It wasn’t the debut Neil Lennon had hoped for as manager of Dunfermline. The Scottish Championship side fell to a resounding 3-0 defeat to Scott Brown’s Ayr United at Somerset Park, a result that saw them remain firmly rooted in the relegation play-off spot and left Lennon with plenty to ponder.

A Rocky Start for Lennon

The former Celtic boss, who was brought in to steady the ship at Dunfermline, saw his first match in charge end in frustration. Ayr United’s first-half pressure paid off when Connor McLennan scored in the 45th minute, leaving Lennon’s men trailing at the break. The team struggled to break down Ayr’s defence, and things only got worse in the second half. Jamie Murphy doubled the lead in the 68th minute before Dunfermline’s new signing, Victor Wanyama, received a straight red card. Ayr sealed the deal in the dying moments of the match with a third goal from Ethan Walker in the 90+5th minute.

Wanyama’s Nightmare Debut

The defeat was especially difficult for Wanyama, who made his return to Scottish football after his time at Celtic. The former Hoops midfielder, who had been tipped to add experience and quality to Dunfermline’s midfield, had a debut to forget. After only 69 minutes on the pitch, Wanyama was sent off following a handball in the penalty area. The red card compounded a tough afternoon for the Kenyan international and further added to Dunfermline’s woes.

A Celtic Loanee Battle

In a curious twist, two Celtic loanees were featured in the match. Josh Clarke, who is currently on loan at Ayr United, started in goal for the home side, while Tobi Oluwayemi, also a Celtic loanee, started for Dunfermline. Both keepers had their work cut out for them, but it was Clarke who came out on top, securing a clean sheet in his side’s dominant win. Oluwayemi, on the other hand, will be hoping for better performances ahead, as Dunfermline’s defence struggled to contain Ayr’s attacking threat.

Looking Ahead for Lennon and Dunfermline

While Lennon’s managerial debut couldn’t have gone worse, the former Celtic boss will take something in the fact that there is still time to turn things around. However, with the team stuck in ninth place in the Championship and with some huge games ahead, Lennon will need to address defensive mistakes and find a way to inspire his team.