Ayr United boss Brian Reid wants new faces after defeat by Dundee

Oct 28 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

WHAT a difference a game makes.

Only three days after being humbled 3-1 at home by Dundee, Ayr rose to the occasion to dump St Mirren from the League Cup.

The mood was in stark contrast to Saturday when furious boss Brian Reid slammed his players.

He hit out: "Schoolboy defending once again cost us. We gave away two free headers and then tried to dribble the ball out the box.

"Even a blind man can see the squad needs reinforced. We need to bring in a couple before it's too late."

Chris Smith, who was stretchered off with concussion only a week earlier, was originally named on the team sheet and then withdrawn just minutes before the kick-off.

Skipper Rhys Weston had a free header to give Dundee the lead.

There was controversy when Dundee won a hotly disputed penalty after John Robertson was ruled to have fouled Weston. Ayr were enraged but after Robertson was booked they felt justice was done when Matt Lockwood's penalty was superbly saved by keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

Ayr grabbed a lifeline in 83 minutes when Lockwood, who had already been booked, hauled down Michael Moffat for a penalty which Roberts slammed home. There was no second yellow for the sinner.

But any notion of a fightback was killed three minutes from time when Steven Milne headed home a Ryan Conroy cross.