BUZZING Ayr United gaffer Scott Brown praised his side’s second half performance as they brushed Morton aside to put their name in the hat for the Scottish Cup fourth round draw.

Second half strikes from Michael Devlin and Jamie Murphy saw the Honest Men book their place in last night’s draw and Brown was delighted at the reaction he saw in the second half after they failed to really lay a glove on the Greenock side in the opening 45 minutes.

And he believes the performance was made possible thanks to the quality he has littered around his squad as he hailed the strength in depth he has at his disposal with two subs combining to put the tie to bed late on.

He said: “I think in the second half we were very, very good.

“The first half, I was disappointed with how we started the game. We were very, very slow and didn’t believe in ourselves.

“Then in the second half we came out and we were excellent and I don’t think Liam Russell has had a save to make.

“Don’t get me wrong, he saved us in the first half. But for me the subs coming on were so good.

“It’s great to have the same quality coming off the bench to replace the players coming out of the game.

“Nick McAllister has come on for Dylan Watret and set up the second goal.

“Frankie Musonda has come on in an unfamiliar position and then Alfie Bavidge has come on and he’s got so much legs and ability. We’ve got good options.”

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United have now recorded two clean sheets on the bounce which Brown is pleased with. That stat coincides with the return of Mikey Devlin to the starting XI and the former Accies man has been a standout in the last two games.

And Brown was full of praise for his former Aberdeen teammate who epitomises the way he wants his Ayr side to play.

He added: “Two clean sheets have helped. Mikey Devlin has been really solid for us and he knows how we want to play which really helps.

“He helps other people out, he knows when we want to be on the ball and he knows when it needs to go long. His range of passing is brilliant too.

“I didn’t know he had that in his locker - I thought it hit his bunion as opposed to his toe - but it was an excellent finish.

“I thought we showed great quality with the second goal too. Everything worked really well in the second half.”