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McCall admits Ayr aren’t fazed by run- in filled with away trips

Ian McCall insists away days won’t faze Ayr as they step up their bid for the League One title.

Six of their last nine games are outwith Somerset Park, including three in a row against Arbroath ( Wednesday), Forfar ( Saturday) and Albion Rovers ( Tuesday).

But boss McCall hopes the best away record in the league — nine wins from 12 games — will stand Ayr in good stead as they try to overhaul leaders Raith.

He said: “Four of the games will be played on astro, which I am quite pleased about. At this time of the season, grass pitches become doughy but we have a number of players who enjoy playing on artificial surfaces.

“The only downside is that Jamie Adams won’t play in four of our last games. I used him once before on astro — at East Fife in December — but took him off at half- time and we went on to win 4- 1.

“I’m not totally ruling out using him on these pitches again but it’s not preferred.

“Our away record is reasonably good and we’ve also started doing well at Somerset with three 3- 0 wins on the trot.”

Paddy Boyle could miss Wednesday night’s trip to Arbroath after hurting knee ligaments in the three- goal romp over Raith.

But McCall hopes that Marr Kerr, who came off with an ankle knock, will be fit.

McCall was delighted that the returning Robbie Crawford, sidelined since November, got an hour under his belt with no reaction and expects him to start at Gayfield.

He said: “Three games in a week might be too much for him but I certainly hope he’s good enough to go again on Wednesday.

“Arbroath, at the start of the season when we lost 2- 1, was one game we fully deserved to take nothing out of.

“However, since then we have twice beaten them 4- 1. I don’t think there’s much between the teams at the top and we know Arbroath will give us a tough game.

“Our next nine games are pivotal but if we win the next three, then we will be in a reasonably strong position.

“We’ve played well against Raith in all four games, so it’s a matter of repeating that level of intensity between now and the end of the season.

“I thought the atmosphere inside Somerset on Saturday was electric. The weather and the pitch helped the occasion.

“We were dominant against them earlier in the season when we also beat them 3- 0. But I thought we were even more dominant on Saturday.”

One worry for Ayr is impending suspensions. Adams will miss the visit of Queen’s Park while Michael Rose and Andy Geggan are only one booking away from bans.

Briony Coyle, daughter of the late Ayr and Raith skipper Ronnie, was at Somerset on Saturday after being invited to make the half- time draw.

Ronnie died, aged 46, seven years ago after battling leukemia.