Voice of Reason
Shooting from the lip
Crunch Time
It’s an overused cliche in football.
But if ever the proverbial six pointer lay in wait, Saturday at Arbroath is it.
Win and the finishing line is all but in sight for David Hopkin and his men. Defeat...rather unthinkable. Gayfield is never the most welcoming of places at the best of times.
And Dick Campbell will ensure United receive the most robust of tests on a day that is sure to fray the nerves.
Throw in the 12 noon kick off and a lot about Saturday is going to be edge of the seat stuff.
But above all else, Ayr have to go there and set their stall out early.
Hopkin has been in this job four weeks but he is no miracle worker.
And Ayr’s undoing all season has been an inability to stamp their authority on games and show a bit of leadership.
There were signs on Saturday against Dunfermline that a bit of good old organisation was returning.
Sure, it wasn’t the prettiest of performances.
But ask any team what matters most at this stage and they will tell you it’s the points in the bag.
And by the way, this idea that Ayr under Hopkin only want to lump the ball needs a bit more examination.
Are they more direct and asked to get the ball forward quicker? Yes.
But go back and look at Saturday’s goal – which involved 14 passes before Mikey Miller’s finish – and you see this team is very much still playing.
However, if the next three games are the ugliest in history to watch and it ultimately means Ayr survive, we take it.
This season has turned into a nightmare and Hopkin has been parachuted into a situation he is quickly trying to arrest.
The summer will be a hugely interesting one if he can haul the team over the line and properly get to work.
One look at what he did with Livingston a few years back proves what he’s capable of with a hungry and athletic squad dancing to his tune.
The very fact that a club like Livi have been able to surpass Ayr on their way to becoming an established Premiership outfit should be a source of much soul searching at Somerset Park.
But with longer term building blocks now being laid down at Tryfield Place, there should be cause for optimism looking forward.
That’s why getting through these next three games – starting at Arbroath on Saturday – is so vital.
Let’s get the job done.