v Ayr United (A)

[tm4tj]

Ayr Away

 

Matchday two will see us head to Somerset Park Ayr for a tough game against the Honest Men. It's a standard 3:00pm kick-off and both clubs will be looking for better results after drawing blanks in the opening day fixtures when Ayr went down 3-1 at Morton and we lost 2-1 at the Caledonian Stadium to Queens Park. Like us, Ayr have brought in five new faces for this campaign and lost some familiar faces. Notable outs are the Championship's top scorer Dipo Akinyemi who has gone to York City and long time servant Michael Moffat who spent eleven years over two spells at Somerset Park scoring 77 goals in 263 appearances. 

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Match /Ticket/Bus Info (£20)

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Ayr United have advised that there will be no cash gates in operation and tickets must be purchased online. ICT supporters can purchase tickets HERE (West Stand only)

Adult – £22

Concession – £15 (Over 65s and Students)

Juvenile – £15 (13-17-years-old)

Child – £6 (Under 13s)

Venue - H2H v Ayr United

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	24	10	11	3	39	26	+13
Away	25	12	6	7	47	31	+16
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	49	22	17	10	86	57	+29

Last seasons Competitive Meetings: Ayr finished 2nd last season, we finished 6th.

1 - 2 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

2 - 2 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

Two away wins last season but the final game ended our interest in promotion:

The final game of the regular season would decide who went into the play-offs and who ended their league campaign now. It couldn't be tighter across the Championship on Winner Takes All Weekend.

David Carson was a surprise omission from the starting XI after his Cup suspension with Wallace Duffy retaining his place at right back. Billy Mckay was hoping to be a record breaker as he searched for his 101st goal for the Caley Jags. Only a win would be good enough for Inverness who could finish third or sixth, depending on results elsewhere. A win would end speculation and put Inverness in the play-offs. As it turned out we ended the season in sixth place and Ayr, Queen's Park and Partick Thistle will battle it out in the play-offs for a Premiership place alongside Champions Dundee.

Ayr United never read the script properly and deservedly took the plaudits in a 2-1 win at the Caledonian Stadium. A first half goal from Josh Mullin who looked close to being offside and Nathan Shaw in a crowded box with ten minutes left looked to be enough for the Honest Men. However Mark McKenzie ensured it would be Ayr's night with an 88th minute strike to shatter our hopes after such a strong finish to the season. Alas we fell at the last hurdle and now have a month to wait for a Scottish Cup Final appearance.

SATURDAY 12th AUGUST 3:00pm

Airdrie v Partick

   Ayr United v Inverness CT

Dundee Utd v Dunfermline

 Queen's Pk v Arbroath FC

     Raith v  Morton

Team News

Inverness CT will be without Roddy MacGregor and Lewis Nicolson for the first few months with knee injuries. Sean Welsh has a groin injury and will miss out again. Adam Brooks missed the Queens Park game whilst Danny Devine remained on the bench after injury. New sensation Keith Bray has a bright future ahead of him and will be difficult to keep out of the starting XI given his performances off the bench recently and Billy Mckay will be eager to add to his record breaking exploits at Inverness. We have frailties in defence and errors are costing us big time at the moment so we'll have to see if Billy Dodds will address those issues as rumours abound on new recruits.

 

Ayr United have done some shrewd business in the summer, Aiden McGeady and Jamie Murphy signing on, but have also lost some quality; Akinyemi, Moffat, Mullin and keeper McAdams departing. McAllister and Murdoch both took knocks at Cappielow but are hopeful making the squad.

Here's Lee Bullen with the Billy Dodds script after the game at Morton:-

 

Ins & Outs @ Ayr

In: Jamie Murphy, forward (St Johnstone); George Stanger, defender (Alloa Athletic); Olly Pendlebury, midfielder (Aldershot Town); Francis Amartey, forward (Aldershot Town); Robbie Mutch, goalkeeper (Edinburgh).

Loan in: Elicha Ahui, defender (Lincoln City).

Out: Dipo Akinyemi, forward (York City, undisclosed); Daire O'Connor, midfielder (Glentoran); Josh Mullin, midfielder (Raith Rovers); Jordan Houston, defender (Queen of the South); Michael Hewitt, midfielder (Hamilton Academical); James Dolan, midfielder (Stranraer); Kinlay Bilham, defender (Stenhousemuir); Michael Moffat, forward (Glenafton Athletic, loan to permanent); Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, midfielder; Chris Maguire, forward; Aidan McAdams, goalkeeper; Alex Jeanes, defender and David Bangala has also left the club, he had been on loan at Cove Rangers.

Loan ended: Alex Kirk, defender (Arsenal); Reece McAlear, midfielder (Tranmere Rovers).

Loan out: Lyall Holding, defender (Glenafton Athletic).

Ayr United team in 3-1 defeat at Cappielow:

Albinson

 

McAllister (Ahui 45)   Musonda   McGinty   Reading

 

Amartey (Rose 70)   Dempsey   Murdoch (Pendelbury 40)   Murphy

 

McKenzie (Ashford 81)   Bryden (McGeady 70)

 

Subs not used: Mutch; Smith, Ecrepont, Tomlinson.

[tm4tj]

 

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

This appears to be the most fervently anticipated game for a long time. Last time I felt like this was Lossiemouth away on a Tuesday night in January.

[Yngwie]

Like last week, I put this one in the “take a draw” category. Away from home against one of the league’s better sides, we have injuries (Welsh is a big miss in particular), and the team is still getting into its stride.

[Robert]

We got six points at Ayr last season.

They also lost last week so it is two teams trying to kickstart their league campaigns. Ayr have lost their talisman in Akinyemni.

This should be a winnable game but will it be?

At worst it is a game we really must not lose as a losing run sets the tone for the season. We have already lost four in a row in all competitions and need to break that before we are on a losing league run.

A big 90 minutes ahead, even this early in the season.

However, despite the pessimism, possibly as my brain is clouded by Covid just now, I’ve a sneaking suspicion we will get all three points.

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Robert

[+snorbens_caleyman]

1 hour ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

This appears to be the most fervently anticipated game for a long time. Last time I felt like this was Lossiemouth away on a Tuesday night in January.

It is noticeable that the amount of discussion before and after games has significantly decreased.  

Scotty will be along soon to prove me wrong with the posting statistics 

And it was Rothes in February...

[Jaggernaut]

Yes it's early in the season, but not in competitive matches, so we really need to put a marker down soon, or we are going to look like an easy three points for a lot of teams. Beating Ayr, who will be one of the teams striving for the playoffs, would certainly be the kick start to our season we desperately need.

[Yngwie]

1 hour ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

It is noticeable that the amount of discussion before and after games has significantly decreased.  

Don’t worry, if we lose, the forum will come alive with the usual suspects going into meltdown!

[+Fraz]

Given how much apathy there seems to be at the moment, I've always felt that engagement and interest in the team/club, be it the happiest of clappers or the super critical, is a good thing. More concerning is when people just giving a sh*t anymore. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Fraz

[Satan]

I wonder who's playing shinty today...

[IBM]

I will be listening to the radio as usual for an away game

[big cherly]

3 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Like last week, I put this one in the “take a draw” category. Away from home against one of the league’s better sides, we have injuries (Welsh is a big miss in particular), and the team is still getting into its stride.

A 0-0 result will be a step in the right direction for me. I’ll take the defence begining to settle down and eliminate goal against errors (for taking forward), that go kamikaze for a win then loose the next two games.

bc

Edited August 12, 2023 by big cherly

[Robert]

Starting line up:

Ridgers

Davidson Devine Delaney Harper

Carson Bray Gilmour

Longstaff Mckay Shaw

Subs:

MacKay, Doran, Hyde, Lodovica, Brooks, Thomson

No Duffy, Ram or Samuels in addition to those we knew were injured.

If they are injured, that means we already have Duffy, Welsh, Samuels, MacGregor, Ram, Nicolson and Calum Mackay out injured.

Given how Dodds was saying how we’d see a different Doran this season and how much fitter and faster he looked against Bonnyrigg, I’m amazed he’s not starting. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Robert

[bdu98196]

15 minutes ago, Robert said:

If they are injured, that means we already have Duffy, Welsh, Samuels, MacGregor, Ram, Nicolson and Calum Mackay out injured. 

Only on wk 2. Serious club inquiry into signing policy or training regime required if this is the case given the history of the last 2 seasons. This is unsustainable long term to keep having lengthy crock lists.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Already quite a different line-up from last season.  Maybe Dodds still hasn't found what he's looking for. 

[Jaggernaut]

24 minutes ago, Robert said:

Starting line up:

Ridgers

Davidson Devine Delaney Harper

Carson Bray Gilmour

Longstaff Mckay Shaw

Subs:

MacKay, Doran, Hyde, Lodovica, Brooks, Thomson

No Duffy, Ram or Samuels in addition to those we knew were injured.

If they are injured, that means we already have Duffy, Welsh, Samuels, MacGregor, Ram, Nicolson and Calum Mackay out injured.

Given how Dodds was saying how we’d see a different Doran this season and how much fitter and faster he looked against Bonnyrigg, I’m amazed he’s not starting. 

I agree about Doran, he looked in the mood pre season and as fit as I've seen him in a long time. I would play him in behind Billy Mckay, they know each others games so well, and I think that that would be a productive partnership for me.

[Jaggernaut]

9 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Only on wk 2. Serious club inquiry into signing policy or training regime required if this is the case given the history of the last 2 seasons. This is unsustainable long term to keep having lengthy crock lists.

And putting squad players out on loan when the injuries seem to be mounting up, is not the best policy. 

[SteveA]

What is going on with all the injuries we have. Second game of the season and we are already missing 6 first team players. If they are all injured, which I'm guessing they are, we have to be looking into why. Surely its not just bad luck. Maybe we should be looking into our training regime and start asking questions of our fitness coach. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by SteveA

[Satan]

17 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Only on wk 2. Serious club inquiry into signing policy or training regime required if this is the case given the history of the last 2 seasons. This is unsustainable long term to keep having lengthy crock lists.

Only week 2. 

As far as I'm aware we have one long term (nicolson) plus macgregors problematic ankle issue. I'm assuming the others are minor early season niggles, and Welsh tends to pick up plenty early season knocks so he isn't usually forced.

Not quite time for full blown parliamentary enquiry just yet.

The fact we're  starting 3 new signings means we'll be less reliant on these squad members who were playing into June, and can hopefully benefit from a run in the team. 

[Robert]

Ayr 1 up.

Back on the squad, we could have put the three Academy graduates signed this week on the bench to give them match day experience. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Robert

[+bughtmaster]

1 down........ surprised??

[caley100]

1 down already....     wonder who made the mistake this week?

Long way to go mind.

[caley1]

3 minutes ago, bughtmaster said:

1 down........ surprised??

I think most fans would be more surprised if we were 1-0 up 

 

[Peleistheman]

While we are  goal down again, I hear Robbo on BBC praising up the County squad and new style of play. What's going on.

[Jaggernaut]

4 minutes ago, Peleistheman said:

While we are  goal down again, I hear Robbo on BBC praising up the County squad and new style of play. What's going on.

We said the same thing when we heard him on the radio in the car, bumming up the county squad, when his employers are struggling down at Ayr.