logo
We've got quality to overcome poor start, insists Ayr striker George Oakley

We've got quality to overcome poor start, insists Ayr striker George Oakley

Daily Record3 days ago
Last season's top scorer admits Ayr's dressing room must quickly get to the bottom of their slow Championship start.
George Oakley says Ayr will do some early season soul searching to hit their stride.

United have stumbled from the Championship blocks with just one point from their opening two games.

Scott Brown led a 40-minute dressing room inquest following Saturday's defeat to Raith at Somerset.

And Oakley admits the Honest Men must quickly root out the problem.
Last season's top scorer said: 'We know we're so much better than this and that's the frustrating thing.
'We're trying to figure out what the problem is.

'We'll go away and have a deep look at each other and ourselves because we've got to sort it and it has to happen now.
'We have to be braver on the ball and believe in each other like we did last season.
'Teams hated coming here last year – it was like a fort for us.

'We've got a lot of quality in that changing room and the management believes in us.
'We've kept a lot of boys from last season and added quality and it's about trying to go all the way this time.
'So I look in that changing room and I'm not worried because I know we'll sort it out.'

Ayr unravelled just 30 seconds into Saturday's clash with Raith when Dylan Easton punished a slack pass from David Mitchell to lob the keeper from 40 yards.
Oakley was denied by Rovers keeper Josh Rae as Ayr rallied in the second half but they ran out of steam in front of a restless Somerset support.
The striker added: 'Their keeper has made a great stop for my chance – he's come out and spread himself big.
'Being picky, I should have placed it around him rather than going for power.
'We had the chances to get back in it and we showed in the cup games we can score a lot of goals.
'We need to get back to that as quickly as possible.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Birmingham and Ipswich charged by FA after melee
Birmingham and Ipswich charged by FA after melee

BBC News

time27 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Birmingham and Ipswich charged by FA after melee

Birmingham City and Ipswich Town have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players towards the end of their opening Championship match of the and shoving involving both sets of players first broke out after Ipswich were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, and again after it was converted, as the game finished in a 1-1 draw at St Andrew's on 8 a statement,, external the FA said the clubs were alleged to have "failed to ensure their players didn't behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the 95th minute".With Blues leading through Jay Stansfield's 55th-minute goal, the home side looked on course for a win but, with three of eight additional minutes remaining, Town were awarded a spot-kick by referee Andrew Kitchen after the ball was headed on to the arm of Lyndon Dykes at a corner. That triggered a confrontation between the players which erupted again after George Hirst scored to give Ipswich a point, with Town's Conor Chaplin clubs have until Friday, 15 August to reply to the charge.

'We have to move on from cup exit'
'We have to move on from cup exit'

BBC News

time27 minutes ago

  • BBC News

'We have to move on from cup exit'

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho says his side need to shift their focus back to the league after they were beaten 2-1 by Reading in the Carabao Cup on will run out at Fratton Park for the first time this season when they host Norwich on Saturday (12:30 BST).Mousinho is hoping they can continue their winning Championship start after a 1-0 victory at Oxford United on the opening weekend, courtesy of an Adrian Segecic goal."It was really important that we got back in and just got over it very quickly, we've got Norwich at the weekend and we need to move on to that," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent."It should be a very good clash- they (Norwich) are definitely one of the early top six favourites. I expect a really good team to come to Fratton Park."Something we have to be better at is not just controlling games for 50-60 minutes but also going [well] towards the back end of the game, and don't invite too much pressure."Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

WREXHAM AFC: Where next on the Reds amazing tour of duty?
WREXHAM AFC: Where next on the Reds amazing tour of duty?

Leader Live

time2 hours ago

  • Leader Live

WREXHAM AFC: Where next on the Reds amazing tour of duty?

A return to the second tier seemed an impossible dream during the Reds' decade-and-a-half non-league exile, however Phil Parkinson's side will be tackling the likes of Southampton, Sheffield United and Leicester City on an equal footing during the forthcoming campaign. Since being appointed into the hotseat by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in July 2021, Parkinson has led Wrexham to three successive promotions and they are now preparing for a first tilt at the second tier in more than four decades. The Reds have hit the headlines across the globe - just as McElhenney wished for when he first visualised his Wrexham dream. Wrexham have since conquered The States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand while there's talk of Asia next on the horizon. But as far as Humphrey Ker is concerned, the Championship is new territory for the club. Looking ahead to the step-up to the Championship, Reds' community director Ker told Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman on The Sports Agents podcast: 'That was the Wild West for us! We always thought, League Two, League One, that's within our powers to deliver. 'But, kind of, Championship... that's when you're swimming with the really big fish and Rob and Ryan - well, particularly Rob - had been going on about the Premier League. 'Of course, we say... we talk about the Premier League, but really, you know, League One, let's focus on that and then, suddenly, here we are. 'One promotion away from the Premier League. It's quite daunting in many respects.' While the promotions have been celebrated by fans and players alike, they've also been well deserved, with plenty of hard work taking place behind the scenes. Ker added: 'I think we do, collectively, pinch ourselves a lot. 'But then, ultimately, you find yourself going 'well yes, but of course we did work very hard' and we put the time in and we put in place our structure that we thought would get us to where we wanted to go. 'You select the right people, you empower them, you support them and then, actually, it's not that surprising that they deliver in a way.' Parkinson was one of those top selects that the owners plumped for and the Reds boss has been reflecting on Wrexham's latest tour success. He reckons Wrexham players have made memories that will last a lifetime from their pre-season tour Down Under. Matches in Australia against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC and one game in New Zealand against Wellington Phoenix have helped increased Wrexham's worldwide appeal. 'The tour's been amazing, it really has,' Parkinson told the club's YouTube channel. 'The experience we've had, I don't think anyone who's on the tour will ever forget. 'Obviously, Melbourne was a great experience for us. The first few days, obviously, everyone's recovering from the jet-lag! But training was good there, despite that. The game was decent. 'We had a bit of free time and then, obviously, Sydney, you know, really blew everybody away being in the city and, again, the welcome we had there, like Melbourne, was extraordinary. 'Over to New Zealand and we've come to this facility, which is used by the All Blacks, and what an honour that is to be using the same pitches and the gym as such a prestigious team as the All Blacks. 'The pitches are real quality. The gym facilities and everything, and these surroundings, has been outstanding for us. The sun's been shining as well, which we didn't expect here at Wellington. So, yeah, that part of it has been great.' The Wrexham Down Under Tour followed on from two highly successful pre-season tours to the USA, the first in 2023 which included a clash against Manchester United, followed by the Wrex Coast Tour in 2024 with the headline fixture against another Premier League side in Chelsea. The club has become a global sensation under Hollywood owners Reynolds and McElhenney and Parkinson feels Wrexham are much-sought after opponents for high-profile friendlies. 'Wrexham is an attractive proposition, hence the reason we have been able to agree to the friendlies,' added the Reds' boss. 'I couldn't have imagined that a few years ago but it is where the profile of the club is now, and obviously we are Championship standard as well.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store