Scott Brown was left reeling over a 'shambolic' tackle during Ayr United's narrow win over Airdrieonians last night.

The Honest Men produced a quickfire comeback at the start of the second-half to secure all three points in the Championship's Friday night football live on TV.

Josh O'Connor had the visitors - who were recently crowned the Challenge Cup champions - in the led before the break after a fine touch past on-loan defender Jack Sanders before lifting the ball over Ayr goalkeeper Josh Clarke.

Rhys McCabe's side have ambitions of finishing the season strongly by securing a play-off spot, and would've gone to within three points of third-place Partick Thistle with another victory.

However, Anton Dowds and Sean McGinty ensured that Brown's side kept their promotion hopes, via the play-offs, alive as Ayr ran out 2-1 winners.

Despite being delighted with a huge win for his team, the major talking point for the ex-Celtic captain post-match was a horror two-footed tackle by Airdrie midfielder Dean McMaster during the second-half.

Referee David Munro, who was mere yards away from the incident, brandished a yellow card when the 20-year-old seemed destined to be sent off.

And that irked the Ayr manager as he lamented the potential further issues this could've posed to his squad selection.

"I thought [Dean] McMaster's challenge was a shambles," the 38-year-old vented. "The referee is standing three or four yards away from it but doesn't see it as a red. 

"That could, yet again, injure one of our players and we've not got that strength and depth in the squad. It's hard, but we've got to deal with that.

"I've seen it already (watched it back). I don't know how the ref can't see it. Oh, look at that."

Pundit James McFadden interjected: "It's a red card. The more you see it, the worse it gets. The referee is in a brilliant position.

"The criteria: off the ground, out of control, at speed, it's a two-footed challenge - I've got not idea why he's not given him a red card there. 

"We're looking at that and analysing the game from this point of view, Scott's obviously a manager with a small squad as it is, worrying about potentially losing another player, but also at that point of the game, Ayr were in control anyway. It would make the task a little bit easier for tonight, but more importantly, you don't want to lose any more players."