Case for defence is rock solid, says Ian
McCall praises rearguard action for point made
Stuart Wilson
Ten- man Ayr gained a gritty point in the Highlands but boss Ian McCall admits it could have been all three.
United were forced to play a man down for more than an hour in Inverness after full back Daniel Harvie walked.
But confident Ayr, backed by a superb travelling support, proved once again that they are not in the Championship to make up the numbers.
Guile gave way to grit during a stirring display in which Ayr recorded their fifth clean sheet in a row.
It is a far cry from the exploits of last season when attacking flair stole the headlines.
And boss McCall insists it is high time his rearguard got their long- overdue praise.
He said: “Our defence and goalie were magnificent.
“The whole team stuck to their task really well after the sending- off and to come here and play in the manner we did deserves a lot of credit.
“The strikers rightly get a lot of praise but we’ve shown today we can come to a tough place like this and more than hold our own in very difficult circumstances.”
Ayr, roared on by 261 noisy travelling fans, endured a sticky start to the match as Inverness began brightly.
Former Rangers midfielder Tom Walsh was first to go close after cutting inside Andy Geggan and curling an effort inches wide of Ross Doohan’s upright.
But after riding the early storm Ayr grew slowly into the game and Robbie Crawford’s presence in midfield shone like a beacon for the visitors.
His quick feet almost led to the opening goal on 17 minutes when beating two men just inside the box but his shot was tipped just wide by Mark Ridgers.
From the resulting corner Michael Rose climbed highest to head Alan Forrest’s centre straight at the keeper as Ayr signalled their intent.
But then came the big flashpoint of the game as Ayr found themselves down to ten.
Ref Andrew Dallas, who incensed United with a number of decisions during the game, pointed to the spot after adjudging a pull on Caley’s George Oakley.
Despite the protests of a furious Harvie, the left back was sent packing for a second bookable offence, leaving Ayr staring down the barrel.
But they got a quick reprieve when Caley’s Liam Polworth shanked the resulting penalty wide.
Ayr quickly regrouped and sent on David Ferguson at left back, with Forrest sacrificed as part of a 4- 3- 1- 1 formation.
And the new compact system showed no signs of going into its shell as they enjoyed plenty of neat possession.
But the hosts should have burst the net as the first half drew to a close when Oakley threaded a through ball to Nathan Austin, only for the striker to gallop clear and fire his effort wide with just Doohan to beat.
Ayr then exploded from the traps in the second half and blew two great chances to hit the front despite their numerical disadvantage.
Skipper Jamie Adams pumped a long ball down the right for Lawrence Shankland and the striker did well to hold off a challenge before bursting into the box and firing wide.
Moments later Shankland found strike partner Michael Moffat as Ayr hit on the counter and Moffat dragged an effort inches wide of the post as United started the half well on top.
Inverness struggled to make their numbers game count against Ayr’s organised defence, with Rose and Adams standing tall against everything thrown their way.
As the clock ticked down subs Ross Docherty and Steven Bell were sent on to add extra steel in the middle of the park as Ayr prepared for the worst.
But the bombardment never came and an Oakley header which went just over the bar was as close as they came to bagging a winner.
McCall said: “It’s not like Ross Doohan had a huge amount of saves to make in the game.
“Down to 10 men in the second half, I thought we created the two best chances and we defended really, really well.
“One or two boys said the penalty was harsh and the first booking for Harvie was ridiculous.”
Caley boss John Robertson said: “I think in the end Ayr deserved a point.
“They were brave, they went down to 10 men and still kept playing their football and they were a threat.
“We had lots of domination and plenty chances. We missed a penalty, which was a cardinal sin.
“Never at any stage did we feel comfortable.”