THE large travelling support of around 400 who made their way to Coatbridge could hardly have predicted such a comprehensive defeat in the opening game of the Ladbrokes SPFL One campaign after United’s promising pre-season and back-to back cup victories.

It was a performance that manager Ian McCall described as ‘absolutely awful’ and a game that ‘Albion Rovers deserved to win.’ McCall could have trotted out a number of excuses such as his team lacking key players through suspension, the length of the grass on the pitch and the very uneven surface, but he refused to do so instead identifying problems within his own team’s performance and promising to get these fixed quickly.

The Honest Men had a rather depleted looking squad with Captain Nicky Devlin, Gerry McLauchlan, Andy Muir and Craig Moore suspended. This meant Ayr had to shape up with Ross Docherty at right back and Jamie Adams slotting into the midfield. Meanwhile Albion Rovers only named three outfield substitutes but it was Flag Day for last season’s League Two champions and spirits were high in the home camp.

Ayr’s hopes of getting the season off to a flying start were dealt a huge blow after just one minute and 47 seconds. From the kick-off Rovers went for the jugular and drove towards the United goal, holding onto the ball and not even giving any Ayr player a touch. Davidson and Willis played a quick one-two before releasing the ball to tricky winger Mullin on the right and his cultured curving cross deceived Ayr’s central defenders but was knocked behind for a corner by Docherty as the predatory Love prepared to pounce.

Love’s inswinging corner towards the back post highlighted the fragility of the restructured United defence as Rovers striker Barrowman rose unchallenged to knock the ball across the front of goal, finally reaching Ross Davidson who smashed the ball into the net from 10 yards.

Rovers kicked on from their explosive start, as a quick one – two between Willis and Young allowed player manager Young to fire in a volley but he blazed his effort high over the bar from outside the box.

Ayr were struggling to get a foothold in the game with Albion Rovers’ tactic of closing down quickly and not allowing United players time to think on the ball causing problems and forcing them to play long balls rather than the more cultured football that fans had witnessed in the previous cup games.

It took until 16 minutes for Ayr to create their first chance. Mikey Donald picked up the ball on the left and darted past two players before running across the edge of the box then picking out Ross Doherty on the right. Docherty’s swung in an inch-perfect cross which was met by Jamie Adams but his header inched over the bar. United then created another chance as Docherty and Ross Caldwell combined to slip Alan Trouten through but his shot went wide when squaring the ball might have been the better option.

Albion Rovers were defending in depth and continued to deny Ayr any space and time on the ball but were quick to break and looked the more likely to score. Just on half-time they made it 2-0. Young won possession in his own half and Rovers worked the ball down the right as Ayr struggled to get back. Mullen was given space on the right and again lifted a curling ball into the United goalmouth that was only partially cleared by the head of Docherty. Albion’s Davidson picked the ball up at the edge of the penalty area and cutely turned before again finding Mullin on the right. He teased the United defenders first going one way and then the other before lifting the ball left-footed to the back post where the unmarked Ali Love headed the ball into the net despite the efforts of Fleming in the United goal.

The half-time whistle sounded with Albion Rovers in full control. They looked a totally different team to the one who United swept away in the Petrofac Training Cup just two weeks before and Ayr had a big task on their hand in the second half if they wanted to take anything from the game.

Ayr had a claim for a penalty after 51 minutes as Jamie Adams’ shirt was blatantly pulled in the box but from yards away the referee saw no wrong doing, leaving the striker bemused and frustrated.

The Honest Men were struggling to find any rhythm, were seriously lacking in the final third and showed very little creative spark. On the other hand, the hosts looked energised and should have made it 3-0 as Paul Willis found himself one-on-one with Greg Fleming but he wasted the opportunity – firing high over the bar.

In 67 minutes veteran striker John Gemmell was introduced by Albion and was immediately involved in the killer goal. Ayr launched a long ball forward which was comfortably returned to the halfway line by centre half Michael Dunlop, this was flicked forward to Love who nodded the ball into space between United central pairing of Martyn Campbell and Peter Murphy. Gemmell charged through the space and, as he was confronted by the out-rushing Fleming, coolly slipped the ball to his left to Love who thumped the ball into the empty net. 68mins gone and Albion Rovers were three goals to the good.

Ayr were certainly down and out but manager McCall was keen to get something back from the match. Ross Docherty was moved into midfield and United finished the game with a youthful forward line including Alan Forrest, Ryan Nisbet and Sean McKenzie. Docherty immediately got involved in the action sending a drive towards goal and forcing Stewart into a save.

Docherty’s influence showed what United had missed through their forced positional changes. His tackling and creativity started to break up the dominance of the Albion in midfield, his probing passes giving opportunities to both Nisbet and McKenzie. But it was all too late As the game grew painfully towards its close, Ayr created their chance of the game with Martyn Campbell getting on the end of a free-kick but his back post header went wide of the mark.

As the final whistle blew the large travelling United support left the ground bitterly disappointed, and so they should be. After so much optimism, Ian McCall’s men struggled against a team who made the best of the conditions and closed down United’s creative men. McCall made no excuses but with a full squad to choose from at home Brechin on Saturday, he believe the Somerset Park faithful will see a much improved performance.

ALBION ROVERS: Stewart; Reid, Turnbull, Young, R Dunlop, M. Dunlop, Mullin, Davidson, Barrowman, Willis, Love. Subs: Ferry, McRobbie, Gemmell, Lochhead (gk).

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Adams, Boyle, Docherty, Campbell, Murphy, Gilmour, Crawford, Caldwell, Trouten, Donald Substitutes Forrest, Nisbet, Wardrope, McKenzie, McCracken, Newman (gk).

Starman Martyn Campbell 3 Greg Fleming 2 Ross Caldwell.

Attendance: 781.