SCOTT Brown did not hold back in criticising his Ayr United side's performance after the previously undefeated Honest Men lost their first league match of the season in a table-topping clash against Falkirk on Saturday.

The manager warned his below-par players that he would be ringing the changes for this weekend's Challenge Cup tie against Peterhead following a disappointing 2-0 loss to the Bairns at Falkirk Stadium.

A despondent Brown said his team "lacked belief" and may have been spooked by the home crowd of more than 6,000 - and suggested that all 11 places are now up for grabs in the starting XI this Saturday.

He told Ayr United's media team: "I thought we were lucky to come away [with a] 2-0 [defeat], if I'm honest, they had a lot of chances.

"The lads didn't really believe in themselves.

"I take full responsibility. Maybe I got the team selection wrong, I thought we could've come here and played football and I think we needed a team of workers but also a little bit of physicality up top.

"From the word 'go' we didn't really compete, we were second to every ball, and it's not like us because we're usually on the front foot."

Midfielder Ethan Ross scored in either half for Falkirk as the Bairns bounced back from last week’s defeat at Raith, which halted their 43-game unbeaten league run.

Ayr slipped to their first Championship defeat of the season but remain top of the table on goal difference having played two games more than their weekend opponents.

Boss Brown added: "That composure on the ball, which we've been very good with, wasn't there.

"We just stitched each other up, there was no movement, no understanding throughout the whole team.

"I can't give anyone any praise whatsoever."

He continued: "What we worked on throughout the whole week, there was nothing there to be seen. There was no responsibility at the back, there were no leaders, there was no desire to go and win tackles or squeeze the game together.

"I thought they [Falkirk] were just that yard sharper. Their link-up play and understanding was miles better than what ours was."

Looking ahead to the match against Peterhead, who are currently joint-second in League Two, Brown said: "One hundred per cent [it'll be another tough test].

"There are going to be a lot of changes.

"It's now 11 places up for grabs yet again."

Saturday's game at Somerset Park kicks off at 2pm.