By David Buick
Ayr United manager Mark Kerr was delighted with Ipswich Town loanee Aaron Drinan’s performance as the Honest Men dumped Premiership side Ross County out of the Scottish Cup.
A first half goal from Steven Bell was enough for Ayr as they managed to keep County out and book their place in the Scottish Cup fifth round.
Ayr dumped County out the cup. (Photo by Robbie Boyd)
They’ll take on St Johnstone in that round as they look to claim another top flight scalp. Drinan was making his debut following a loan switch from Ipswich last week.
Kerr was thrilled with the forward’s performance as he hailed the board for their backing this window.
“It was good to see our first signing really contribute to the team,” said Kerr. “Big Aaron has been in three or four days this week and that rawness and willingness to run in behind and just take the hits for us is something we haven’t had for a while.
“Shanks (Lawrence Shankland) did that for us. Hopefully Aaron will get some goals for us as well, but he’s brought a different dimension to us.
Drinan was impactful on his debut. (Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“We’re still playing our nice wee four or five pass combinations to break through the lines really quickly. It’s just nice, the boys were saying that it’s just nice to put it up there and try and get on a second ball.
“It just breeds confidence in the team now knowing that we can play both ways.
“The board have been brilliant. I don’t want to be battering it all over the papers that we’re going to get this one and that one in because we’ve put a couple of offers in and they haven’t came through.
The Ipswich man is one arrival. (Photo By Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“But if you put that out there and it doesn’t happen you just look stupid.”