Ayr United boss Brian Reid warns Hibs ahead of Scottish Cup tie

Mar 9 2012 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRIAN REID has warned Hibs they won’t face a Somerset Park saunter on Saturday.

Resurgent Ayr take on the SPL strugglers with a 6000 crowd expected.

And hopes are high that can claim their fourth top flight scalp and reach their second semi-final of the season.

Boss Reid fired: “Hibs know they are coming here for a game.

“They are not turning up for a jolly but I wouldn’t expect the Hibs management to expect that.

“They will underestimate us at their peril. It’s a game we know we can win if we do the right things.

“Nothing surprises me about this group of players. I keep expecting them to have a blip but they keep rising to the occasion.”

Ayr go into the tie on a high after climbing out the bottom two with a 2-1 win at Livingston on Tuesday evening, their third victory in four games.

The come from behind triumph was their third over Livi since the turn of the year and has pulled the Lions into relegation alley.

Ayr, unchanged for the fourth game in a row, fell behind in 12 minutes when Livi seized on a clearance by Kevin Cuthbert which held up in the wind. Marc McNulty pounced to set up Keaghan Jacobs who tapped home from four yards.

It took United only eight minutes to equalise with a milestone goal from skipper Mark Roberts who fired home his 20th penalty and 50th goal as an Honest Man.

Liam Fox hit the bar as Livi tried to reply before the break but it was Ayr who forged ahead in 66 minutes with a drive from Michael McGowan.

Sub Iain Russell headed over as Livi responded but Ayr could have added to their tally and Roberts was twice foiled by Andy McNeil.

The win lifts Ayr two points ahead of second bottom Raith and seven ahead of Queen of the South.

More importantly, they are only one adrift of Morton and two behind Livingston.

Reid added: “We have 10 games left and every one is massive. There will be a big crowd on Saturday and the fans have been magnificent following us all over the country.

“What a boost it would be if we could double our numbers home and away before the end of the season.”

LIVINGSTON: McNeil, Docherty, Talbot, Watson, C. Barr, Kyle Jacobs, B. Barr, Fox, McNulty, Scougall (Russell 67), Keaghan Jacobs. Unused subs: Jamieson, Fordyce, Boulding, Russie. Booked: Talbot, C. Barr. Booked: Talbot, C. Barr.

AYR: Cuthbert; Tiffoney, Malone, Smith, Dodd; McGowan, Tomsett, Geggan, Moffat; Parker, Roberts. Unused subs: McWilliams, Wardlaw, McKernon, R. Robertson, Armstrong. Booked: Dodd, Tomsett, Geggan, McGowan.

Referee: Stephen Finnie; Crowd: 859.