Ryan Stevenson
Former Ayr United midfielder on BBC Scotland

Leanne Crichton
Ex-Scotland international on BBC Scotland

A breathless, unimaginable first-half comes to an end.

Kilmarnock absolutely blew Ayr away in just 16 minutes. Goals from Rory McKenzie, Oli Shaw and Jack Sanders had Derek McInnes' side waltzing to victory with the game just a few minutes old.

Kerr McInroy's fine strike managed to throw the hosts a lifeline, but that was a bruising 45 minutes.

Right, I'm off for a quick lie down.

Honestly? Absolutely no idea what will happen next. Nothing will surprise us anymore.

Ayr manage to clear a corner, met with sarcastic jeers around the ground.

The hosts have one back! Kerr McInroy receives the ball 20 yards from goal and the on-loan Celtic midfielder arrows a shot into the bottom corner.

Could the unlikeliest of comebacks be on? Surely not.

How is that not a fourth?! Patrick Reading heads off the line to deny Oli Shaw.

I'm struggling to think of ways this could get worse for Ayr.

Well, we just said Markus Fjortoft had almost made an impact...

The ball bounces over the head of the Norwegian, Oli Shaw runs through on goal, but the striker's hauled down by the substitute defender - who only came on about 10 minutes ago.

Three goals down, now a man down, Ayr boss Lee Bullen must think he's having some kind of horrendous fever dream.

Markus Fjortoft almost makes an impact, firing a speculative effort at goal from 25 yards - but it's tipped over by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Zach Hemming.

Not dead in the water just yet...

Oli Shaw sees a near-post snipe beaten away by goalkeeper Aidan McAdams. It actually hit the hand of Ayr substitute Markus Fjortoft, but there's no VAR in Ayrshire.

Kilmarnock could score more here. This is a real statement to Arbroath and Partick Thistle, the fellow promotion chasers.

Wow. Ayr manager Lee Bullen makes two changes already, after 18 minutes.

Markus Fjortoft and Ben Dempsey are on. Mark McKenzie and James Maxwell are the two replaced and, in the process, made a fairly glaring example of. The on-loan Rangers youngster is not happy.

Another corner and another goal for Killie! Centre-back Jack Sanders glances a header inside the back post!

This is absolutely incredible. Kilmarnock have disposed of their rivals after only 16 minutes.

James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Scotland

A corner is flicked on to the back post and striker Oli Shaw ghosts in at the back post, completely unmarked, and thunders home!

The dream start for Kilmarnock!

How will Ayr and Lee Bullen respond to that? It's the worst possible start for the hosts, a real gut punch.

Kilmarnock move top for the time being. They'll be keen to end the evening on that perch.

What a start for Kilmarnock! Fraser Murray reverses a pass into the path of Rory McKenzie and the midfielder cooly slots past onrushing goalkeeper Aidan McAdams!

Wow, what a way to start the final Ayrshire derby of the season!

Alan Muir blows the whistle, about 6,000 fans crammed into Somerset Park roar their sides on and Kilmarnock striker Oli Shaw gets us underway.

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "You've got to enjoy these kind of nights.

"We're pleased to a point with our form. With so few games left, we understand the importance of each and every game.

"I've got a quite high regard for Ayr. They're a good side and we're expecting a tough game.

"Last week was very close to exactly how I want us to be, with a 2-0 home win against Hamilton."

Ayr United manager Lee Bullen tells BBC Scotland: "I don't think any of the players who didn't play had any reason to chap my door and ask why they weren't playing!

"It was an excellent performance against a really good team last week and we're hoping we can put on a similar performance against our rivals.

"I had the good luck of getting a win up there. The atmosphere will be fantastic tonight. It'll be a typical derby game."

Sensationally, Lee Bullen is third United manager taking charge of an Ayrshire derby this season.

With three wins in the last five, he's pushed the Honest Men up to sixth in the table and they're now just eight points off fourth-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

For the first time in a while, they're probably looking up instead of down. Currently eight points off bottom spot, it would take a big swing in form to see them plummet back down the league.

A win against your rivals, on their own patch, to put you top. It really could be a season-defining night for Kilmarnock.

They've taken 10 points from a possible 12 since that loss in the last Ayrshire derby - not a bad reaction.

There are only seven games left after this evening's clash - a pretty decent time to go top of the table.