Jose in a Stu Armstrong strike helps pile pressure on Mourinho
all over it. He’s never been one to reinvent the wheel.
His side do the basics well and everyone is comfortable in their role.
But it’s a side driven by rejection and that is the real beauty of what’s transpired at Somerset Park.
The Ayr side is packed with players who’ve all recently become persona non grata elsewhere.
Lawrence Shankland is a case in point, binned by Aberdeen – but he’ll now have his pick of clubs.
Look at the team-sheet. Mark Kerr, released by Falkirk, Andy Murdoch dumped by Morton. Declan McDaid was an odd man out at Partick while Michael Moffat and Andy Geggan were surplus at the Pars.
McCall is a managerial missionary – it’s all about recovery and rehabilitation.
And special mention for assistant boss Neil Scally.
Ayr fans are now believing and there are few Honest Men who wouldn’t gladly give him the shirt off their back. Super Stuart Armstrong bagged his third goal in two g ame s as Southampton heaped more pressure on jaded Jose Mourinho.
The former Celtic star gave Saints the lead after just 13 minutes with Cedric Soares making it 2- 0 minutes later with a stunning free-kick.
Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera rescued a point but United currently sit in seventh place, 16 points behind leaders Manchester City. Saints boss Mark Hughes said: “We have to view it as a positive. We have been playing well for a number of weeks.
“We had opportunities to nip things in the bud, clear our lines and track runners but as a consequence they were able to get back into the game.
“Overall it’s a positive point against a good team and we will build on that.”
Saints came flying out of the traps and Armstrong fired an unstoppable shot past David de Gea after 13 minutes.
The United goalkeeper was beaten again shortly after by a beautiful free- kick by Soares which curled into the top corner.
If Saints fans were concerned about letting another two-goal lead slip like they did last week against Fulham, they were right to be worried as United quickly hit back through Lukaku, who was set up by Marcus Rashford.
The goal was the Belgian’s first for his club in all competitions since the middle of September, a drought lasting 981 minutes. Herrera equalised before halftime but the match ended with United failing to grab the win to heap more woe on their under pressure boss.
Mourinho said: “I think the result is quite fair in spite of the fact we were more dominant in the game. They had a better start than us.
“The goals we conceded were a direct free-kick and a good shot. We needed to lose less balls in midfield and if you do that you have more continuity in attack.”