Saints completed the first quarter of their William Hill Championship campaign this afternoon as they played out a goalless draw with Ayr United at McDiarmid Park.
Saints best chance of the first half saw Kai Fotheringham head inches over from a Reece McAlear cross whilst up the other end Toby Steward did well to tip an Ethan Walker effort behind following a quick break by the visitors.
Simo Valakari’s side improved in the second half however, they struggled to seriously test David Mitchell in the visiting goal. The Honest Men came close with 15 minutes remaining but Steward again made another fine save to deny Marco Rus.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as Ross County are the visitors to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Ayr United to McDiarmid Park for a William Hill Championship match this afternoon. There was one change to the side which started the 2-1 win at Queen’s Park last Saturday as Cheick Diabate, who missed the match at Lesser Hampden due to suspension, came in to replace Matty Foulds who dropped to the bench. There was also a change on the bench as Ross Sinclair missed out due to injury and he was replaced by Kyle Thomson. Ayr United defeated Airdrieonians 4-2 at Somerset Park last weekend and they also made one change as Scott Brown brought in Dylan Watret, who was returning from suspension, to replace Nick McAllister who missed out completely.
Jamie Gullan got the match underway with Saints shooting towards the Ormand Stand for the first half.
Saints created a chance 2 minutes into the match as Jason Holt capitalised on a slack pass from an Ayr player. The Saints captain then played the ball to Josh McPake and the winger advanced the ball forward to Adama Sidibeh, who did well to beat the offside trap before firing a low inviting ball across the face of the Ayr goal however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as The Honest Men cleared their lines.
PHOTO: Josh McPake and Dylan Watret
A quick counter attack by Ayr United on 8 minutes saw a long ball forward by Dylan Watret play in Ethan Walker however, Toby Steward got down well to tip the shot from the winger around the post for a corner.
Good persistent play down the left by Saints on 27 minutes resulted in Reece McAlear breaking to the byeline before sending over a cross into the box to Kai Fotheringham whose header went inches over.
Saints created another chance on 34 minutes as Jamie Gullan saw his strike deflected into the side netting by Scott McMann. Then a minute later the forward got another sight of goal however, his effort from distance lacked power as David Mitchell comfortably gathered the ball. It was a good spell of pressure by Saints as shortly after Gullan turned provider as he played in McPake however, Watret made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to turn the ball behind for a corner.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan and Leon King
With 4 minutes of the first half remaining Ayr got a sight of goal as Marco Rus found Jamie Murphy at the edge of the area however, the former Saints player fired his effort high and wide of the target.
Saints were awarded a free kick just outside the box on 47 minutes after McPake was fouled by Watret. McAlear took the free kick and his dangerous ball into the box was headed behind for a corner by Watret.
On 57 minutes a deep cross from the right by Gullan broke to Fotheringham however, his strike hit Sidibeh before The Honest Men were awarded a free kick for a foul in the box on Ben Dempsey as the Ayr captain attempted to clear the ball.
PHOTO: Josh McPake is denied by Dylan Watret
Saints made their first change of the game just after the hour mark as Jannik Wanner came on to replace Kai Fotheringham.
Saints continued to apply pressure to the visitors goal and on 71 minutes Gullan unleashed an effort at goal however, Dempsey made a good block as he turned the ball behind for a corner.
With 15 minutes remaining Ayr came close to taking the lead however, Steward made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Rus.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear and Jamie Murphy
Simo Valakari made further changes with 10 minutes remaining as Sven Sprangler and Uche Ikpeazu came on to replace Adam Forrester and Adama Sidibeh.
Saints pushed for the breakthrough in the closing stages however, they couldn’t find a way past a well organised Ayr United defence. Then deep into stoppage time the visitors came close to snatching a late winner as substitute Anton Dowds got on the end of a cross into the Saints box however, he couldn’t direct his header on target as both sides had to settle for a point.
PHOTO: Adam Forrester plays the ball past Marco Rus
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt, Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 80’), Gullan, Baird, Fotheringham (Wanner 61’), McPake, Forrester (Sprangler 80’), McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Tumilty, Svedberg, Stanton, Foulds, Franczak
Booked: McPake, Sidibeh, Boyes, Gullan
Ayr United: Mitchell, Holt, Dempsey (Bannigan 74’), Ure, Murphy (Dowds 74’), King, Walker, McKenzie (Oakley 74’), Rus, Watret, McMann
Unused Substitutes: Russell (GK), Want, Thomas
Booked: Walker, King
Referee: Ryan Lee
Attendance: 4,277
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jason Holt gets between Jamie Murphy and Dylan Watret
