Ross County spent last week fending off a norovirus outbreak but co-boss Steven Ferguson knows they need to take the medicine of their Livingston defeat on the chin.
The 4-0 capitulation on Saturday was something Ferguson was not prepared to make excuses for, despite cancelling training this week in a bid to stop the illness spreading.
County’s display at Almondvale was lifeless and prompted a small group of their own supporters to start chanting “Norovirus” prior to the end of the game.
Ferguson said: “We’re not going to use that as an excuse. Some of the boys have been kept away from the pitch so we could come and compete.
“You’ll certainly not get Stuart and I using the week we had as an excuse.”
The game was never in doubt, just the line-up, he said.
“We just needed to see who would be playing. Keith Watson, Liam Fontaine, Michael Gardyne, Brian Graham and Iain Vigurs were the ones that did not make it back.
“The other guys were fit enough to play the game and fit enough to give a better account of themselves.
“It probably does (give players an excuse) but we’re not having that.
“If we are feeling sorry for ourselves, it better stop quickly.”
Despite the extremes of the pre-match prognostications, County were still able to name a strong side.
Michael Gardyne, Brian Graham and Liam Fontaine missed out on the matchday squad, following the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock.
Lee Erwin, Billy Mckay and skipper Marcus Fraser came into the side, while teenagers Ruari Fraser, Josh Reid and Matthew Wright filled spots on the bench.
County’s front three caught the eye early, with the deployment of Mckay, Erwin and Ross Stewart as a fluid trio.
Mckay started as the central striker with Erwin to the left and Stewart to the right, creating match-up problems for the Livingston full-backs.
But, being mainly penalty-box players, they were comfortable drifting infield and supplementing the attack when required.
Josh Mullin, a winger with superb crossing ability, started wide but increasingly operated as a third central midfielder, dovetailing with Stewart down the right to create overloads down the flank.
His delivery gave the first clear chance of the game, a back-post header that the ex-Motherwell man steered wide.
But it has been County’s defensive issues that have got them in trouble this season.
No side has conceded more than the Staggies and their clean sheet against Kilmarnock the weekend previous was their first shutout in almost three months.They were undone at Livingston by two defenders, with Jon Guthrie profiting from County’s failure to deal with Alan Lithgow’s throw, providing the pass for Lamie to slide in.
Lessons had clearly not been learned by the time Livi doubled their advantage before the interval. Steven Lawless was alert and the connection on his through ball was perfect, however the space given to Dykes was inexcusable.
He thumped past Nathan Baxter at his near post and duly punished County’s slackness.
County’s defensive performance showed little signs of improving. Dykes, six minutes after the break, pounced again, this time from Pittman’s cut-back when Baxter pushed out Marvin Bartley’s shot.
As Livingston’s lone striker, he ought to have been easier to pick up for County’s defenders but the Australian continued to find himself in space.
He is earning admirers for his displays in front of goal but the Staggies gave him the platform to do so.
Dykes completed his hat-trick with 17 minutes to go and again it was a cross into the box that caused them problems.
Steve Lawson’s ball was good but the pressure on him was negligible, with Dykes arriving at speed to power his header beyond Baxter.
It had come just after Livi had weaved their way through a ragged County backline that had only Callum Morris between them and a further goal, with Lawless denied.
County utilised their three senior outfield substitutes but there was no discernible impact on the game from Ewan Henderson, Joe Chalmers or Blair Spittal.
But the match was beyond any rescuing at this point, with Dykes doing the damage and leaving County ill at ease.
Ferguson added: “We felt the goals we conceded were extremely cheap. It came as no surprise – we know how Livingston play.
“We should have been able to deal with it better. We’ll not let them feel sorry for themselves.”
