Dundee United deserved to lose to Ayr, Robbie Neilson admitted.
And the Tangerines’ boss said the performance in the 1-0 defeat in the wind and rain at Somerset Park showed why he still wants further January recruits before the transfer window closes.
United were sunk by an early goal and rarely looked like salvaging a result.
Neilson said: “They were tough conditions to play in but credit to Ayr – they handled them a lot better than us.
“I thought they competed for second balls better and their back four were a lot more dominant in the air than our back four – ultimately that was what determined the result.
“We didn’t utilise the wind when we had it behind us in the second half.
“It wasn’t a great game. There won’t be any DVDs made of it, that’s for sure. But if you want to win titles you have to come to places like this and deal with the conditions, be physical and come away with the three points.
“We didn’t deserve to win.”
Neilson wasn’t too downbeat about his team’s title prospects, however.
“We’re three points off the top but it’s not that long ago that we were eight points off it,” he said.
“We’re still looking to recruit and today highlighted again what we need to get.
“There are a few targets and hopefully we can get them.”
Ayr boss Ian McCall said: “When we were into the wind we looked more threatening than Dundee United did when they were playing that direction. We deserved the win.”
