Aero is wise old head for United
Mates probably wish I’d shut up, jokes Aaron
Aaron Muirhead can’t believe he’s already classed as one of Ayr United’s old guard.
But the big defender admits now is the time he passed on his experience to the Somerset Park young guns.
Aero has been handed extra responsibility this term by boss Mark Kerr.
And his leadership on the park is proving a key asset in helping United shore up at the back.
He laughed: “As my wife never tires of reminding me, I’m 30 now.
“So passing on my experience to the younger boys is actually something I enjoy doing.
“Myself and Moff are the only two in the squad over 30 so we have a big responsibility to do that.
“I’m obviously quite vocal out on the pitch and some of the boys no doubt wish I would shut up at times.
“But that’s why I’m there and if I can help the others, then great.”
Muirhead came closest to breaking the deadlock in front of the BBC cameras on Friday night as his late header rattled the bar.
He said: “It was something we’d worked on during the week as we knew they liked the zonal marking.
“So we worked on trying to get runs into their box and I had a couple in the first half that I didn’t quite connect with.
“But I knew I’d connected really well with the one at the end and was gutted to see it come back off the bar.
“It was always going to take a slip or a set piece to separate the teams.”
Muirhead, who was once again rock solid in his new right back role, said: “The manager knows I’ll play anywhere and give my all for him.
“You look around the squad and we have a good blend of youth and experience and the manager has build a good squad to go at the playoffs again.
“Some other clubs have a far bigger budget than us but eleven against eleven we’re as good as anyone and there’s no reason we can’t challenge.”
Both sides put in plenty of effort here and although the better chances fell to Ayr, they couldn’t find a way past Jamie McDonald.
The Rovers keeper pulled off a smart stop after just five minutes to deny Michael Moffat after great wing play by Luke McCowan had teed him up.
At the other end, Rovers were a constant threat on the break and livewire Manny Duku flashed a half volley just wide as they signalled their intent.
Kieran MacDonald then thought he’d put the Fifers ahead after another quick break but Sam Roscoe got back to hook clear on the line.
Duku had the ball in the net just after the break but was flagged for offside.
Ayr hit back with a good chance for Moffat which drew another fine save from McDonald, before sub Innes Cameron was also denied.
Rovers wing back MacDonald had a drive tipped wide by Viljami Sinisalo before Muirhead almost won it late on for Ayr with the header that smashed the bar.
United boss Mark Kerr said: “I’m frustrated because we had three really good chances.
“All in all, a draw is probably fair. “But goals change games and I think we would have been more than comfortable if we’d managed to take one of our chances.”
Rovers assistant, Paul Smith, said: “It’s a great point coming here as Ayr are a very good Championship side who have finished in the top four the last two seasons.
“We let ourselves down in the final third with not enough good passes to create opportunities.
“Any point away from home is a good point in the Championship. I thought our defence was outstanding and Jamie showed his class. He is an experienced keeper who helped us to a point.
“I thought in the last 10 minutes we defended the box really well and showed a different side to our game.”