I’ll draw fire off board

Annan Ath ........ 1 Ayr United ........ 6

Ian McCall joked his directors will rue Ayr’s flawless cup form – because it kills the club’s chance of an Old Firm tie.

The League One side roared into the last 16 with four wins from four and as top scorers of the 40 group-stage teams.

United – who led after 17 seconds yesterday and hit five more – will now be seeded in today’s draw, meaning they will avoid last season’s Premiership top four.

And boss McCall said: “For Ayr to be seeded with Rangers and Celtic is incredible – although my directors will be gutted because it means we can’t draw them!

“We’ve done really well and it has given everyone at the club a real lift. The new boys have come in and done really well. Their attitude has been different class and it has rubbed off on everybody else.

“Annan are no mugs but we looked a threat every time we went up the park and scored a lot of good goals. The boys are a bit disappointed we didn’t get a seventh goal and lost a late one.”

Ayr didn’t take long to add to Ross Docherty’s drilled finish as Craig McGuffie lashed in off the post in four minutes.

Michael Moffat then slotted home No.3 from the edge of the box before Docherty rattled the bar from 20 yards.

But a fourth did arrive before the break when Craig Moore blasted Docherty’s cross home.

Andy Geggan nodded in sub David Ferguson’s cross before Declan McDaid sealed the rout.

Annan pulled one back through Ryan Sinnamon but boss Peter Murphy said: “Losing the early goal seemed to affect us.”