David Hopkin says a late comeback against Arbroath proves his new Ayr squad won't lie down without a fight.
Two goals in the last 20 minutes pulled United back from the brink after they should have been dead and buried.
The Lichties were cruising at 2-0 and missed a penalty midway through the second half before Ayr's late salvo.
And Hopkin insists his men have passed a crucial early season gut check in front of their home support.
He said: "We gave ourselves a mountain to climb in the first half by conceding the goals we did.
"We lost a poor goal to start with and then the second one was absolutely horrific.
"But I had a go at the players at half time and I got the reaction.
"I made the call at half time to bring Aaron Muirhead on and I thought he was terrific.
"He was able to give us a real foothold in the game and we took it from there.
"Last season we'd have capitulated but we showed character today.
"I give credit to the players because they showed the fans they won't lie down.
"And the longer the game went there only looked like one winner and it was us."
Hopkin had given Daire O'Connor his first start following a bright introduction from the bench at Kilmarnock, while Markus Fjortoft started in a back three.
But Ayr were behind in just nine minutes when they stood off giant striker Joel Nouble and he curled a sublime effort into the top corner from the angle of the box.
Worse was to come for Ayr shortly before the half hour when the Lichties doubled their lead after a calamity in the home defence.
Michael McKenna's cross from the out wide was inexplicably left by both Sean McGinty and keeper Charlie Albinson and the ball flew straight into the net.
Hopkin withdrew O'Connor at the break in favour of the steel of Muirhead to try and get Ayr back in the contest.
And although they upped their tempo, chances were still hard to come back - and it was Arbroath who should have finished the game as a contest.
Ref Colin Steven pointed to the spot when he judged Andy Murdoch had handled in the box, but Ayr got off the hook when Nicky Low stepped up to rattle the bar.
And that left the door open for Ayr who got back in it when Tomi Adeloye finished from close range following Muirhead's knockdown from a Murdoch free kick.
And they grabbed the late point when sub Mark McKenzie swept home after a scramble in the box.
Remarkably, Ayr could even have won it right with the last kick but McKenzie sent a header over from close range as they piled forward in the closing stages.
Lichties boss Dick Campbell said: "I'm as sick as the proverbial parrot.
"We were way, way in front of anything Ayr had to offer."
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