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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

Ayr United boss Lee Bullen says table topping side ready to handle pressure cooker against Partick

Lee Bullen insists table topping Ayr United can live with the pressure of Scotland’s match of the day.

The Honest Men welcome second-placed Partick Thistle and old boss Ian McCall to Somerset in a mouthwatering clash on Saturday.

And Bullen has urged his players to use the emotion of the occasion to spur them on to a massive result.

Ayr sit one point clear of Thistle after goals from Dipo Akinyemi and Mark McKenzie earned them a 2-1 win at Morton.

The result sets up a huge clash between the Championship's top two on Saturday with McCall's Maryhill men heading down the A77.

Bullen told the Ayrshire Post: “There’s a lot of excitement around the club at the moment and we fully understand that.

“Internally, we are keeping our feet on the ground and focusing on one game at a time.

“But we know this is a little bit special on Saturday and it’s arguably Scotland’s match of the day.

“It has all the ingredients with the former manager and a number of ex-players coming back and there will be a lot of emotion to it.

“But in football, it’s about how you harness that emotion to your advantage.”

Ayr remain unbeaten after Saturday’s win at Cappielow but will face a major test in the shape of McCall’s Jags.

Bullen added: "We keep reinforcing the message not to get too high or low after each result and it's served us well so far.

"The lads are playing with a lot of confidence right now and long may that continue, but we know only too well how difficult this league will be.

"Thistle are many people's favourites for the title along with Dundee, and they will provide us with a huge test.

"We know we're going to have to be at our best but we're relishing the game in front of what will hopefully be a packed Somerset."

Injured Aidan McAdams (shoulder) and Fraser Bryden (knee) will once again miss out.

United have signed teenage Hibs goalie Tom Carter on an emergency loan to cover for Charlie Albinson.

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