Lee Bullen insists he won't press any panic buttons after Ayr were sent tumbling from the Premier Sports Cup at Annan.
United failed to see out a 1-0 lead against 10 men as they conceded a 95th minute penalty to end their chances of progression to the knockout stages.
And after another night when his side failed to turn dominance of the ball into goals, Bullen was adamant his side's luck would turn.
He told the Ayrshire Post : "You can't feel anything but frustration after a night like that.
"Yet again we are creating chances and our keeper barely has a save to make, yet we are undone by a simple human error at the end.
"But the facts are clear for us to see...we've had more than 50 attempts on goal in these last three games and scored just once.
"So I don't think a lack of creativity is the problem. We know what we need to work on and the positive part for me is that will definitely come."
Ayr had eventually forced a second half breakthrough thanks to sub Fraser Bryden and looked home and hosed when Annan's Dominic Docherty saw red.
But as ref Lloyd Wilson lost control of the clash in the final 15 minutes - dishing out an incredible nine cards in the dying moments - United couldn't see it out.
Bullen added: "It's important we focus within the changing room on what we're doing right and we need to be more ruthless in front of goal.
"We had the chances to go on and get a second goal after we took the lead and with the way we're playing, I really feel we'll hit someone for four or five.
"We've had a sucker punch at the end and should have seen the game out, and that's where a bit of experience comes in, but I'm confident we'll get there."
Bullen had switched to a back four after the 3-0 home reserve against Queen of the South and Ayr looked far more solid for it.
Nick McAllister showed up well at right back, with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson looking bright on the left side of midfield.
Sam Ashford was inches away from an early opener after being played in by Mitchell-Lawson before Ben Dempsey fired just wide from 20 yards.
Dipo Akinyemi then shot straight at Greg Fleming, with the ex-Ayr keeper denying Ashford as he bore down on goal before half time.
Ayr upped the tempo after the break and the introduction of Bryden from the bench added extra punch to their attack.
He hit the post moments after coming on before finally putting Ayr ahead when knocking home Akinyemi's lay off.
When Docherty was sent packing for Annan with 12 minutes to go, United only had to see the game out and they should have wrapped it up when sub Mark McKenzie rifled wide from eight yards.
But they were made to pay deep into stoppage time when McKenzie conceded a penalty at the other end and Tony Vallance stepped up to score.
That sent the game into spot kicks for a bonus point, with Annan rubbing salt into the wounds by securing a 5-4 win. Andy Murdoch, Paddy Reading and McKenzie all missed from 12 yards for Ayr.
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