Robbie raps talk of Xmas title party
BY EUAN McARTHUR DUNDEE UNITED boss Robbie Neilson insists title talk has been banished at Tannadice as they bid to finish 2019 on a high.
The table-toppers sit 13 points above nearest rivals Inverness and welcome third-placed Ayr United to Tannadice tomorrow.
United are tipped to have the title wrapped up in the coming weeks but Neilson said: “There’s none of that getting said in here. We won’t get ahead of ourselves.
“There’s still a long way to go, we’re only halfway through the season, but if we keep focusing on what we have to do then there’s a chance we’ll get to where we want to be.
“I expect a difficult game, Ayr play at 100mph.”
BY ALASDAIR FRASER A WINTER vomiting bug could force Ross County to request their trip tomorrow to Livingston is called off.
The outbreak of the norovirus has left the Staggies with just eight fit senior players, including two keepers.
Training yesterday was cancelled after the scale of the sickness bug became apparent on Wednesday evening, with remaining fit players sent home.
County co-manager Steven Ferguson said they were monitoring 10 players stricken by the debilitating virus that can take 72 hours to clear.
There is concern others may be struck down within 24 hours.
County also have Michael Gardyne, Tom Grivosti, Ross Draper and Don Cowie ruled out through injury.
And nine of the club’s development squad are out on loan and prohibited from being recalled for the first team.
It’s understood County could request the game be postponed if there’s no improvement by this morning.
Ferguson said: “We’re decimated. We’ve had to cancel training today.
“We’re going to need to assess what happens. Out of the squad of 22 fit players we work with we’ve eight – and two of them are keepers.
“We have a huge problem. I don’t know what the rules are but that’s the situation. Our secretary will look into that. As it stands it seems to have ripped right through us.
“It’s the winter vomiting bug – and we know how contagious that can be, particularly in a dressing room.
“There are a few who didn’t make it in and a few that did who have the symptoms. They’ve been sent home.
“We’ve pretty much locked it down to see if we can stop the spread.
“It has all happened within the last 24 hours really. It lasts 48 to 72 hours so that will maybe give us a problem for Saturday.
“But it is outwith our hands, there’s nothing we can really do. The players are all seeing their doctors and we’ll take it from there.”
If enough of County’s squad do not recover and the club is ordered to play, Ferguson said they would be forced to turn to schoolboy signings, mostly below reserve or development squad level.
Among seniors, Declan McManus is at Falkirk on loan, while keeper Ross Munro is at Raith Rovers. Declan Hughes (Forres), Jack Murray (Buckie), Gregor MacDonald and Jack Grant (Keith), James Wallace and Tom Kelly (Brora) represent their best youth players but all would be ineligible if recalled.
None of County’s coaching or office staff have been affected.