With Ayr United's match with Airdrie United postponed on Tuesday night football didn't return to Somerset Park - and the 13 week wait continues - as the rearranged game versus Airdrie United became the eighth postponement of the season Again it was the notorious stand-side section of the pitch remaining stubbornly frozen.
However, the fixtures, if not matches, come thick and fast and Greenock Morton are the visitors on Saturday in another massive game which could prove pivotal in the race to avoid 9th and 10th place.
A win for the Honest Men would close the gap to Morton in 8th to just 2 points, with Ayr retaining a game in hand on their west coast rivals.
With so many games yet to be played, including two visits to Cappielow, Saturday won't determine the side's league position at the end of the season but boss Brian Reid is well aware that three points would be a massive stride in the right direction. Speaking on Thursday, Brian said: “We know its going to be a difficult game. Morton are a big, strong, physical team but we’ve got to stand up and be counted and make sure we get something from the game”.
Willie Easton joins Rocky Visconte and Kevin James on the sidelines with a hamstring strain but Brian Reid has moved quickly to strengthen Ayr’s options at left back with the signing of Danny Lafferty on loan from Celtic. The Northern Ireland U21 internationalist, who is also comfortable at centre-back and left midfield, will go straight into the squad.
Morton boss James Grady blasted his side at the weekend for a lack of effort as Morton went down to their seventh home defeat of the season against Dunfermline, despite taking the lead. The former United striker – who netted 20 goals in 97 appearances during his three year spell at Ayr – described the performance as “totally unacceptable from start to finish” and will be looking for his side to bounce back.
Kevin McKinlay serves the second match of a two game ban for the visitors but Kevin Finlayson returns from suspension.
Ayr United have nevertheless asked for an early inspection of the pitch ahead of todays game to ensure that it is not called off late as was the case in mid week.
Ayr United have a decent home record against Morton, the Greenock side recorded just 16 league victories in 64 visits, however, the visitors have won in three of their last five trips to Somerset Park.
It is over 6 months since the last meeting between the two sides, Morton winning 2-0 in August, just the third game of the season. Since then Ayr have added eight new faces to the squad while Morton have replaced manager Davie Irons.
One of those new Ayr signings is Ayr Celtic left back Daniel Lafferty from on loan until the end of the season.
The 20 year old left footed defender was signed from Oxford United Boys Club in Derry 4 years ago.
Daniel has 4 U21 caps for Northern Ireland.
Todays fixture will see the league’s poorest defence come up against its lowest goalscorers. Morton have conceded 42 goals in 22 games this season at an average of 1.9 goals per game while United, having played a game less, have netted only 16 times, four in our last two games.
Morton have played four fewer games at home than they have away and with just six points gained at Cappielow all season have won 71% of their 21 points on the road. 63% of Ayr’s points haul have been recorded at Somerset Park.
Saturday’s referee is Steven Nicholls. In 19 games this season the official has handed out 63 yellow cards and eight red.Ayr United will be missing Willie Easton, Kevin James and on-loan Hearts full-back Rocky Visconte through injury for the home clash with Morton.
(honestman thanks the Ayr United website for most of this text)