Battle of the United's Which Ayr Must Win

Last updated : 02 March 2010 By Honestman

Steve Bowey and Tam McManus will make their Somerset Park debuts as Ayr hope to play their first league match at home for nearly three months.

A section of the Somerset Park turf under the shadow of the stand has been responsible for that part of the pitch remaining froxen resulting in home matches being called off - something almost unheard of at Ayr for many years.

Ayr United and Airdrie United have been engaged in a battle to avoid the automatic relegation spot and with Ayr not playing matches Airdrie managed to move to within a point of the Somerset Parkers.

However, two away matches on the trot have seen Ayr pick up four points - three after a superb 1-0 win at Dunfermline and then a point at Inverness last Saturday - albeit after Caley had equalised with a last minute penalty have takjen Ayr five points clear.

Confidence is therefore good at Ayr with Billy Gibson returning.  However defender Kevin James remains injured along with on-loan Hearts full-back Ricky Visconte.

Airdrie United midfielder Alan Trouten begins a three-game suspension.

Defender Bobby Donnelly returns after a ban, while midfielder Darren Smith is back in manager Kenny Black's squad after a knee problem.