Gritty United make point
Unbeaten start to 2020 continues
The bar was hit at the weekend but we can’t win them all.
Espresso overlord, Nino Pajovic, is first up to the plate this week with his usual treble.
He goes Stoke, Huddersfield and Morton.
Bookie Dave returns this week with Phil Mickelson ( 25/ 1) to win the Pebble Beach Pro Am.
And the VoR says Hibernian - 2 against BSC Glasgow at 11/ 10 ( SkyBet).
PARTICK THISTLE................................ 1 AYR UNITED.......................................... 1
Stuart Wilson at Firhill
It could hardly be deemed a classic in front of the TV cameras.
But Mark Kerr and Ayr United will not be caring after another solid point on the road.
The Honest Men under Kerr are learning to grind out results and this was another illustration of their progress under his leadership.
Impressive they were not. But they did not leave Firhill empty handed.
Alan Forrest’s second half penalty cancelled out Brian Graham’s opener for the Jags before the interval.
In truth, Ayr had looked well below their best following a bright start and required a touch of fortune with Forrest’s soft- looking penalty to get back in the game.
And Kerr admitted: “It was a scrappy game and we never really got going.
“We used the conditions in the second half and big Ross Doohan hasn’t really had a save to make.
“It’s a good point away from home and although people will say Partick are bottom of the league, they’ve spent a fortune and I don’t think they’ll be there at the end of the season.”
Ayr had begun brightly and, roared on by a noisy travelling support, they looked set to push on.
But for all their early possession and territory, they failed to test Jags keeper Scott Fox, and it was the home side who grew into the game.
The lively Reece Cole fired just wide from 20 yards as they started to pose problems.
And the same player stung the palms of Doohan with a free kick from an angle soon after.
Joe Cardle scooped over a golden chance as the hosts pressed before Graham bundled home the opener from the same player’s cross.
Ayr needed a second half response and when Forrest was nudged by Lee O’Connor as he raced through, a penalty was the call, with Forrest stepping up to slot home.
Both sides threw caution to the wind but quality – and chances – were in short supply as the game ended in stalemate.
Jags boss Ian McCall said: “Ayr have changed the way they play but still have players who can hurt you.”
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