Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels condemns Ayr's negative tactics
By Matthew Harold:
Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels slammed Ayr United for their negative tactics after Dean Shiels scored in extra time to take the Rugby Park side into the final of the League Cup.
The Northern Irishman had played mind games all week with rival boss Brian Reid, but he was raging at their approach to the Hampden semi-final.
His side face Falkirk or Celtic in the final, but Shiels felt his side were nearly robbed of their rightful place by the smash and grab tactics of their Ayrshire rivals.
“I’m relieved because football was the winner today and that’s the most important thing in the industry that we work in; to provide good football and good entertainment and to attack for two hours is not easy.
“The other team started to attack in the 90th minute because of the three minutes of overtime and it was if, 'wow these boys can play' and I thought if they had done that sooner they could have beaten us.
“But they didn’t come out. Belief comes from your tactics and two teams must show each other respect and come out and attack each other, but they didn’t.
"Ayr United wouldn’t come out and I don’t know for what reason, because they’ve got decent players.”
Asked if he had the Somerset Park side watched during their previous tie against St Mirren, he responded: “Yes I have and they maybe used the same coach company as they did at St Mirren.
“Football's about entertainment, people come to be entertained and the easiest component of football is to defend, anybody can do that, close up shop and defend.
"We have to be respectful that people have paid money to watch a fantastic occasion, so we need two teams to attack for that to happen. “
Ayr United boss Brian Reid was left fuming with Shiels' comments, claiming the Kilmarnock boss had been disrespectful.
Ayr United boss Brian Reid was left fuming with Shiels' comments, claiming the Kilmarnock boss had been disrespectful.
“Kenny to be fair should keep his own opinion to himself and worry about his own team rather than commenting on other teams," said Reid.
“I think that’s a bit disrespectful, so I’m a wee bit disappointed but he’s made a few silly comments.
"In terms of saying we’re full-time, when we’re part-time, I don’t think he needs to say these things, but nobody would have been saying these things if we had gone through into the final.
He continued: “I see where he’s coming from, but I think to sustain that level for the 90 minutes and the extra time, you saw the efforts of the players, with the cramps and Alan Trouten goes off with blurred vision, it certainly took its toll.
"If we’d opened ourselves up then we could have done what we didn’t want to do and lose an early goal and go behind and have to chase the game."
The Somerset Park boss was proud of the Ayr United support that arrived in Glasgow, but felt they should be proud of their sides' effort.
“We’re just disappointed for our supporters who were here in vast numbers; it was magnificent to see them.
“It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t send them down the road with a victory, but I’m sure they’ll go down the road proud of their team’s efforts. They can see what they put into the game, unfortunately we couldn’t take anything from it.”
“It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t send them down the road with a victory, but I’m sure they’ll go down the road proud of their team’s efforts. They can see what they put into the game, unfortunately we couldn’t take anything from it.”
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