Ayr United can take cup belief says Brian Reid

Jan 14 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Ayr United can take cup belief says Brian Reid

BELIEVE we can do it and we might just deliver.

That's Brian Reid’s message to Ayr ahead of Tuesday night's eagerly awaited Scottish Cup replay.

A stirring show at Easter Road has boosted hopes that United can add to their cup tradition over the years by bagging another SPL scalp.

Can Hibs be another Kilmarnock and Dundee United in the waiting?

Reid admitted: "We've got to fancy our chances in the replay and take belief from that performance.

"As a part-time Second Division club against a Premier outfit, we were maybe wary beforehand. But after coming here and creating so many chances we have shown what we are made of.

"If you don't take belief from that then you obviously have problems as a professional player. Hibs will be hurting and they'll want to come to Somerset and put things right.

"But it's up to us to put on another good performance. Then you never know on the night."

Reid hailed his players for sticking to a game plan which worked a treat. He said: "We knew we could frustrate them and the longer we held out that the Hibs fans would get a bit rowdy.

"What a lift it was for the players to run out in front of such a noisy support behind the goal. We didn't want to let them down and everyone, including the subs, gave it their best.

"The worry beforehand was that we had played only one game in seven weeks but great credit to our fitness levels which didn't look any less than Hibs.

"Apart from Derek Riordan hitting the bar, I didn't think they cut through or hurt us. I was just a wee bit disappointed at the McCann chance from the passback for if he had connected it might have been a totally different story.

"But I'm not going to criticise Ryan for that as he gave a superb performance."

Reid pumped up the heat for Hibs and reckons they are in for a culture shock at spartan Somerset Park.

He boomed: "Not many teams will fancy coming to Somerset on a wet and windy January night and Hibs will be very aware of that. We'll be big underdogs again but you never know what can happen if we take our chances. It would have been nice to get the winner at the end in front of our own support but overall we've got to be pleased.

"I am sure the directors will be pleased at getting another home tie and bringing money into the club."

Reid ditched his usual 4-4-2 to go with only one striker up. He said: "We packed the midfield but when we had opportunities to go wide and play we did.

"We had chances and no one could say we got battered. We knew Hibs were on a bad run and that if we could frustrate them, the crowd would get on their backs which is never easy for a home player."