More pain in Highlands
Time for Kerr to stamp class on team
The countdown to the big day is on and we need to pay for last minute gifts.
Espresso king Nino Pajovic has a yuletide treble lined up in the shape of Sunderland, Preston and Bristol City.
Bookie Dave insists the Hoffman/ Kisner combo can land golf’s QBE Shootout at 12/ 1.
VoR says Dundee Utd/ Airdrie double at around 5/ 2.
INVERNESS........................................... 2 AYR UNITED.......................................... 0
Stuart Wilson at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Given their awful record in the Highlands, defeat here for Ayr United was hardly the biggest surprise.
But it was the manner of this tame surrender that will cause Mark Kerr his biggest headache.
Following the weakest of efforts against Dunfermline last Tuesday, Ayr conceivably couldn’t produce the same again just a few days later.
That it took 78 minutes to register a shot on target told the story of a stroll for the hosts which leaves United and their new boss with plenty to ponder.
Ayr are now a team low on confidence, that much is clear.
And three defeats on the bounce have introduced Kerr to the harsh realities of the dugout.
Lacking once again here was his own presence on the pitch itself.
Prior to becoming boss, Kerr was one of this team’s most influential players.
And his absence from the starting XI is being keenly felt.
The writing was on the wall here from early doors as Inverness muscled and probed their way past a fairly ineffective Ayr press.
Jordan White and James Keatings had both gone close to an opener before they got on the scoresheet in the 19th minute.
David Carson had all the time in the world to pick a through ball to White and he was left in acres of space on the edge of the box to fire a low shot past Ross Doohan.
Ayr know what they’re getting against Inverness but their failure to solve the conundrum continues to cost them plenty of points each season.
They could and should have been further behind before the break as Keatings and then Miles Storey passed up chances.
Ayr did start the second half with their tails up and Craig Moore and Alan Forrest both flashed efforts wide as they at least threatened to make a fight of it.
But when Storey fired tamely under Doohan to double the lead, it summed up their afternoon.
Kerr finally emerged from the bench with 15 to go and Ayr suddenly played with more tempo and organisation.
A lesson to take forward perhaps.
FESTIVE FLUTTER