Ayr vs Inverness

[ryanayr1987]

9 minutes ago, ecocme said:

Moff and Stillie?

No! 

[alsy]

Robbo wasn't messing about for that game, making four changes to the starting line-up, and it paid off really well. A central midfield of Allardice and Carson looks to have far more definition than Welsh and Allardice - Allardice sat and anchored really well while Carson was  able to close down and win the ball further up the park. He linked very well with Roddy McGregor, who sees passes and links play better than James Vincent. I've never been that impressed by Todorov, but today the ball stuck to him far better than it has done on previous occasions, and Sutherland and Mackay were able to run off him. Great composure by Mackay for his goal too, and on the back of a really well-taken finish at Cappielow a couple of weeks ago, perhaps a striker is starting to emerge there. Obviously the wind must have made it really difficult for both sets of players, but thought that for most of the second half we looked pretty after comfortable once we'd managed to get closer to McCowan; he was a real danger in the first half.

Enjoyed the commentary and summarising too - even-handed and knowledgeable. 'ICT TV' is sorely in need of that.

[ayrunitedfw]

Just now, alternative maryhill said:

Robbo wasn't messing about for that game, making four changes to the starting line-up, and it paid off really well. A central midfield of Allardice and Carson looks to have far more definition than Welsh and Allardice - Allardice sat and anchored really well while Carson was  able to close down and win the ball further up the park. He linked very well with Roddy McGregor, who sees passes and links play better than James Vincent. I've never been that impressed by Todorov, but today the ball stuck to him far better than it has done on previous occasions, and Sutherland and Mackay were able to run off him. Great composure by Mackay for his goal too, and on the back of a really well-taken finish at Cappielow a couple of weeks ago, perhaps a striker is starting to emerge there. Obviously the wind must have made it really difficult for both sets of players, but thought that for most of the second half we looked pretty after comfortable once we'd managed to get closer to McCowan; he was a real danger in the first half.

Enjoyed the commentary and summarising too - even-handed and knowledgeable. 'ICT TV' is sorely in need of that.

Are ICT still employing the chance from the game earlier in the season against us? He was woeful. He’s either improved massively or been emptied surely. 

[Rodders1910]

Not many managers available.  Kettlewell is the only one who comes to mind, but really no idea if he was much of a manager at Ross county-would be interesting to hear their fans views.  

Stephen Robinson come on down

[PB1994]

2 minutes ago, ayrunitedfw said:

Are ICT still employing the chance from the game earlier in the season against us? He was woeful. He’s either improved massively or been emptied surely. 

We are indeed. There has been no improvement.

[The Mantis]

3 minutes ago, ayrunitedfw said:

Are ICT still employing the chance from the game earlier in the season against us? He was woeful. He’s either improved massively or been emptied surely. 

Just check the QoS thread from Wednesday for the answer  Who's Lauren? She must have some playing experience, thought she was excellent.

[alsy]

1 minute ago, ayrunitedfw said:

Are ICT still employing the chance from the game earlier in the season against us? He was woeful. He’s either improved massively or been emptied surely. 

He's still there, and hasn't improved much, although tbf he doesn't ever seem to have been offered the support of a summariser. He's obviously well aware of the abuse he takes on social media - in the commentary on Wednesday's game he introduced himself by saying 'I'm back to annoy you', which quite nicely captures how seriously the club seems to be taking its responsibility to provide a good product for its supporters.    

[Thereisalight..]

I didnt watch the game so I cant comment on our performance. What I will say is that early season performances (and missing being there) stopped me from purchasing streams anymore. I've only seen highlights of the 2021 games aside from the Hearts one. 

From that first home game v Annan in the cup we looked woeful. It was a chore for me to watch streams, sadly. Saying all that I still think Alloa and Arbroath will finish below us. Perhaps even QOS as well 

[Highlandmagar]

I'm sure McCall would return in a heartbeat.

[rb123!]

Shite.....but could have been predicted

[Thereisalight..]

2 hours ago, Rodders1910 said:

This has probably been addressed before and I've just missed it, but is there a reason why it's now the away team that are getting changed in the hospitality?

As far as I was aware the away team started the season getting changed in the hospitality suite. Then we discovered it was a bigger area so swapped to it with the away team getting the dressing rooms. Wasnt aware it had swapped again? 

 

[itzdrk]

Absolute trash from all involved today, gutless. 

[itzdrk]

45 minutes ago, Hursty said:

Aye its a HUGE call.    Personally being realistic I dont think anything will happen today and it probably shouldn't-  got Dundee away midweek then Arbroath on Saturday.  Even 4 points there and we are back a couple of points above the playoffs with a game in hand.  

Although I really dont see us getting 4 points there - 0 or 1 seems more realistic and it's at this time next week he has to make the call. 

I can't see us getting anything on Tuesday, even a goal.  Arbroath is different, maybe a score draw there but they have more fight than our team do so not sure I'd have confidence of that. 

[Hursty]

21 minutes ago, itzdrk said:

I can't see us getting anything on Tuesday, even a goal.  Arbroath is different, maybe a score draw there but they have more fight than our team do so not sure I'd have confidence of that. 

Aye it will be a comfortable 2 or 3 - 0 defeat on Tuesday I think.    Arbroath will certainly be more up for it than us (like in the away game) but can still see them sneak it.   They had a long long past it Doolan and Hilson up front while missing their best striker in Hamilton today and yet I bet looked a million times more threatening than we did with McCowan Smith Walsh and Moffat which in itself is a disgrace.  

[itzdrk]

42 minutes ago, Hursty said:

Aye it will be a comfortable 2 or 3 - 0 defeat on Tuesday I think.    Arbroath will certainly be more up for it than us (like in the away game) but can still see them sneak it.   They had a long long past it Doolan and Hilson up front while missing their best striker in Hamilton today and yet I bet looked a million times more threatening than we did with McCowan Smith Walsh and Moffat which in itself is a disgrace.  

Aye but ye need Jack shelling the ball from the half way line or what's the point. 

[Skyline Drifter]

2 hours ago, Thereisalight.. said:

From that first home game v Annan in the cup we looked woeful. It was a chore for me to watch streams, sadly. Saying all that I still think Alloa and Arbroath will finish below us. Perhaps even QOS as well 

Good man, that's the spirit.

[Worktheshaft]

Would just like to put on record my appreciation of the Ayr coverage today. Miles ahead of what Inverness are serving up.

[RiG]

An excellent result against potentially very difficult opposition in far from ideal weather conditions.

As is usually the case in Ayr the home side started very brightly. We often find ourselves under the cosh early doors at Somerset and today was no different with the windy conditions not helping. Ayr settled quickly and were soon stroking the ball around well looking to hit Walsh and McCowan on their respective flanks. The former, well known to ICT fans of course, was the main focus as he frequently cut inside Duffy on the left flank and looked to hang balls up to the back post for team mates to attack. Whilst Walsh was looking threatening on the Ayr left, on the other side the in form McCowan was being marshalled well by Harper with the Ayr player barely in the game until a tactical switch by Kerr later in the first half saw him move into the middle.

Bizarrely the first chance of the game fell to the Ayr keeper Sinisalo when he launched a goal kick forward which caught the wind and almost had Ridgers scrambling to keep it out of harms way. Not too long after this Cammy Smith broke through the ICT defence and cut the ball back for team mate Moffat but the ICT defence was able to clear the danger. 

Most of our attacks were starting from long balls forward with Toddy displaying some deft control to take in these high balls and link with team mates to relieve the pressure on the Caley Thistle rear-guard. Carson, breaking forward, fired a low pass to the feet of Sutherland just inside inside the penalty area and he rolled his marker and shot straight at the United keeper. 

Ayr were next to threaten when Walsh, again cutting back onto his right foot, swung a high cross to the back post from the left where Michael Miller met it and found the net but it was correctly ruled out for a push on Harper.

odorov then had a chance with a similar effort to that of Sutherland a few minutes before as he also rolled his marker in the box but he too sent his effort down the keepers throat. Not long after this we opened the scoring with a crisp counter attack. Devine sent a controlled ball to the feet of Todorov who collected the ball and played it across to Sutherland on the Ayr right side. He then laid the ball off to the onrushing MacKay who strode onto it confidently and dispatched his shot beyond the despairing Sinisalo to open the scoring. 

Ayr responded with a tactical switch moving Walsh to the right, Smith to the left and let McCowan roam in the middle behind Moffat and it almost paid off when McCowan found himself just inside the penalty area in acres of space but he wasn't able to make the best of the opportunity and ICT were able to clear the danger. McCowan then almost scored again when his header from a Walsh cross was beaten round the post at close range by Ridgers.

This was to be the last we would see of McCowan in the game as he was completely negated by Allardice and Carson in the second half and whilst Walsh continued to offer a threat on the Ayr right Smith drifted from the game on the opposite flank and this change really curtailed Ayr as a fluent attacking force.

Only a few minutes into the second half and we grabbed a vital second goal. Todorov saw his effort blocked by his own team mate Sutherland and it was Caithness Cristiano who was first to the ball to fire it into the net with Ayr players claiming for offside. And it was almost three when Todorov bundled his way into the box and with MacKay unmarked in the centre chose to go it alone but saw his shot suppressed by a late challenge. 

Allardice was next to threaten for Inverness when he sent a free kick low under the Ayr wall as it jumped and it was partially saved by Sinisalo and United cleared at the second attempt. Again, the next best chance fell the way of ICT when Robbie Deas met a free kick from only a few yards out but his header was right at the Ayr keeper. 

Ayr almost got a goal back when Walsh, still causing problems for Harper on the ICT left, flashed a ball across goal which MacKenzie latched onto but he sent his low effort wide of the goal with Ridgers stranded. Walsh then had an effort at goal himself when he collected the ball at the back post and leathered an effort towards goal which Ridgers saved with his knee with Devine also lunging in to block.

In the end though we hung on for a big three points after an excellent performance that probably should have seen us concede a goal but also should really have been much more comfortable given the chances that were passed up.

Big call for Robbo to drop four players from Wednesday but they paid dividends with MacGregor, Todorov and Carson all impressing today. MacGregor offers a much more mobile link between our midfield two in front of the defence and the wide players / forward than Keatings does whilst Carson was tenacious alongside Allardice marshalling McCowan well after he moved inside and also breaking forward to support our counters attacks. Todorov showed some excellent touches holding the ball up and Ridgers pulled off some superb saves particularly from McCowan and Walsh in each half.

As mentioned earlier I think Kerr's changes to the three behind Moffat disrupted the fluency of Ayr's attacks and whilst Walsh was still a threat McCowan and Smith were anonymous after the break. They didn't seem to have anything in the centre of the pitch to break up our counter attacks with Murdoch and Chalmers nowhere to be seen at times.

Ayr TV was really good I though. The camera they used for most of the game wasn't the best quality but it was fine for me. Any time they wiped it down they cut to another camera that seemed to offer a better quality picture and a nicer view of the game as well. Shame they didn't use that more often. The commentary team were absolutely superb. By far and away the best I've experienced this season. The co-commentator, I forget her name, in particular was a highlight. Noticed so many little changes and tweaks made in game by both sides. Don't suppose they fancy doing our game on Tuesday?

Edited February 20, 2021 by RiG

[RiG]

Highlights up nice and early as usual from AUTV.

 

[UpInTheAyr]

The club have started to put highlights back up on YouTube, very good news hope it continues, the club deserves credit if they have taken the fan feedback into account.

What a game to mark it's return though.