Lee Bullen has backed his top gun to fire again after Dipo Akinyemi let a last minute chance slip at Raith last night.
The 17-goal hitman has been a revelation since joining Ayr from Welling United in the summer.
But he was left with his head in his hands after the uncharacteristic miss in the dying seconds of the goalless draw at Kirkcaldy.
Boss Bullen was straight on the pitch at full time to remind the striker of his importance to the cause and insists he will bounce back in the vital run-in.
Bullen said: "The big man has taken it really hard in there as he knows what a big opportunity it was.
"Three points would have been so, so good tonight but it wasn't to be.
"But given what Dipo's done for us this season...he's been absolutely enormous - and he will be between now and the end of the season as well."
Ayr missed the chance to move within two points of the top after Ben Dempsey's second half penalty was saved by Rovers keeper Jamie MacDonald.
And despite a late surge, United could not force the winner.
Bullen added: "It was one of those nights...I don't think Ben has missed a penalty this season or Dipo has missed a chance from that distance this season, so they were probably both due it.
"It's a game where both managers come away with a degree of frustration. I felt we went too long and direct at times.
"But when we got it down and played we caused them a lot more problems. But ultimately if you miss a penalty and a gilt edged chance at the end you're going to come off disappointed.
"However, we take these things on the chin and we move forward."
Bullen also hailed the cameo of new signing Chris Maguire, who stepped off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
He said: "It was great to get Chris involved. You can see he's still half a yard away but his footballing intelligence is brilliant.
"He'll have an important part to play for us and hopefully he'll be the one to unpick a lock in a really tight game and slip a ball through to Dipo or one of the other strikers.
"Chris drops into areas where he finds space and causes the opposition real danger and we've probably needed that little bit of x-factor since Logan (Chalmers) left us."
