5 p)
Brechin City Alloa
17:15 Spence 36', 40', 73'
Mackin 79'
BBC Sport report Dale 34'
McLean 54'
Watt 78'
Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 1,204
Referee: Nick Walsh
Penalties
Taggart soccer ball with check mark
Spence soccer ball with red X
Kirkpatrick soccer ball with check mark
Graham soccer ball with check mark
Waters soccer ball with check mark
Flannigan soccer ball with red X
Dyer soccer ball with check mark
Hill soccer ball with check mark
Jackson soccer ball with red X
Trouten soccer ball with check mark
Love soccer ball with check mark
Dale soccer ball with check mark

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "2016–17 Scottish Championship scorers". ESPN. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Scottish Championship Top Scorers". BBC. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "2016–17 Scottish Championship performance". ESPN. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b "2015–16 Scottish Championship performance". ESPN. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  5. ^ "The SPFL has today unveiled the fixture lists for the 2016/17 Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 seasons". spfl.co.uk. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Hibernian 3–0 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 15 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Ayr United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Falkirk Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Greenock Morton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Hibernian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Queen of the South Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Raith Rovers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  16. ^ "St Mirren Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
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  18. ^ "Ray McKinnon Dundee United Manager". Dundee United. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Ray McKinnon: Dundee Utd target resigns as Raith Rovers manager". BBC Sport. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
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  21. ^ "Alan Stubbs: Rotherham United appoint Hibernian boss as their new manager". BBC Sport. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Neil Lennon: Hibernian make former Celtic boss new manager". BBC Sport. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  23. ^ a b "St Mirren sack manager Alex Rae after dreadful start to the season". Daily Record. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
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  27. ^ Clerkson, Tony (7 February 2017). "Raith Rovers sack Gary Locke and assistant Darren Jackson "with immediate effect"". The Daily Record. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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  30. ^ "Dunfermline 4–3 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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  33. ^ "St Mirren 5 Raith Rovers 0: Saints go marching in with five goal rout of sorry Raith". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
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  35. ^ a b "2016–17 Scottish Championship statistics – Club Discipline". ESPN. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  36. ^ "SPFL monthly awards". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  37. ^ a b "Liam Lindsay with Celtic & Dons players in Premiership team of the year". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  38. ^ a b "PFA Scotland Teams of the Year 2017". PFA Scotland. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  39. ^ "2016/17 award for Morton manager". Scottish Professional Football League. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  40. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (25 May 2017). "Duffy wins Championship manager of the season". Greenock Morton FC. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
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