AUFC 2 DUFC 0

No real surprises here as top of the table Ayr defeated a Dundee United side that played some nice football at times but didn't do enough. Shankland again on the scoresheet and between him and Dobbie at Queens (four hattricks this season ) it shows exactly what United are missing - someone to put the ball in the onion bag.

On to the more pressing matters then - the new manager. It was widely reported last night that United are going to offer the job to Robbie Neilson. Assuming he accepts (and this is no foregone conclusion), what does he bring to the party? Well, hopefully a bit of organisation. I don't think our squad is as poor as it looks, but we need someone to get the best out of them. We have some good players (some poor ones too) but with the right shape we can get something out of this season.

I like Neilson. When he was at United he was a dirty wee bassa (some of you might remember his needless sending off against Celtic that cost us the game, a forearm smash to Samaras). He's had a decent career as a manager, a terrific spell at Hearts then a challenging time at a basket case of a club down south, although his replacement(s) have fared much worse.

If I'm honest my malaise around United makes me struggle to get excited but the reality is that this appointment needs to be the right one or we're fecked. I truly hope Neilson not only takes the job - and it would be yet another embarrassment if he doesn't after our public pursuit - but is a massive success. We need it.

Mon the Terrors