Ayr United v Airdrie - Reid target comes into focus

Posted Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by PA

Ayr United will be without the suspended Chris Mitchell and fellow defenders Martyn Campbell, Andy Aitken and Rocky Visconte for the home clash with Airdrie.

Experienced striker Tam McManus is also an injury doubt, while Saturday's match-winner against Partick Thistle, Danny McKay, is expected to be fit despite struggling with a knock.

Ayr manager Brian Reid said: "This game would be a great one to win as it would take us above Morton into eighth place and that is our aim for the season.

"Airdrie will see it as a hugely important game to take something from, so we need to battle as hard as they do."

Airdrie will not risk fit-again defender David Nixon, while midfielder Alan Trouten faces a race to be fit.

Nixon is struggling for match fitness and Trouten is receiving treatment for hamstring strain, but otherwise manager Kenny Black has no injury or suspension worries.

Black said: "We've done fantastically well over most of the recent games to get back into a position where one win would give us a reasonable chance of surviving relegation.

"We're looking forward to going to Ayr and seeing if we can eat into their five-point advantage a bit more.

"A win for us would put pressure on Ayr and that has to be our aim."