Ayr United (H) 21st Dec

[Dreamsof83]

I love how different people see games differently. We lacked urgency and seemed nervous initially yesterday. But although we gave Ayr possession, we never looked troubled. One save for the cameras is all I can remember. Had them at arms length and won comfortably.
What I cant work out is why Stanton and Clark are being singled out for criticism? They were two of our better players yesterday. Clark links play better than any of our other forwards and is a clever footballer. Also works much harder defensively than he gets credit for. Contract? Yes please. Stanton was my man of the match. He drove us forward, won the ball back regularly and was involved in 3 goals. He is unpredictable which is a strength and potential weakness. I would like to see him with us next year too.

Cant see Shankland and McMullan being as quiet against Dundee. Even when they weren't at their best, like yesterday, still make telling contributions.

On to Friday with a spring in our step

[Whitfieldarab]

I kind of agree but Ayr never created a chance worth mentioning in that time. Meanwhile we'd scored and had a penalty. We are currently adapting to whatever each game throws at us and finding a way to win. Love it.

Did you not see their shot from outside the box that Benji tipped over the bar? All I'm pointing out is that we weren't at the races until Kerr went off. I don't really know how anyone witnessing that game yesterday can come up with anything other than that. Our MOM (lol) Butcher was getting the runaround in midfield and all we did in the 1st half was hit an opposition player with our passes with Stanton the worst offender. Brilliant by McMullan to Rob their player for the 1st goal though, Ayr must've been gutted going in at half time by that goal, was very impressed with their movement and workrate.

[duke_the_arab]

Did you not see their shot from outside the box that Benji tipped over the bar? All I'm pointing out is that we weren't at the races until Kerr went off. I don't really know how anyone witnessing that game yesterday can come up with anything other than that. Our MOM (lol) Butcher was getting the runaround in midfield and all we did in the 1st half was hit an opposition player with our passes with Stanton the worst offender. Brilliant by McMullan to Rob their player for the 1st goal though, Ayr must've been gutted going in at half time by that goal, was very impressed with their movement and workrate.

I kind of agree with you , it was only after they went down to 10 men that we played with any authority. Ayr has all the possession first half yesterday but did they really trouble us. The difference is we're not conceding when opposition teams are on top.
After witnessing the 4-0 drubbing at Dumfries, to win nine games in a row since is pretty impressive .

[JamesMcClean]

The way I’m seeing it is that if Butcher is playing then I don’t see why we additionally need both Harkes and Stanton playing also. McMullen was brought back in yesterday, fair enough, but it was Appere that was dropped to accommodate him where really it should have been either Stanton or Harkes. Probably Stanton. I thought we missed Appere’s physicality and hold up play yesterday, particularly in the first half.

Having said that, maybe he had a wee knock or something which we didn’t know about so wasn’t risked starting for that reason. I want Louis starting on Friday though.

[PartyFears2]

Ayr won the much sought after First Half Possession Points.

We won 4-0.

If their manager can’t keep the head then hand us the game, that’s not our problem.

[Whitfieldarab]

I kind of agree with you , it was only after they went down to 10 men that we played with any authority. Ayr has all the possession first half yesterday but did they really trouble us. The difference is we're not conceding when opposition teams are on top.
After witnessing the 4-0 drubbing at Dumfries, to win nine games in a row since is pretty impressive .

No denying it, our defence has been excellent since the start of our run.

[TangerineDream]

Very poor first half. Ayr by far the better team. Liam Smith virtually the only player that performed.

Much better second, played some good stuff. Should have scored more.

Have to say I enjoyed young Harkes performance yesterday. Definitely has something this young man, great work and strike for his well deserved goal.

9 wins in a row. Can’t argue with that. Well done United.

[Whitfieldarab]

The way I’m seeing it is that if Butcher is playing then I don’t see why we additionally need both Harkes and Stanton playing also. McMullen was brought back in yesterday, fair enough, but it was Appere that was dropped to accommodate him where really it should have been either Stanton or Harkes. Probably Stanton. I thought we missed Appere’s physicality and hold up play yesterday, particularly in the first half.

Having said that, maybe he had a wee knock or something which we didn’t know about so wasn’t risked starting for that reason. I want Louis starting on Friday though.

When Appere came on we had more drive and looked more pacy. Appere has to start on Friday.

Was at hospo yesterday so around about 12.30 I seen a United coach giving Wardrop and Pawlett what I thought at the time was a fitness test but he was hammering them with 30 yard three quarter paced sprints and Pawlett was handling them no problem so don't be surprised to see him on Friday. Wardrop also looked very fit and not far away.

[FTFun]

Pawlett will get injured tackling his christmas denner

[weegiearab]

If we can play poorly and get a result like that against a decent Ayr side that has taken us to the cleaners several times....then I'm ecstatic! If we had lost yesterday, we would have all been on to say " Its a blip, had to happen at some point, next week is our chance to put things right!"
We won, yesterday's game is past and we got 3 pts, the next game is our most important one...as well be the game after that and the game after that!
If we can get a result like that and have a load of room for improvement, then we are doing alright!
I'm sure Robbie will be going over the Ayr game in his prep for this next week and will be trying to improve.
We are on a great run...it will come to an end but let's enjoy it whilst we can!