Celtic legend Scott Brown has enjoyed plenty of praise since becoming Ayr United head coach back in February this year.
However, after last night's embarrassing loss to Lowland League side East Kilbride, it seems the 39-year-old will have to take the brunt of the criticism towards his side.
Ayr - currently third place in the Championship as they seek promotion to the Scottish Premiership - lost 3-2 at K-Park in the SPFL Trust Trophy tie.
They found themselves 2-0 down against Mick Kennedy's team inside just 13 minutes.
Tadhal do East Kilbride! Cameron Elliott a bh’ ann! Cameron Elliott answers back! ⚽️ East Kilbride take the lead again! Can they hold on to it? 🔥 East Kilbride 3 - 2 Ayr United! @officialEKFC pic.twitter.com/Ft58wEdKhF
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) November 12, 2024
Striker John Robertson made no mistake after only 40 seconds, while Joao Balde then headed home from close range after a wonderful passing move from the back all the way up the field.
Into the second half, Jay Henderson helped inspire a comeback, with the ex-St Mirren and Ross County player capitaising on an error to round the goalkeeper and tap home.
And Marco Rus has Ayr level on 68 minutes after prodding home from a Henderson cross.
That seemed to kill Kilby's momentum in the game, with the senior, full-time team looking likely to score a third.
However, it was the hosts who got that all-important winner just three minutes ayr Ayr's second.
Ian McShane delivered for Cami Elliot inside the box, as the latter headed home to send the home crowd into raptures.
The result means East Kilbride will now face winners of Queen's Park v Rangers B, which will be played on December 3, in the semi-final in January 2025.
Kennedy told BBC Alba: "When we go into these games against teams of a higher opposition, I think it is so important to impose ourselves on the game.
"If we try and sit in and be compact, I think at some point they'll hurt you because of the quality they have got.
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"So we try and impose ourselves as much as we possibly could. At times it was tricky, but to be fair to the boys they stuck to it, they had a lot of belief and confidence and just worked their way through it, and in the end we got over the line.
"The start comes from the belief the boys have in themselves before we even step on teh pitch. I thought we started really positively, we went 2-0 up and it was a fantastic start.
"Even though there was a bit of pressure from Ayr, I didn't think they really created many opportunities.
"We give them a goal with a mistake from David. When it goes 2-2 against a full-time team, tired legs start to kick in but the boys have got great courage and belief to go and get the third goal.
"At times in the first half Ayr's press was really good and a few times we got caught on the press, but it was just about the boys' bravery to keep playing through it."
Ayr's early season form has gradually faltered as the games go past.
Brown's team are now being chased hard for the play-off positions by Queen's Park and Partick Thistle.
After seemingly being in the hunt for a title challenge, Ayr sit a whopping 10 points behind leaders Falkirk, who appear to be running away with the division so far.
