A FIGHT WE HAVE GOT TOWIN
Duffy issues Scottish Cup exit warning
Jim Duffy admits his Ayr players will face a Scottish Cup red face – unless they start showing more fight. United enter Saturday’s banana skin against Albion Rovers on a run of just one win in nine games.
In stark contrast, Brian Reid’s men have lost just once in seven and head to Somerset brimming with confidence.
And Duffy knows the tie has shock written all over it unless Ayr quickly address their slump in form.
He told the Post: “We’re in no position to be looking at Saturday as a game just to build our confidence.
“The cup is a great leveller and Albion are on a great run of form, so we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.
“Right now we are looking for that bit of momentum of our own.
“We know that we’ve been way off it these past couple of games and we can’t allow that to continue. We need to start showing more in the way of character.
“It’s now about rolling up our sleeves and digging in and showing we’re willing to fight to turn this around.”
Ayr were brushed aside at Dunfermline on Saturday in a performance that left Duffy in no doubt his men must up their game.
He said: “One thing you cannot be is easy to play against and that’s something we have to address.
“We’ve shown against the best teams in the league that we can play good football at times, but it’s about far more than that.
“The players need to be prepared to battle when required and that was the disappointing thing about Saturday as things came that little too easy for Dunfermline. But things turn quickly in football and we are working very hard to get them right.”
Duffy expects to have the same squad available as at East End Park with Mikey Hewitt (hamstring) the only long-term absentee.