By David Buick and Ben Banks
John Robertson watched his Inverness side sink against Ayr United- but he says that Jamie McCart might not be allowed off the Caley Thistle ship this month.
The defender, who has signed a pre-contract with Tommy Wright’s side, was an unused substitute at the weekend. Ayr beat Inverness 1-0 at Somerset Park, thanks to a Stephen Kelly goal.
Robertson’s side are now clinging onto second place by one point. Whilst his McDiarmid Park switch is inevitable, the Caley Thistle boss says McCart might not be allowed to leave the Highlands this month.
“I thought Ayr looked hungrier than us which is a concern,” said Robertson after the 1-0 defeat. “It wasn’t good enough, the standards weren’t right. We weren’t pressing properly or communicating.
“We started the second half well but you talk about small margins. Charlie Trafford hits the bar and if that goes in it maybe changes the game, maybe. But to be honest, we didn’t deserve that.
“The goal is schoolboy stuff and it’s a good finish from Kelly. The better team won and we’ve got to take that on the chin. We knew how big a game it was. We explained to the players it was an opportunity to go seven clear of Ayr, nine of Dundee, ten of the rest, it was there. But they weren’t at it.
“We aren’t looking to do anything over the next week. I’ve more than enough faith in the players that are here.
“But one or two boys let themselves down today and might not be getting away from the club as quickly as they maybe realised. There’s no indication from St Johnstone that they will take Jamie McCart early at the moment.
“But given today’s performance, maybe that will be a decision for us to say you’re not going. He’s a contracted Inverness player and he may be required for us rather than them.”