Fuming Lee Bullen wants his Ayr players to be motivated by a nightmare call from ref Scott Lambie.
The United boss slammed the whistler for an "embarrassing" first half red card dished out to Daire O'Connor against Inverness.
It was the whistler's ninth red in just 27 games this season, and helped condemn Ayr to a defeat which drops them out of the top four.
But Bullen, who watched his side play for more than an hour with 10 men, insists they must use it to bounce back from their poor run of form.
He said: "We're going through a sticky patch and that means we need to stick together now.
"That means the players, the supporters...everyone of us.
"The players gave a lot to this game today and got nothing out of it. All they can do is use this as a motivational tool for the rest of the season and the cup quarter final.
"The decision for the red card was embarrassing.
"The ref couldn't get the card out of his pocket quickly enough. He has to give himself five or ten seconds in that scenario and take his time.
"The foul has been committed against our player in the first place.
"It would be ridiculous not to appeal it and I would be flabbergasted if it wasn't overturned."
Ayr stuck with the same side which was held to a goalless draw at Raith last Friday but suffered an early blow with the loss of Josh Mullin to injury inside 10 minutes after he suffered a nasty gash above his foot.
They forged ahead soon after, though, when O'Connor robbed Zak Delaney down the right and his cross was smashed home by top scorer Dipo Akinyemi from six yards.
However, the lead was short lived as Ayr failed to properly defend a Jay Henderson free kick and Caley skipper Sean Welsh mopped up the loose ball from 12 yards.
Then came the big flashpoint as ref Lambie stunned Somerset by flashing a straight red at O'Connor before the half hour.
The winger, who had initially been hauled back, then stretched for a challenge with Wallace Duffy which resulted in the controversial red.
That gave Caley the momentum and Ayr needed Charlie Albinson to deny Duffy on the stroke of half time as the visitors pressed.
United tried for a fast start just after the break and Mark McKenzie fired wide as they went close to going back in front.
Gaps soon started to appear as they tried to go toe to toe with the visitors and Duffy fired inches wide as Caley probed.
Skipper Welsh then had a deflected shot fly just past as Ayr dropped deeper towards the final 15 minutes.
United introduced the returning Frankie Musonda and went three at the back to try and hold out but no sooner had they made the change than Caley struck the killer blow.
Ayr failed to clear a cross into the back post and Henderson was on hand to produce a clinical finish.
Bullen threw on new boy Chris Maguire as a last throw of the dice but Ayr were a spent force and Caley were able to see it out.
Caley coach Barry Wilson said: "The game has turned on the red card, which looked a harsh decision.
"But we've had some of those not go for us this season so this time it went in our favour."
