I’ll old on a minute
Ayr player-boss may have to make Mark from bench
paSS marK Forrest fires second goal for Ayr as Kerr, inset, eyes play-offs
MARK KERR has admitted he might have to bench himself for tomorrow night’s game against leaders Dundee United.
Ayr jumped to third place in the Championship with the win at Alloa – but with games coming thick and fast he has a decision to make on whether he can handle the pace.
The Somerset Park playerboss said: “I turned 38 this weekend so it is murder for me!
“We have enough young boys in there who can carry me through it. It’s hard.
“If you’re young and fit and not carrying any niggles then it’s fine. I always felt when I was younger and at my best the momentum of the SaturdayTuesday schedule was great and you felt stronger for it.
“It will come and go really quickly so we need to be on it.”
Given Ayr’s schedule there has been little time for respite. Kerr had the squad back in for a recovery session yesterday ahead of the game against Robbie Neilson’s men.
United lost to Dunfermline at the weekend and it’s anticipated they’ll look for a swift return to winning ways in Ayrshire.
Neilson’s side are so far in front the defeat offers barely a dent as they move towards the title but Ayr have quietly put themselves into the mix for a play-off spot.
Kerr said: “We were back in doing a Sunday shift. The boys
ALISON McCONNELL AT RECREATION PARK are up for it and know what we’re trying to do.
“The more we’re in together then the more we are together and the more success we will have. We want to build on what we did on Saturday.
“I am excited because I feel we can go and build a bit of momentum now.”
The win against Alloa came courtesy of an early goal from Aaron Drinan after Alloa keeper Kieran Wright had fumbled the ball to allow the striker to nick in and backheel it into the net from six yards.
Peter Grant’s side pushed for a leveller in the second period but an excellent Alan Forrest goal just eight minutes from time killed off their resistance.
Grant’s side are four points better off than bottom-of-the -table Partick Thistle but the Jags have two games in hand.
For Kerr it’s all about looking up. He added: “We had a couple of cup games and had to change tactics because you obviously go a bit tighter when you are playing against Premier League opposition.
“So it was good to get back to a passing game against Alloa because that is the way we like to play.
“We have a group of boys itching to get on the park and play games of football.
“We had an excellent switch of play and it was great for Alan to get on the end of it and put it away. It was a great finish.
“But the really pleasing one for me was the Drinan goal because we have worked on getting balls into the box.
“We got loads of early balls into the box and we want the ball into areas where we are going to score.
“All those bits together add up. I was really pleased.”