Arbroath and Ayr were forced to settle for a point apiece as the cinch Championship strugglers played out a goalless draw at Gayfield Stadium.

The hosts went closest in a tight first half when Leighton McIntosh headed against a post, but it was Ayr who had the greater share of the play.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Ahkeem Rose spurned a good chance when he shot at Ali Adams.

Anton Dowds then fired over before Francis Amartey forced another save from Adams and Logan Chalmers hit the goal frame.

Arbroath felt they should have had a penalty in the closing stages after a challenge on Mark Stowe but nothing was given.

Partick Thistle made up ground on the Scottish Championship leaders after thrashing struggling Arbroath 4-0.

Third-placed Partick were ahead after 12 minutes through striker Brian Graham, who latched on to a ball from Aaron Muirhead and rounded goalkeeper Derek Gaston before slotting home.

Graham had a great chance to double Partick’s lead after 41 minutes but was well denied one-on-one by Gaston.

The hosts did get their second six minutes after the break as Aidan Fitzpatrick fired past Gaston from inside the area.

Tomi Adeloye ended Arbroath’s resistance with two goals in as many minutes in the closing stages, firing in a first-time strike for his opener before latching on to Harry Milne’s pass and finishing smartly.

The visitors are bottom of the table after extending their winless run to four matches.

Airdrie secured a first Scottish Championship win in six matches with a 2-0 victory at home to Arbroath.

The Diamonds took the lead after 19 minutes when Liam McStravick slotted home the loose ball after Nikolay Todorov’s shot had been saved by Derek Gaston.

The Arbroath goalkeeper pulled off a superb save to keep out a Todorov header in the 35th minute and Adam Frizzell was inches away from a second on the hour.

Lewis McGregor did make it two for the Diamonds with 11 minutes remaining when Calum Gallagher threaded the ball through for the midfielder to coolly slot past the keeper.

Partick Thistle cemented their place in the Scottish Championship top four with a 3-1 win at Arbroath.

Aidan Fitzpatrick’s brace and Brian Graham’s goal ensured the visitors remain third in the table.

Stevie Lawless had a penalty saved six minutes after the break and Harry Milne also had a goal disallowed.

Jermaine Hylton scored a consolation with three minutes left and the hosts stay in eighth.

Unbeaten Dundee United stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship to seven points with a 6-0 win over Arbroath.

Louis Moult slotted the hosts ahead after only seven minutes and they had doubled their lead after a quarter of an hour through captain Ross Docherty.

They were 3-0 up by half-time after Kai Fotheringham’s 43rd-minute tap-in.

Tony Watt rifled in the fourth just before the hour, Moult added his second from close range and Mathew Anim Cudjoe wrapped up the scoring.

Queen’s Park maintained their perfect start to the new cinch Championship season with a 2-1 win over Arbroath at the City Stadium.

The Spiders, who won 2-1 at Inverness last week, made a positive start, with Dominic Thomas’ effort cleared off the line before on-loan Bayern Munich youngster Barry Hepburn opened his account in the 13th minute.

Arbroath looked to respond as Michael McKenna’s header was straight at the Queen’s Park keeper before at the other end, Ruari Paton had his goal in the 27th minute ruled out for offside following a counter-attack.

At the start of the second half, Arbroath defender Thomas O’Brien sent an effort just over the crossbar following a free-kick.

With 20 minutes left, the visitors were level when substitute Leighton McIntosh knocked the ball in following a goalmouth scramble.

Queen’s Park, though, were back in front just five minutes later after substitute Patrick Jarrett hit the post and a rebound was blocked, Paton was alert to slot in the loose ball.

Louis Moult marked his Dundee United league debut with a goal and three assists as the Scottish Championship title favourites ran out thumping 4-0 winners in the season opener at Arbroath.

United, relegated from the Premiership on the final day of last season, went ahead after nine minutes when Arbroath gave the ball away to former Preston and Motherwell forward Moult, who sent Glenn Middleton through to score.

Moult was the architect again as United doubled their lead in the 25th minute, slipping Mathew Cudjoe through to coolly finish.

Craig Sibbald rattled the crossbar before he got on the scoresheet eight minutes before half-time after another Moult assist.

And Moult got in on the act in first-half stoppage time with a powerful finish to put the visitors 4-0 up at the break.

United could have had another in the second half but Scott McMann’s drive clipped a post.