Scott Brown blasted referee Calum Scott for ‘destroying the game’ as Ayr United fell to their first defeat in four matches against Partick Thistle on Saturday

The Honest Men travelled to Firhill seeking their third successive Championship victory but a late Kyle Turner penalty and a disallowed George Oakley goal spoiled the afternoon for the away supporters.

Brown praised his team’s defensive performance, however, he shared his anger at the match official’s display after the two controversial decisions and five bookings handed out to Ayr players – plus a yellow card for the manager himself.

Brown told the club’s media team: “We were never really in any doubt during the game, we defended really well, the back five were solid.

“I always thought early doors the referee was going to try and make it about himself with the amount of bookings he was giving, he was running about throwing cards left, right and centre, and he actually destroys the game.

“The lads said they couldn’t speak, they couldn’t have a conversation with him, the captain went up to him and he was dismissing him as well.

“I’m really, really disappointed, more with the referee than anything else, but you can’t come away from home and have that much of the ball within our half to 65-70 yards up the park and not create enough chances.

“I don’t think we worked the goalie anywhere near enough.”

Brown claimed the whistler “couldn’t wait to give something controversial” when he blew for a foul in the box by on-loan Ryan Howley with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.

The boss added: “He made the game all about him today and he really killed the momentum.

“We know Partick are a good team, we know they’re going to try and play and be physical as well but I thought we dealt with that all really well.

“Then, as I said, the referee just killed the whole game. He ran about booking every single coach that was out there, I think he booked half of our team and I don’t think there was a bad tackle in the game.”

Defender Mikey Devlin said: “The manager said after the game if you’re not going to win then make sure you don’t lose it, and that’s very true.

“Unfortunately, we probably gave the referee an opportunity to give a penalty with a silly mistake and we were punished for that.

“I don’t think in an attacking sense we were at our best but coming away from home I think defensively we were pretty solid and we limited them to very little within the game.”

The result leaves Ayr just two points ahead of Thistle – who have a game in hand – in third in the table, ahead of a home weekend tie against league leaders Falkirk.