On form Ayr United can climb out of the First Division relegation places for the first time since September tonight with a win against a Partick Thistle side who know anything less than three points will surely extinguish their slim title ambitions.
Following victory against Morton on Saturday the Honest Men will leapfrog the Greenock side and give their hopes of securing First Division football for next season a massive boost. Ayr have taken seven points from a possible nine in recent weeks with wins at Dunfermline and an unfortunate draw against Inverness while Partick have stumbled to five defeats in their last seven games and have struggled away from home this season.
Speaking ahead of the game the Brian Reid said, “This is a big, big game but we are going into it in good form and on the back of a win over Morton that we deserved based on our second half performance. A win would lift us up to eighth place and set us up nicely for the trip to Airdrie at the weekend. Thistle are a very experienced side, who will be looking to get back into things after losing at the weekend, but we have a chance to give ourselves a huge lift and we will be going all out for a win.”
Ayr have no fresh injury worries with Mark Roberts expected to bit fit to face his former side despite receiving five stitches to a gash to his hip at the weekend. Young Danny McKay, with some impressive substitute appearances under his belt, is also knocking on the door for a starting role. The 19 year old said: “Ayr offered me first-team football and with my contract up in the summer it's up to me to impress”.
United have benefited from some profligate finishing from opposition sides recently and it seems Thistle have been no strangers to wayward shooting of late either. Ian McCall said: "We have been creating the chances and not taking them so we need to find a cutting edge." The Jags are in the last chance saloon as far as their title hopes are concerned and currently sit 10 points behind league leaders Dundee, having played a game more but McCall isn’t conceding anything yet: "There has been a sense of frustration all season. But the way the league is, no one has given up hope. There are six teams cutting each other's throats and if we can string three wins together we can get back up there.”
Partick Thistle are without veteran defenders Martyn Corrigan and Greg Shields.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm and if you can’t make the game be sure to follow the action online with Match Day Live.
Match Stats
Thistle have lost five of their last six games away from home and have taken only 12 from a possible 39 points all season on the road.
However, the Jags are unbeaten in their last 10 league visits to Somerset Park stretching back to February 1990.
Forward Mark Roberts netted his 15th goal for Ayr on Saturday since signing from Thistle in January 2009. Marko’s eight goals this term have already surpassed last season’s total.
Tonight’s match referee is William Collum. Inverness Caley Thistle inflicted Ayr’s worst home defeat since December 2007 on Collum’s last visit to Somerset Park in October. Lets hope there is no repetition tonight.