Arbroath 0-0 Ayr United: Both sides denied by woodwork in basement battle

Ayr's Nick McAllister tracks Arbroath's Leighton McIntosh

Both sides were denied by the woodwork as Scottish Championship strugglers Arbroath and Ayr United fought out a stalemate Gayfield Park.

Ahkeem Rose and Sean McGinty went close for the visitors in the first half then Leighton McIntosh glanced a header against the post at the other end.

Rose threatened again, firing wide after rounding Ali Adams, who then denied the forward one-on-one.

Adams had to look lively again, tipping away Francis Amartey's low effort.

Ayr continued to apply the pressure and it was their turn to be denied by the woodwork when a Logan Chalmers shot hit the post.

It was a costly day on the injury front for Arbroath, with Gordon Walker, Thomas O'Brien and Zak Delaney all going off with knocks.

Arbroath are now two points adrift at the foot of the battle while Ayr drop to second bottom, behind Queen's Park on goal difference.

Arbroath manager Jim McIntyre: "Today we go in, we make three signings, it is probably the strongest team and the most of people playing in their natural positions that we have had and within 10-15 minutes it happens again and then we pick up two or three injuries and we have to make substitutions - then we have to go back to playing midfielders at the back, we end up with three midfielders in the back four again.

"So we are getting tested unbelievably at the moment. It is probably the worst I have ever had in football and we just need a break, we need a bit of luck to actually get players back, keep them back. It is really tough at the moment, really tough, but the players can be really proud of themselves, because they dug in."

Ayr United head coach Lee Bullen: "A lot more solid defensively, which we have not been, which is great - to get a clean sheet. Fourteen shots and two on target probably sums it up - when you are down there, these chances they come along and the breaks don't go your way.

"We battled, we did the dirty side of the game really well. It was a war of attrition at times, but I felt we did enough to win the game. I'm confident it will turn and we are capable of climbing the table."