The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ayr have to accept they are in relegation ‘scrap’
Ayr player-manager Mark Kerr is looking for his side to react to falling into second bottom place in the Championship in the best possible way by winning at Dundee.
A 2-0 defeat from visitors Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday has turned Ayr’s primary focus to getting out of trouble as opposed to homing in a promotion play-off spot.
Kerr said: “It is a tight league as we are only four points off a play-off place but we also have to accept that we are in a scrap as we have fallen down the table.
“We are used to sitting in the top half, and we also have games in hand, but we have a job to do to get away from where we are now.
“Queen of the South looked to be in trouble a few weeks ago, however they are now fourth and we need to go on a good positive run like they have done starting at Dundee.”
Striker Andre Wright is a major doubt as he is still suffering from a groin problem but Jordan Houston could return.
Andy Murray has revealed he could not bring himself to watch the Australian Open and unfollowed other players on social media after being forced to miss the event.
The former world number one was unable to travel to Australia following an untimely bout of coronavirus and, while the rest of the leading names in the sport were doing battle in Melbourne, he was competing at a lower-level Challenger tournament in Italy.
Murray said: “I didn’t watch any because I wanted to be there myself. It was a struggle to be honest. I stopped following all the tennis players I follow on social media and stuff because I just didn’t really want to see it.”
The tournament finished on Sunday in familiar fashion with Novak Djokovic winning a ninth title thanks to a straightsets win over Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final.
It struck another blow for the old guard of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer against the younger generation.
Murray said: “I expected the final to be closer to be honest but I also know how good Novak is there and when he’s on his game and obviously highly motivated.
“I saw before the final Medvedev said something along the lines of Novak
having immense pressure on him, which is true, but those guys have been at the top of the game, they’ve been dealing with immense pressure their whole careers and they know how to deal with it and perform at their best level when it matters.
“The younger guys, for me, they’ve not shown that they’re particularly close.
“Obviously what happened at the US Open, (Dominic) Thiem did what he had to do to win the event, but, if Novak hadn’t put a ball through the line judge’s throat, it would be
the same outcome I think.”
Murray made the most of his time in Italy, reaching the final before losing to Illya Marchenko.
He will play his first ATP Tour event of the season this week at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier and he remains bullish about his hopes as he continues to work his way back from his long-term injury problems.
“It was good to get the five matches,” said the 33-year-old.
“I found it tricky conditions to play there to be honest. In terms of the
level of tennis, times OK.
“I think around the quarters or something I was feeling a little bit tired and then actually played a really good match in the semi-finals and felt fine and then I actually felt fine on the finals days and then when the match started I just felt very heavy-legged and I didn’t deal with it well at all.
“But I guess it’s kind of understandable, I hadn’t played many matches in the last five months and was coming off two weeks where I basically wasn’t it was at
allowed to do anything because of the virus. And physically in terms of pain I felt good. My hips and stuff were good.
“I play in practice with lots of top players and I know how I get on against them. If I was getting smoked when I was practising, I wouldn’t keep going through it. But I know the level I am playing at.
“I still feel like I can compete for big events. I wish I was able to show that in Australia. I was ready to do that. No question.”
Andrew Pozzi, Elliot Giles and Holly Bradshaw are among 41 athletes named in the Great Britain squad for the European Indoor Championships next month.
With the likes of Dina Asher-smith absent through injury, new head coach Christian Malcolm has focused on a number of up-and-coming athletes for the event, which will take place in Torun, Poland, from March 4-7.
Reigning world indoor 60 metres hurdles champion Pozzi and former European indoor pole vault champion Bradshaw are among the leading medal contenders in the men’s squad, which features five Scots.
Guy Learmonth, who won Sunday’s British trial, is part of a strong 800 metres trio with Elliot Giles and Jamie Webb, while Neil Gourley will contest the 1.500m and Andy Butchart goes in the 3,000m.
Zoey Clark and Beth Dobbin are in the women’s 4x400m squad.
Keely Hodgkinson, who set a new world under-20 record in the women’s 800m this season, is also included, but Scot Jemma Reekie is absent.
With Asher-smith and Asha Philip among those missing, Britain will have no entry in the women’s 60m.
Malcolm said: “It has been a challenging time for all athletes and coaches but we have seen some incredible performances.
“Of course, we are looking to maximise the number of opportunities to win medals, but it is also about providing opportunities for developing athletes as well as established athletes to achieve a GB and NI vest.
“We have a real mix in the squad with several young athletes demonstrating their potential in really challenging circumstances.”
MEN: 60m: Harry Aikines-aryeetey, Oliver Bromby, Andrew Robertson.
400m: Joe Brier, Lee Thompson, James Williams.
800m: Elliot Giles, Guy Learmonth, Jamie Webb.
1,500m: Piers Copeland, Archie Davis, Neil Gourley.
3,000m: Andrew Butchart, Jack Rowe, Marc Scott.
4x400m: Brier, Efe Okoro, Tom Somers, Owen Smith, Thompson, Williams.
60m hurdles: Andrew Pozzi.
Long jump: Fincham-dukes.
WOMEN: 400m: Jessie Knight, Ama Pipi, Jodie Williams.
800m: Ellie Baker, Isabelle Boffey, Keely Hodgkinson.
1,500m: Holly Archer, Katie Snowden.
3,000m: Amy-eloise Markovc, Verity Ockenden, Amelia Quirk.
4x400m: Zoey Clark, Beth Dobbin, Knight, Yasmin Liverpool, Pipi, Williams.
60m hurdles: Emma Nwofor, Tiffany Porter, Cindy Sember.
Pole Vault: Bradshaw.
Long Jump: Irozuru.
Shot Putt: Mckinna.
Pentathlon: Holly Mills.
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