A crowd of almost 10,000 home supporters looked like they might end up frustrated as Scott Brown’s stubborn side kept them at bay, but the dismissal of Nick McAllister on the hour paved the way for Jim Goodwin’s team to get the win they needed, resulting in a post-match pitch invasion.
Although they are not mathematically assured of finishing top of the Championship just yet – second-placed Raith Rovers would have to overturn a six-point deficit, while requiring an unrealistic goal difference swing of 36 over the closing two matches of the campaign.
A run of just five wins from 12 league matches in the opening months of 2024 had threatened to derail their title bid, but United regained their poise at the perfect time, with four consecutive wins over Rovers, Queen’s Park, Morton and now Ayr taking them clear of their rivals when it mattered most.
Goodwin can now start preparing with clarity for a return to the top flight, 11 months after his side were officially relegated from the top flight.
The absence of key midfielder Ross Docherty from the teamsheet through injury served as a pre-match blow for the expectant home support.
However, the hosts started with intent and Kai Fotheringham shot over from just outside the box before Tony Watt’s low angled shot was blocked in a crowded six-yard box. Fotheringham then headed wide from a Glenn Middleton cross.
Ayr had a couple of threatening moments when Kurt Willoughby saw an angled effort from inside the box deflected behind before Mark McKenzie had a low shot blocked.
At the other end, Craig Sibbald’s powerful strike from 25 yards out was deflected just wide.
United finished the half strongly and Fotheringham saw an attempt deflected just over the crossbar before Watt scuffed a tame effort straight at Josh Clarke after strike-partner Louis Moult flicked a throw-in into his path.
The home support were starting to suspect they might be made to wait a while longer, but a straight red card for McAllister after he caught Middleton with an elbow gave them fresh impetus for the closing half hour.
Moult shot over from a Middleton cross and Sam McClelland and Fotheringham both headed wide from corners as United continued to be frustrated.
But they eventually made the breakthrough with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Mochrie – who had just entered the fray two minutes previously – forced home the rebound from eight yards out after Watt’s header from Wotherspoon’s cross had been blocked by Clarke.
The hosts created an early chance when Charlie Gilmour headed over from a corner in the 10th minute and threatened again towards the end of the first half when Nathan Shaw cut in from the right and his shot was palmed away by Terrors’ keeper Jack Walton.
The visitors, unbeaten so far this season in league, almost broke the deadlock before the break when Archie Meekison’s 20-yard shot came back off the post.
With 20 minutes left, Terrors midfielder Jordan Tillson – who had not long come on – was sent off after collecting two quick yellow cards.
Kai Fotheringham tested Mark Ridgers again with a low strike, with Caley substitute Austin Samuels shooting wide at the other end before Mochrie slotted in a stoppage-time winner after the ball came back off the crossbar.
The hosts cruised to a 3-0 lead to move up to fourth in the cinch Championship on Tuesday.
Josh Edwards opened the scoring three minutes after the break when he followed up from a tight angle.
Wighton added a second with 17 minutes left before wrapping up the points from close range in stoppage time.
Veteran Wotherspoon fired Inverness in front eight minutes before the break with a fine low finish on his first appearance since ending his 10-year association with Premiership side St Johnstone.
Airdrie’s Adam Frizzell and Caley Thistle’s Charlie Gilmour were both denied penalties early in the second half, with the former booked for simulation before he then had a goal disallowed for handball by Nikolay Todorov.
Home keeper Mark Ridgers denied Calum Gallagher and Craig Watson, and kept out Lewis McGregor’s awkward cross, while Nikola Ujdur’s block denied the frustrated Frizzell as the hosts held out.
Alex Bannon headed wide from Thomas’ early free-kick, while Alex Samuel was off target for the hosts at the other end.
Charlie Gilmour fired over for Inverness shortly before the break, while Calum Ferrie had to be alert in the Queen’s Park goal to keep out Nathan Shaw’s effort.
Thomas put the visitors ahead five minutes after the interval when he cut in from the right and converted a low effort.
Nikola Ujdur headed over late on as Inverness failed to find an equaliser as the gap between the sides was cut to a single point.
Former Scotland striker Ferguson was appointed Inverness boss on Tuesday and saw his new side take an 11th-minute lead when Luis Longstaff scrambled the ball home from close range.
Inverness doubled their lead after 32 minutes when Aaron Doran turned in Longstaff’s cross from the left.
Billy McKay then raced on to a long ball from goalkeeper Mark Ridgers three minutes after the break to score with a delicate lob.
Scott Stewart and Michael McKenna set up a grandstand finish in the final 20 minutes, but Inverness held on to climb off the bottom of the table.
The former Everton striker is yet to lose after six games in charge despite seeing victory slip away late on.
Danny Devine gave the visitors the lead two minutes before the break when he fired in from inside the box.
But McCann levelled for the hosts with three minutes left when his strike went in off the post.
Duncan Ferguson’s side, who are third from bottom, took the lead in the first minute through Max Anderson, who netted from a Billy Mckay pass.
But the visitors’ lead only lasted 14 minutes as Jack McMillan fired in from close range.
David Wotherspoon and Anderson shot just wide for Inverness, while Danny Devine cleared McMillan’s effort off the line at the other end.
Kai Fotheringham fired home his 10th goal of the season after 63 minutes to take United above Raith, who were 4-3 winners over Partick Thistle on Friday.
Ayr went close to opening the scoring after 13 minutes when Fraser Bryden’s effort was cleared off the line by Kevin Holt.
Fotheringham missed two scoring opportunities, both set up by Glenn Middleton, before pouncing on a loose ball after Ayr had failed to clear a corner.
With just three games remaining, the Terrors look set for an immediate return to the top flight after another convincing result saw them open up a seven-point lead at the top – with closest chasers Raith Rovers in action against third-placed Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Captain Ross Docherty nodded the visitors in front before Glenn Middleton and Louis Moult struck either side of the break.
Tony Watt made sure of the points just before the hour but Morton did pull one back through Robbie Muirhead, although any sort of comeback never looked like materialising.
Chances were at a premium in the first half, with Dundee United defender Ross Graham’s header which cleared the crossbar the closest either side came to an opener.
Dunfermline came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute when Craig Wighton’s close-range effort came back off a post.
The leaders almost snatched victory in the closing seconds but Archie Meekison was denied by a stunning stop from Deniz Mehmet.
Looking to bounce back from last weekend’s home defeat to Morton, when they went down to an 88th-minute goal, United finally broke Inverness with three minutes to go at Caledonian Stadium.
United did well to put Glenn Middleton in down the left and his low cross was perfectly placed in-between defender and goalkeeper, allowing Watt to tap into an empty net at the far post.
Victory saw Jim Goodwin’s side climb to the top of the table, above Raith Rovers on goal difference.
Caley Thistle, who had the best chance of the first half but saw Jordan Tillson clear Danny Devine’s header off the line, remain seventh.
Kai Fotheringham got Jim Goodwin’s side off to a great start eight minutes in, forcing in a corner from close range.
Tony Watt made it two with 14 minutes on the clock, arrowing in from a corner.
Watt made it 12 goals for the season on the hour as Alex Grieve made picked up on a defensive slip and raced clear before laying one on a plate for Watt.
A fourth arrived four minutes later, Grieve netting his first goal for the club as he slid a finish under replacement keeper Max Boruc.
Rock-bottom Arbroath’s misery was compounded when Kyle Robinson received two yellows in quick succession late on.
United took the lead when Kai Fotheringham headed home the rebound after Deniz Mehmet could not hold Liam Grimshaw’s fierce strike.
Owen Moffat brought the Pars level when he slotted home after a quick counter-attack shortly after the restart.
But Mochrie ensured the points were going home with the visitors when he made space and smashed home into the corner in the 85th minute.
After the Tangerines went close to taking the lead in the first half, with Glenn Middleton’s free-kick hitting the bar, they fell behind in the 59th minute when Gabby McGill headed in a Charlie Telfer cross.
Rhys McCabe’s side then wrapped things up via a Josh O’Connor finish in the fourth minute of time added on at the end.
Dundee United remain top of the table but on goal difference alone, with second-placed Raith joining them on 51 points after drawing 0-0 at home to Morton.
It did not take long for Dundee United to open the scoring and it was done inside four minutes when a well-worked move ended with Mathew Cudjoe curling home.
They almost doubled their advantage four minutes later when Louis Moult’s header at back post came crashing back off the woodwork.
The woodwork came to Airdrie’s rescue once again when Moult’s glancing header bounced off the post to keep the score 1-0.
Dundee United wrapped up the points in stoppage time as Kai Fotheringham pounced on a mistake from Joshua Rae and finished from just inside the Airdrie half to take home the points.
Ayr were ahead after just two minutes at Somerset Park when former Scotland winger Jamie Murphy struck a superb free-kick into the far corner.
The visitors eventually drew level in the 67th minute through substitute Tony Watt, who managed to find the bottom corner.
Watt then turned provider with eight minutes left as he teed up Dundee United captain Ross Docherty at the near post before Ayr defender George Stanger was sent off in stoppage time.
Their win leaves the hosts four points clear at the top, although Raith retain a game in hand and will hope to push the promotion battle into the final weeks of the campaign.
Watt settled the home side’s nerves with just seven minutes on the clock when he stroked home the opener after a neat lay-off from Moult.
Kai Fotheringham wasted a superb chance to double the home side’s lead then busy Raith keeper Kevin Dabrowski parried another effort from Watt.
United all but sealed victory on 75 minutes when Moult was fouled in the box and stepped up to fire his resulting penalty past Dabrowski.
There was nothing to separate the division’s also-rans as Thomas O’Brien’s equaliser earned a 1-1 draw for the rock-bottom visitors.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s first Dunfermline goal opened the scoring as he headed home a Josh Edwards free-kick.
Arbroath, however, left East End Park with a share of the spoils courtesy of captain O’Brien’s cool second-half finish.
The result lifts them out of the relegation play-off place and makes it four games without a win for the play-off hunting Jags.
Brian Graham opened the scoring for Thistle with his 17th of the season as he headed home from close range after Luke McBeth had nodded the ball back into the danger area following a poor clearance.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott levelled from close range after 37 minutes when Ross Stewart failed to hold on to a shot from distance and Matty Todd put the Pars ahead when he beat the offside trap to dink the ball over Stewart.
The Jags had two goals controversially chalked off and Xavier Benjamin’s header from a corner ensured victory for the visitors.
