TIME WE SHOWED AYR WHO’S BOSS
Smith aims to bust the United jinx that he played his part in creating
LIAM SMITH helped Ayr rule the roost over Dundee United – now he reckons it’s high time the Tannadice side ended that jinx.
The full-back was part of the Somerset Park side which thrashed United 5-0 at Tannadice in November last year, with Lawrence Shankland netting four times as the Honest Men ran riot.
But after both he and Shankland swapped Ayr for Robbie Neilson’s side in the summer, Smith is desperate to put his old team in their place today.
Ayr have won four of the last five meetings between the sides and the 23-year-old said: “I enjoyed some success with Ayr in games between the clubs, especially here at Tannadice.
“One springs to mind. We did particularly well that night!
“Ayr have seemed to do well against United but it would be nice if we could put a stop to that.
“It would also be great if Lawrence could get a goal or two.”
Smith knows that United won’t get it easy against his old club, who now have his former team-mate Mark Kerr in the hot seat after Ian McCall left to take over at Partick Thistle.
He added: “Knowing Kerrso as I do, he will be wanting them to play football just like they did before. I don’t think Ayr know any other way of playing.
“That was certainly the case when I was there – attack was the best form of defence and I don’t see it being any different now under Mark.
“All the Ayr boys will be right behind Mark and looking to get a good result for him.”
United are 13 points clear of Inverness in second and look odds-on to clinch the title but Smith insists no one at Tannadice is getting carried away.
He said: “We don’t really listen to the outside noise. In house, it is all about winning the next game. After matches the manager is always quick to talk about the next one.
“We’re concentrating on ourselves and if we continue to do that we will be in a good position at the end of the season.”
Smith won’t be surprised to learn that Ayr player-boss Kerr plans to send his side out on the front foot today.
Kerr said: “Dundee United have not dropped a point at home this season and winning eight out of eight there is one of the reasons they are top of the league. It is a formidable record but we will go there and be positive.
“That approach has secured us wins both home and away against them in the past so there’s no need to change it.
“We are a better team when we attack, that is one of our key strengths and the approach we will go out with.”