FALKIRK 2 AYR UTD 0

RAY McKINNON, the Falkirk manager, has lavished praise on Jordan McGhee after his club captain produced a masterful display to drag the Bairns a step closer to Ladbrokes Championship survival,

The 22-year-old opened the scoring with a strike that admittedly owed more to fortune than finesse, with a misjudged cross skewing over the head of Ayr goalkeeper Ross Doohan and into the net. However, if his opener was ridiculous, then his second was sublime. McGhee latched onto a deep delivery from Tommy Robson on the edge of the box and unleashed a ferocious drive beyond Doohan.

“I promise you, Jordan is a proper captain,” lauded McKinnon. “The way he plays, the way he trains, the way he leads – it is excellent and we are delighted to have him.

“He has been fantastic and has popped up with a couple of big goals lately.

“We have been encouraging Jordan to get forward on the right side after going to a back four. He has great energy and was brilliant. His two goals: that’s what captains do.”

McKinnon added: “I’m saying he meant it . . . never mind his second goal, the first one was a screamer too!”

As the Bairns dare to tentatively look up the table, Ayr’s malaise is now startling.

They have won just two of their last 13 games to see their title charge evaporate and, barring an upturn in form, could soon see their play-off berth in jeopardy.

“That is three we have lost in a row and in the last two years we have barely ever lost two in a row,” accepted Ayr boss Ian McCall. “We have a lot of young players and their confidence is down.”