Defiant McCall believes Ayr can beat the drop
AYR UNITED manager Ian McCall insists his players have the belief that they can dodge the drop ahead of a frantic finale to the relegation battle.
The Honest Men remain bottom of the Championship but now lie two points behind ninth-placed St Mirren with two games to go.
Lawrence Shankland put Morton, who secured their spot in the promotion play-offs, ahead before Craig Moore’s great strike drew Ayr level on the stroke of half-time.
McCall has confidence his team can catch the Buddies and Raith Rovers, who sit a point ahead of the Paisley men and have a game in hand at Hibernian on Wednesday.
‘We’re a point closer to St Mirren and we’ll see how Raith Rovers do against Hibs on Wednesday,’ said McCall.
‘We have to win these last two games. There’s absolutely plenty of belief in the dressing room — there has to be.
‘I’m really pleased with our endeavour and desire.
‘A draw was a fair result. We were fortunate to be level at half-time but we got a lift with the goal just before the break. In the second half, we looked more likely to score.’
Morton boss Jim Duffy began his two-game ban and sat in the stand following his part in the melee at Easter Road.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead after a quarter of an hour but Tam O’Ware’s header was cleared off the line.
Shankland wasted a glorious chance for the hosts midway through the half when he beat the offside trap, but he dragged his shot from 18 yards wide of target.
The striker made up for that miss when he put Morton ahead seven minutes before the break. Gary Oliver’s deflected shot fell into his strike partner’s path and he netted from six yards.
But Ayr bounced back and levelled with the last kick of the half.
Ross Docherty’s free-kick found Alan Forrest, who raced forward and laid the ball to Moore on the right.
The striker fired a superb strike from just inside the box and into the far corner which gave Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston no chance.
Nicky Devlin’s deflected shot late on almost earned the win for Ayr, but Gaston did well to hold the ball.
‘We’re delighted to reach the play-offs,’ said Morton assistant boss Craig McPherson.