It’S tALE OF tWO GAFFERS
Best and worst of times for Cal & Broony
Ayr united.......... 1 queen’s pArk....... 2
CALLUM DAVIDSON saluted the best Queen’s Park show of his reign.
But Scott Brown was raging at Ayr’s worst since he took over.
Davidson’s side leapfrogged the Honest Men and moved to within three points of the play-off places.
Ruari Paton’s 21st goal of the campaign gave Queen’s a fully deserved lead from the first period and Cillian Sheridan’s third since joining clinched the points.
Although Ayr defender Jack Sanders made up for his awful error to haul the hosts back into it near the finish, Queen’s got the job done.
Davidson said: “The first half is the best we have played all season.
“Second half, we didn’t start well and we got the goal to go 2-0 up when we probably weren’t playing as well but I was delighted for the lads.
“We always knew Ayr were going to come back into it at some point and cause us a problem. They changed their system second half and maybe spooked us for 10 or 15 minutes.
“We just look at every game. I know it’s a cliche but it’s so tight.”
Davidson’s side were miles better at the start and took their 19th-minute lead as Paton maintained his record of scoring in every game against Ayr this term.
The striker ghosted into the danger area to meet a terrific Louis Longridge cross and plant a close- range header into the net.
Ayr’ keeper Josh Clarke produced a point-blank stop from Jack Turner as Queen’s blew an opportunity in the final seconds of that opening period.
Brown made changes in personnel and system for the second half and it almost paid off instantly but Anton Dowds had a header saved by keeper Calum Ferrie.
A howler from Sanders on the hour halted Ayr’s mini-revival when he gave the ball to Paton at the edge of his own box. The goalscorer turned provider as he set up Sheridan to lift a one-on-one finish over Clarke.
Sanders headed home a Harry McHugh corner with 12 minutes to go but Queen’s held on.
Brown was fuming at the setback which left his team just three points ahead of ninth-placed Inverness.
He said: “That’s the worst performance since coming here. There was no composure on the ball and no real quality in the final third.
“We lacked aggression. We looked drained and it’s not a great sign. The one good thing is we have another game coming up on Friday.
“We need to have an understanding. We were very lucky to come in at halftime only 1-0 down. We changed the shape and started well but an unforced error again cost us.”