In normal circumstances, a striker passing up such a gilt-edged chance in the closing stages of a crucial game would be open to criticism. However, when the marksman in question is goal machine Lawrence Shankland, Ayr United manager Ian McCall confessed he would have to keep his censures to himself.

If there was one player the Honest Men would have hoped to see on the end of a match-winning opportunity two minutes from time it would have been Shankland. But, with 28 goals to his name already this season and January suitors on both sides of the border circling, the 23-year-old fluffed his lines and it cost Ayr top spot in the Championship.

After watching the former Aberdeen player, who has been linked with interest from the likes of Rangers, Swansea City and Sunderland, screw his shot wide from 12 yards out, and his strike partner, Michael Moffat, fail to convert a one-on-one with Lee Robinson in the first-half, McCall could not hide his disappointment. But he made light of the goalless draw with a quip over the effect it could have had on Shankland’s valuation.

“I thought it was a poor, poor game, I didn’t enjoy watching it,” said McCall. “We know Dunfermline are under a lot of pressure and they’re fighting for their lives, but I don’t think we were better than them.

“But there were two chances in the game, and they fell to Michael Moffat and Lawrence. They’ve both got to score, it’s as simple as that.

“There were two good chances - and Lawrence’s transfer fee is down to £499,000 now after missing! But I cannot say anything about Lawrence Shankland. That’s him scored 57 in 57, so he’s done not bad.”

Ayr enjoyed the upper hand in the first-half and should have taken the lead when Robinson blocked from Moffat, but Dunfermline were revived by the interval and were the better of the teams in the second-half.

Visiting keeper Ross Doohan was forced to repel efforts from Higginbotham, Joe Thomson and Aidan Keena, whilst referee Steven McLean was kept busy as the home fans screamed for red cards, and not the yellows he flashed, when Steven Bell pulled back Aidan Keena and substitute Craig Moore lunged in on James Craigen.

Despite their dominance after the break, Shankland’s late opportunity placed a different perspective on the draw for Dunfermline.

“We probably should be coming away with the three points,” said manager Allan Johnston, who watched his side fail to score for a third successive game. “But, then, because we didn’t take our chances we ended up riding our luck at the very end.

“We kept Shankland quiet the whole game. The defenders did really well because he’s obviously playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. It was a really good defensive performance, so we’re a wee bit frustrated not to get the win.”