A “shambolic” tackle that happened during Ayr United’s close victory over Airdrieonians Friday night had Scott Brown in stitches.
In the Friday night football game of the Championship that was broadcast live on television, The Honest Men mounted a swift comeback at the beginning of the second half to win all three points.
Prior to halftime, Josh O’Connor gave the visitors—who had just been named the Challenge Cup winners—the lead with a deft move that went past on-loan defender Jack Sanders and over Ayr goalkeeper Josh Clarke.
With one more win, Rhys McCabe’s team would have moved within three points of third-place Partick Thistle, a goal they had set for themselves this season.
However, Anton Dowds and Sean McGinty ensured that Brown’s side kept their promotion hopes, via the play-offs, alive as Ayr ran out 2-1 winners.
Despite being delighted with a huge win for his team, the major talking point for the ex-Celtic captain post-match was a horror two-footed tackle by Airdrie midfielder Dean McMaster during the second-half.
Referee David Munro, who was mere yards away from the incident, brandished a yellow card when the 20-year-old seemed destined to be sent off.
And that irked the Ayr manager as he lamented the potential further issues this could’ve posed to his squad selection.
“I thought [Dean] McMaster’s challenge was a shambles,” the 38-year-old vented. “The referee is standing three or four yards away from it but doesn’t see it as a red.
“That could, yet again, injure one of our players and we’ve not got that strength and depth in the squad. It’s hard, but we’ve got to deal with that.
“I’ve seen it already (watched it back). I don’t know how the ref can’t see it. Oh, look at that.”
Commentator James McFadden chimed in, saying, “It’s a red card.” It becomes worse the more you observe it. The referee has a very advantageous position.
“The requirements are that he must be off the ground, out of control, moving quickly, and posing a two-footed challenge. I don’t know why he hasn’t been sent off there.
We’re examining it and evaluating the match from this angle. Scott is undoubtedly a manager with a limited roster already, and he may be concerned about losing one more player, but Ayr was leading the game at that moment. You wouldn’t want to lose any more players, but it would make the work a little bit easier for tonight.”
