Promotion specialist Mullin believes Ayr have shot at glory
JOSH MULLIN knows a thing or two about what it takes to earn promotion.
The 30- year- old netted a brace on Saturday afternoon to affirm Ayr United’s ambitions of getting out of the Championship this term with the midfielder covering this ground before.
The on- loan Livingston midfielder has experienced promotion four times with Albion Rovers, Livingston and Ross County. His maturity could be key to Lee Bullen’s side although it remains to be seen whether he could be recalled to his parent club in January.
“I am out of contract next summer at Livingston and I don’t know if they will recall me next month,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I didn’t play against Pollok in the Scottish Cup. I am an Ayr player and I am loving it right now but if Livingston call me back that’s fine.
“I have a good relationship with Davie Martindale and the boys at Livingston. I just want to play where I am wanted and I will play football. I just have to worry about doing the business for Ayr and I can’t let my future impact my performances. I’ll keep giving 100 per cent in every game.”
If Ayr hang on to him the likelihood is that he will have a significant part to play in their drive to stay at the top end of the table.
The 2- 0 win over Raith Rovers with a goal in each half from Mullin preserved a one- point lead over Dundee at the top. There is a two- point advantage over Queen’s Park and three over Morton while Partick Thistle are eight points off the summit.
“I have a few promotions and it is something that the manager has said I know about,” said Mullin. “I told the boys this league is up and down but if we can be in and around it at Christmas then it will give us something to build on in the second half of the season. Can we win promotion? I don’t see why not.
“You will see gaps opening up and teams will fall away. We are still top right now and that’s all that matters.
“Partick would have been a lot of people’s favourites at the start of the season and we are eight points ahead of them right now which is great. But we will go about our business and they are our next league game and we will make sure we are ready for them.
“We are underdogs and we know that and it can be a good thing. I had it at Livingston as well when we went up through the play- offs, being the underdog you have no pressure.
“But we are putting demands on ourselves to keep up the standards we have set. If we keep doing that then we will be fine.”
Dipo Akinyemi did not score but provided the assist for Mullin’s second- half header while some clever footwork from Logan Chalmers led to Mullin’s opener. Contributing goals as well as his experience is the target from Mullin.
“I am one of the older heads in the dressing room,” he said. “The gaffer was surprised how vocal I am and the information I give to the boys. I’m still learning the game, but it’s nice to pass on my experience to the other wingers and the young lads. I help the strikers as well and I enjoy that.
“We have a lot of talented young players and Finn Ecrepont made his first start and he had to play at right- back even though he is a left- back.
“I won the man- of- the- match award because of the goals but for me Finn was the best player on the park.”