AYR United interim boss John Rankin heaped praise on match-winner Jamie Murphy as his side earned their first victory in 11 matches.
The Honest Men halted their long winless run with a battling 1-0 win at home to Arbroath on Saturday.
Despite serious pressure on the visiting goal, it was a game which long looked as though it would end goalless.
That was until the 76th minute when Murphy popped up with a moment of magic to bend the ball home and earn United all three Scottish Championship points for the first time since January.
“It’s hugely important," Rankin told Ayr United TV. "I spoke to the players before the game and it was a case of ‘no excuses, let’s go out and do our jobs’.
“I felt they done that. I thought they were great. When I look at the individual performances, I don’t think you could pick anyone out and say they were poor.
“Maybe, at times, we never got things right and the quality of pass wasn’t what it should have been – but when you’re on an 11-game run without winning it’s always going to be difficult.
“The players were relentless in their pursuit of getting a victory, they’ve got to take huge credit. I thought they were great, the commitment they have shown to me since they came in has been great.”
Rankin highlighted the performances of Murphy in particular, with the experienced attacker playing a vital role since his appointment.
The interim boss added: “Jamie Murphy comes up with the winner, I’ve asked Jamie to play both camps because I’ve come in and he’s had to be my assistant.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant, he’s worked tirelessly, answering the phone at stupid o’clock and being there whenever I need him. He’s been really supportive.
“Not only that, we needed him on the pitch and he put on a hell of a performance.
“It’s his first start in four months but to produce the moment of calmness and composure that we needed at that time set us up for victory. I’m delighted for him.”
Rankin also praised the Somerset crowd for helping his men end their poor run as they look to build momentum heading into the final three matches of the season.
He continued: “I felt the players fed off that [the crowd], especially when they got in front. When you forget how to win, it becomes difficult.
“They got right behind us, they helped us, and now they can go home with a smile on their face.
“Football is about momentum, now we’ve shifted that momentum, we want that to go the opposite direction and make sure we continue to win games.”
Next up for Ayr is a trip to face the Championship's bottom side Ross County on Saturday, April 18.
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