Ross County manager hopes forfeited matches don't decide season
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Stuart Kettlewell hopes that the final Premiership table will reflect teams’ on-field accomplishments, rather than being decided by forfeitures.
Last week Hamilton were awarded one 3–0 victory, and Motherwell two, after matches against St Mirren and Kilmarnock were called off because of positive Covid-19 tests.
Along with the last round of fixtures, that has helped change the complexion of the league table dramatically, with Accies going from being cut adrift at the bottom to 10th – above Ross County and the Buddies.
With Dundee United, perhaps fearing similar sanctions going against them, playing last Saturday and losing to Livingston with nine first team players unavailable due to Covid-19, the realities of the pandemic’s effect on the season have hit home.
For the likes of County who seem to be in a relegation battle, fingers have to be crossed that too much bad luck does not come their way.
“Having seen the last week, I think a lot of us are wondering how much Covid is going to play a part in the final standings in the league table,” Kettlewell reasoned.
“Looking at the last week, there’s some truth to those fears. I’d like to think it won’t, and it will come down to what you can actually achieve on the football pitch.
“Every single one of us have got our own opinion on what we’ve seen in the last week with points and goals being awarded, teams playing without nine players.
“A lot of it doesn’t seem to line up, it seems to be a little bit inconsistent, but that’s only my opinion.
“We will all have a different view on what the outcome should be in these situations, but it has to be a political answer from me – I can only focus on what we’re doing.
“I could shout my mouth all day long about what I believe is right and wrong in that decision-making process, but we just have to carry on and try and make the best of the situation we find ourselves in just now.”
Next up for the Staggies is a trip to Pittodrie tomorrow to face Aberdeen.
Although County will be the underdogs once again after recent matches against Celtic and Rangers, the Dons have struggled for positivity themselves in the last couple of weeks.
Draws in the league against Hamilton and St Mirren, as well as a Betfred Cup exit in Paisley, mean Derek McInnes’ side may be low on confidence.
Kettlewell is low on numbers though, with Keith Watson picking up a glute issue against Rangers and Charlie Lakin likely to be out for six weeks.
