We’ll stay switched on against Jambos
Kerr’s camp is buzzing as leaders visit for TV game
Ayr United v Hearts Championship, Friday, kick-off 7.45pm, live on BBC Scotland Mark Kerr has ordered his Ayr players to show no fear when they take on Hearts under the Somerset lights.
United put their unbeaten home record to the test against the Jambos this Friday night. And Kerr says the clash, live on BBC Scotland, is the perfect chance to show his men can mix it with the best.
He told the Post: “We know that Hearts have good players all over the pitch but we’ll not be intimidated.
“At no point this season have we been outplayed on our own pitch and we take big confidence from that.”
Ayr scored three on their Boxing Day visit to Tynecastle but a second-half collapse ended hopes of a famous win. Kerr said: “We know we can hurt them in that respect.
“But we let ourselves down for a period of the game at Tynecastle and it cost us.”
United, who put four past Alloa on Saturday, now enter a big run of games with Hearts, Dundee and Raith to face over eight days.
And Kerr moved to further strengthen his squad on deadline day with a swoop for highly rated Ipswich kid Brett McGavin.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who was at Somerset on trial last January, joins teammate Corrie Ndaba on loan until the end of the season.
Kerr said: “Brett is a good talent and one we know well having looked at him last year.
“He likes to sit at the base of midfield and has a good range of passing.
“He’s been in and around the Ipswich first team and should be able to add plenty to us.”
Meanwhile, the boss has pledged to stick with using the home dressing room before games after Ayr returned there on Saturday.
Until now, United have been using Somerset’s hospitality suite due to Covid regulations.
But he revealed: “We actually felt like Ayr United again. It was the first time this season we’ve been in a dressing room.
“We’ve been keen to come back over for a while and little things like that make a huge difference so we’ll keep doing it.”