WAY OFF MARK
New United boss Kerr tells his men to be more clinical
MARK KERR insists Ayr must start burying their chances after Dundee spoiled his dugout debut.
First-half goals from former United man Declan McDaid and Paul McGowan proved enough for the Dark Blues’ first league win on the road.
Despite Luke McCowan’s reply before the break, Ayr squandered their chance to move top of the table.
Suffering a thigh strain, the player-manager’s absence was the only change from the side that lost 3-2 at Dunfermline.
Kerr, appointed in midweek, said: “It was fine being in the dugout although it was frustrating when you are shouting an instruction as you can see something happening and you’re 50 yards away, the boys are 10 yards away and they don’t see the picture.
“We’ve come off the back of two defeats and that’s our third in a row. In each of those games we’ve had at least one one-on-one with the goalkeeper and not scored them.
“When we were winning last year in the big games we were clinical and always took those chances. So we’re getting those chances every game.”
Dee boss James McPake pitched keeper Conor Hazard straight in after his emergency loan from Celtic. And the 21-year-old was kept busy, saving from Michael Moffat four minutes in before turning wide Alan Forrest’s low drive.
But Ayr were guilty of overplaying in their own half 16 minutes in and lost possession to McDaid, who drove at the defence from 40 yards before fizzing a low drive home.
Moffat was sent clean through on goal but Hazard partially blocked his shot.
When the rebound fell for Forrest, his effort was somehow forced out for a corner.
Ayr paid for it in 32 minutes when McGowan mopped up after Jordon Foster’s header was saved. McCowan stooped to head home at the back post before Andy Geggan limped off early in the second half, leading Kerr to go four up front.
But when United’s chance arrived five minutes from time skipper Ross Docherty headed wide a Daniel Harvie cross.
McPake, whose side shipped three goals in the last five minutes against Partick six days earlier, said: “I couldn’t have asked for any more from my players than I got.
“It was deja vu in a way, holding on to a lead. Do they start thinking back to Saturday?
“The question was posed and we showed the character I know they’ve got. I signed most of those players.
“This is one of the toughest places to come in this league and we stood up well.”