These are the flashy, spectacular and sometimes absurd aspects of Scottish football that are important on the field, are regularly in the shadow of what happens.
But sometimes, just sometimes, the two collide to offer the barely credible.
In a flurry of storylines before this crucial match, Victor Wanyama played a leading role when he signed for Dunfermline.
The Kenyan, who once ordered a fee of £ 12 million, went to Somerset Park after 65 minutes. Eighteen minutes later he was sent away for a deliberate handball. He is therefore suspended while the fives are in dangerous waters near the bottom of the championship. Neil Lennon, his manager, was also booked for deviating opinions in a separate incident. It was not a favorable day for debut.
An essential match for both parties therefore showed the inventiveness of those football gods that draw up the storylines for the Scottish Fitba '.
The background was already intriguing before a ball was kicked or was indeed treated.
In one dugout was Lennon – the only character in men's football that has won a Treble as a player and manager.
In the other, Scott Brown, whose playing awards, were 10 titles, six Scottish cups and seven competition cups. Their Celtic link as a manager and player is celebrated.
Wanyama was welcomed by the traveling support while walking along the sidelines. He was hunted by the home support when he was sent in the second.
The Nigerian took a bad touch on the edge of the area, the ball bobed on the path of Mark McKenzie and Wanyama stretched out of his arm and dragged him back. Referee Iain Snedden waved with the red.
As if this were not all enough, Kyle Benedict, the Dunfermline skipper, played after confronted with serious attack costs at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. He-and fellow teammate Sam Fisher, who is on loan at Stenhousemuir Voordende no plea and the case was continued. In another turn, Benedict was responsible for the loss of the second goal and went directly to Jamie Murphy, who skillfully dived home.
The misery of the pars was completed when the replacement Ethan Walker drove home on the rear pole after a period of hectic pressure.
The most important aspect of the competition in terms of competition placements was that Ayr United insured three points to confirm their play-off place. Dunfermline is still stuck on the play-off location of the relegation.
Football almost served as a footnote, limited as it was due to conditions that a polar bear forced to attract a Tammy and scarf. A heavy pitch, with a strong wind peppered by ice -cold rain, was not conducive to Tika Taka of any nature whatsoever, but football occasionally broke out.
This was delivered in the early stages by Connor Young, who enthusiastically enthusiastically with his driving runs. He may have, maybe, should have earned a penalty, but his claim had left.
Unfortunately, he was wounded after 22 minutes, with the impetus switching to Ayr and Curtis Main, a physical threat to the visiting defense proved.
One cross of the promising Dylan Watret found the striker after 30 minutes, but his shot was blocked. Watret had a better reward for his efforts minutes later. His pace found him wide on the right and although his crotch was diverted, it fell to Connor McLennan on the edge of the box and his bent shot flew into the net.
Murphy and Walker completed the score to guarantee a comfortable victory. The problems of Dunfermline are striking. They can't score. They have rarely worried the Ayr defense and are now faced with a struggle to stay in the championship.
Lennon said: 'What am I disappointed about is our lack of advanced edge. We have to wear more of a threat in the last third part. We went with three because we did not score in five of our last six games. I can see why sometimes our last pass is not good enough. '
On Wanyama's red card he said: “He slipped and his immediate response was to hand out the ball. I am not happy with the
referee. I was booked today for apparently against a decision, but a player protests with the referee and does not receive a card. It was a strange performance of him, but I don't blame the referee for losing the game today. '
Lennon acknowledged that Dunfermline had a 'lot of hard work' for them. A sentiment shared by Brown, whose team is now assured of the play-offs.
“These were never questioned, but it's great to check that,” said the Bullish Ayr manager. 'It is now about the next goal and how we can end in the competition and how far we can push it.
'We didn't have a great run and it's great to jump in again, especially with a clean leaf. It gives the boys that little confidence in the following games. '
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