We aim for top Mark
Kerr insists big guns Hearts won’t scare his battling side
MARK KERR wants his newlook Ayr to show no fear in the battle against big-spending Hearts this season.
The player-boss has overhauled his squad with a summer of smart recruitment at Somerset.
And after top-four finishes in the last two years Ayr look set for another challenge at the right end of the table.
Kerr said: “Budgets tend to dictate league positions but we’re in it to beat everyone around us.
“Hearts are favourites but if we can get at the teams with the bigger budgets we’ll try to rise to that.”
A first-half Mikey Miller double helped Ayr to an opening-day win, while new keeper Viljami Sinisalo made a string of top saves to secure the points.
The giant Finn, on loan from Aston Villa, kept Queens at bay as they pushed for a late leveller following Stephen Dobbie’s secondhalf penalty.
Kerr added: “Viljami is athletic, can get across his goal and is great at reading things.
“He’s still a young boy – only 19 – and has things to work on.
“But he made some great saves including in the last minute and will be a big player for us.”
Queens had been thrown into turmoil on the eve of this clash when manager Allan Johnston and his entire backroom staff were forced into Covid isolation. Senior players Dobbie and Willie Gibson took the team with Johnston in constant contact via phone.
But they were two behind before 20 minutes were on the clock as
Ayr raced out of the blocks. Miller was given the freedom of the box as he nodded home a perfect corner from Joe Chalmers in the 13th minute.
And Miller doubled the lead soon after when another Chalmers corner sparked panic in the Queens defence.
Queens came alive at the end of the first half with Dobbie and Euan East forcing good saves from Sinisalo.
And they were back in it just after the restart when Ayr skipper Jack Baird nudged Gregor Buchanan for a penalty Dobbie converted. But Queens were reduced to 10 men when Rangers loan kid James Maxwell was given a second yellow for diving in the box.
Ayr could have gone on to extend their lead with chances for Aaron Muirhead and Michael Moffat.
But they were made to sweat late on when Luke McCowan also saw red for lashing out at Buchanan.
Sinisalo pulled off a stunning save in the closing seconds to deny Buchanan and keep the points safe.
Queens stand-in boss Dobbie said: “I actually felt we played even better when down to 10 men.
“The manager was watching and we were in touch at half-time to relay his thoughts and it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get the win for him.
“We’re in charge again next week due to the two-week isolation.
“So we will prepare again this week and take on board what the management want through text messages and zoom calls.”