Ayrshire football weekend preview

Kilmarnock will look to book their place in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup this weekend, while Ayr United search for their first victory since the opening game of the season.

Neil McCann’s side host Aberdeen in the teatime kick-off at Rugby Park on Saturday, just a week after claiming their first point of the league campaign in a goalless draw with the Dons at Pittodrie.

After conceding 14 goals across their opening four league games, Killie finally kept a clean sheet in the north-east last weekend, with McCann believing there is “so much to offer” from his side moving forward.

Speaking to the media today, McCann said: “Hopefully, going by Saturday’s result, although it was only a point, the supporters really get behind the team even though it’s hard when times are not great. But that’s where the real supporters show their colours.

“To get to the semi-finals would be massive for us and our fans, for Billy (Bowie) and the board, but more importantly for those boys in the dressing room who work so hard daily.

“It’s all about getting things into a good gear so there is rhythm in the team with a bit of consistency.”

With Stephen Robinson’s Aberdeen side coming to Rugby Park following last weekend’s stalemate, McCann does not expect a major change in approach despite the added pressure of a knockout tie.

He added: “It’s going to be the exact same. We set our team out to attack; we want to be aggressive in this game that has got a slightly different edge to it because of what’s at stake being a knockout competition.

“It’s not quite under the lights being a 5.45 kick-off, but it should be a really special night being a cup game.”

Kilmarnock have won five of their previous six meetings with the Dons at Rugby Park, with all six encounters coming in the Scottish Premiership.

Victory would see Killie reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since the 2022/23 season, when they faced Celtic at Hampden Park under Derek McInnes before losing 2-0.

HOME REDEMPTION

Ayr United boss Gary Naysmith will be looking for his side to take the positives from their 1-0 defeat away to Partick Thistle and return to winning ways at Somerset Park.

The Honest Men welcome Inverness Caledonian Thistle to Somerset Park in the Scottish Championship, with United winless in their previous five competitive matches.

Speaking to club media, assistant manager Brown Ferguson described Saturday’s performance at Firhill as one “they can work with” ahead of the visit of the Highlanders.

He said: “It was a disappointing result in terms of not taking anything from the game, but what we worked on throughout the week in terms of defensive structure, we looked solid, and offensively we created good chances.

“If that’s a performance we can replicate regularly, we will win more than we lose.

“This next game against Inverness is one that we want to target three points at home, although they will want to bounce back from their defeat at home.”

Ferguson also provided a positive update on recent absentees Marco Rus and Ethan Walker, who are continuing their recoveries from injury.

He said: “It’s good to see those two back on the pitch. They are still to get integrated, not in full training yet, but they are not too far away from that.

“We obviously hope that their rehab programmes and the work they are doing don’t mean any setbacks. At the moment it is positive, and we hope they are fully back into training in the next week or so.”

United will face the Caley Jags for the first time in the Championship since March 2024, when goals from George Stanger and Fraser Bryden secured a 2-1 victory in the Highlands.

The sides last met earlier this year, with Inverness claiming a 2-1 victory in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final at Somerset Park — a result which ultimately proved detrimental to former Ayr boss Scott Brown’s tenure.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

It is a mixture of league and cup action for Ayrshire sides in the lower divisions this weekend, with some looking to progress in national competitions.

Auchinleck Talbot host Caledonian Braves in the Lowland League West at Beechwood Park following their 3-0 victory over Gretna 2008 in the South Challenge Cup.

Manager Tommy Sloan described his side’s latest victory near the English border as a “deserved one”, but is aware their upcoming North Lanarkshire opponents are capable of scoring plenty of goals.

Elsewhere, Troon travel to Newton Stewart looking to build on last weekend’s 5-2 cup victory over Saltire City, while Largs head to Clydebank after thumping Lochgelly Albert at Barrfields.

West of Scotland League sides Irvine Meadow and Bonnyton Thistle will both be hoping to progress towards the first official round of the Scottish Cup.

The third preliminary round sees Jamie McKim’s Meadow travel to Benburb, while First Division Thistle host Camelon Juniors at the Synergy Arena.

Irvine Victoria face a second trip to Maud in the Scottish Communities Cup second round, after the original tie on August 22 was abandoned following a medical incident.