MAKE IT A REAL GAME

McCall pledge to meet Pars head on

We’ll play them at football and see who wins.

That’s the message from Ian McCall ahead of Saturday’s trip to table toppers Dunfermline.

The Ayr gaffer wants to match title favourites Pars head on and play them at their own game.

A win will take Ayr a point clear at the summit if Forfar fail to beat Brechin.

McCall claimed: “Dunfermline have players who could play at a higher level but then so have we.

“I wouldn’t swap my strikers or Alan Forrest and Alan Trouten for anybody.

“Whoever finishes above Dunfermline will win the league. They have 2500 season ticket holders so are entitled to have the biggest budget in the league.

“Do I set up to try and curb their free scoring strikers or do I play them at football? We’ve got to be tighter but I prefer the football option.

“I’m expecting a great game in front of around 4000 fans and I know we will take a good number with us.”

Trouten ( right) missed Ayr’s 5- 2 win over Stenhousemuir with a groin strain but is back in training and ready to be a key player at East End Park.

McCall also has the option of new signing Andy Graham who was rested for the Stenny game after making his debut in the 2- 2 draw against Forfar.

The boss conceded: “We now have good competition for places and have the option of going with a back three and using Peter Murphy in midfield.

“Our full- backs are the best in the league going forward but at times they may have to play a different way.

“We could have scored eight, nine or 10 against Stenhousemuir and look a real threat going forward.

“But we’re still short of one or two. We could do with a wide, tricky winger and also a strongman in the middle of the park.”

With no game last weekend, Ayr players trained in Glasgow before McCall and his backroom team watched Forfar against Dunfermline and Airdrie take on Cowdenbeath.

Old favourite Michael Moffat is lying in wait to mug his former team but McCall is also wary of Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Joe Cardle who are on rich scoring runs.

Ayr lost all four games to a distinctly average Dunfermline side last season and have lost on their last five visits to East End Park.

Pars are 3/ 5 favourites with Ayr 21/ 10 and the draw 31/ 10 according to McBookie. com. Jordan Preston is 6/ 1 to open the scoring while you can have 13/ 2 for Craig Moore.