SCOTT Brown refused to blame the early season pile-up in his treatment room for derailing Ayr's start to the campaign. ‌

United were handed a sound beating at Firhill today as Partick Thistle eased to a lucrative Premier Sports Cup quarter final with Celtic. ‌

Ayr have found themselves without a raft of first team stars and had to patch together a side which included just four outfield subs in Maryhill. ‌

Scott McMann, who missed out through illness, was the latest body blow for Brown who also had to make do without the suspended Ethan Walker against the Jags.

Ben Dempsey, Jamie Murphy, Kevin Holt and Anton Dowds are all big name misses for United who are desperately in search of a settled side.

Stuart Banningan, who has missed much of pre-season, did give Brown a boost by retur

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