ANDY McLAREN saw at close quarters how the intense pressure of the Ayrshire derby got the better of record-breaking Scottish goal scorer Kris Boyd.

And he reckons that whoever shows the most composure up front at Hampden tomorrow will come out on top between Ayr and Kilmarnock.

McLaren represented both clubs in his playing days and took part in the local showdown between the two teams with Kil-marnock in the League Cup back in 2001.

That meeting at Somerset Park between the age-old rivals was a tense affair and finished 0-0 after 120 minutes – before underdogs Ayr edged a penalty shoot-out by 5-4.

And the winger recalls how Boydy, who had just broken through at the Rugby Park club, passed up several chances to send his side into the next round.

McLaren said: “I only played in one Ayrshire derby match and it was when I was with Kilmarnock. It was in the League Cup. We had Paul Sheerin sent off in the first half and they held on.

“Big Boydy, who was only a young boy at the time, came on late in the second and missed a few. We ended up losing the game on penalties.

“That game might have been where Kris’s problems with derby matches started (the Scotland hitman only managed to score in one Old Firm game in his time at Rangers.

“He missed an easy header in the last couple of minutes of extra-time. But, hey, we have all missed them. It wasn’t his fault at all.”

He added: “I know boys at both Ayr and Kilmanrock. I will be looking at proceedings closely this weekend. I hope the best team wins.”