Ayr United v Brechin City Match Preview.

Brechin City will embark on the long journey south west tomorrow knowing that they must take something from the match to keep their play-off ambitions alive and manager Ray McKinnon is expecting another tough game against the Honest Men.

"Ian McCall has brought in a number of loan players and they have done well so we know that we are in for a very tough match," said Ray.

Ayr were unlucky to lose against Morton last Saturday, conceding two very late goals and they'll be determined to bounce right back from that disappointment tomorrow.

" However, my players know exactly what's at stake and they also know that they'll have to be at their best to take something from the match."

Ray will be without suspended duo Colin Hamilton and Bobby Barr and Craig Storie will also be missing as he's away in Austria with the Scotland under 19 side while Alan Trouten's season is over after he sustained two cracked ribs in the match at Peterhead just under three weeks ago.

Ayr manager Ian McCall, who was an interested spectator at Glebe Park on Tuesday night will be without defender Scott McKenna who is away with the Scotland Under 19 team while striker Craig Beattie is rated at 50-50.

The three matches between the sides this season have netted two wins for Vity and one for Ayr.

In the first meeting between the sides at Glebe Park in October, Ayr came out on top by 4-2. Alan Trouten had fired City in front three minutes into the second-half only for the visitors to draw level from the penalty-spot four minutes later with Scott McLaughlin converting. City then regained the advantage with a superb Jamie Masson strike before they were reduced to ten men with midfielder Greg Cameron who had previously been booked being given his marching orders for lunging into Ayr striker Dale Shirkie. The visitors then pressed home their numerical advantage and equalised for the second time, with former Dundee and Celtic striker Craig Beattie on the mark. This goal spurred the Honest Men on and they wrapped up victory in the final four minutes with McGlaughlin converting again from the penalty-spot after a Darren McCormack handball and Beattie completing his brace in the final minute.

There was a reversal in fortunes at Somerset Park the following month with this time City deservedly coming out on top by 2-0. Both goals came in an opening 45 minutes which City dominated with Robert Thomson grabbing the opener after only eight minutes when he intercepted a poor pass-back from Ayr defender Martyn Campbell to steer the ball past David Hutton in the home goal and former Ayr player Kyle McAusland made it 2-0 after 26 minutes when he fired home a great drive after Andy Jackson had created the opening for him. City continued to dominate after the break but couldn't add to their tally.

In the last game between the sides, at the Glebe on City again came out on top by 2-1.

Paul McLean, making his 200th start for the side marked the occasion by scoring the opening goal after sixteen minutes and Robert Thomson doubled City's lead eleven minutes from the end with Alan Forrest scoring a late consolation for Ayr in the final minute.

The referee for tomorrow's match is Andrew Dallas who was the man in charge of City's match against Dunfermline on 24th February when an Alan Trouten header netted the visitors a 1-0 victory.

Brechin City Supporters Club will be running a bus to the game which will depart from St Ninians Square at 10.00am. Please contact Steven Stewart on 07547552209 if you wish to book a seat.

Admission prices at Somerset Park are :-

Adults - £15
OAP's/Under 18's/Students - £8
Parent & Child Gate - £18

Other Matches Scottish League One

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Dunfermline Athletic v Morton
Forfar Athletic v Stirling Albion
Peterhead v Stranraer