Dundee United haven’t given up on catching Ross County after last night’s victory against Ayr, Robbie Neilson insisted.
The Tangerines have cut the gap to five points and are in no mood to concede anything yet.
“We’re still gunning for the top,” said Neilson. “There’s still that hope.
“We know it’s out with our hands but all we can do is keep winning matches and if we keep doing that, at the very least it will secure second place which makes it quite a lot easier to go through the process of going up.”
Osman Sow made his first start in several weeks and Neilson will hope to get him more game-time in the near future after an encouraging return from injury.
“I was really pleased with Osman tonight after being out for such a long time,” he said. “You see the quality that he brings.
“He started to cramp up just before half-time so we tried to get another 10 minutes out of him just for fitness.
“He’s not played in a while. He linked the game and made some good runs in behind. He’ll get there. We just need to keep persevering and keep backing him. I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a top player.
“He had an issue previously with a calf strain. We’ve been working on that. He started to cramp up so we gave him a bit of treatment to get another 10 minutes out of him to build his fitness.”
There was a story through the week linking Sow with alleged money laundering.
“To be honest with you, it’s a non-event,” said Neilson. “It’s something that’s happened and it will all get cleared up in the coming weeks. It’s just a case of putting it to bed.”
On Pavol Safranko’s spectacular chest and volley equaliser, Neilson said: “It was a great finish from Pavol. I need to try and get him in those positions more.
“He’s a really good finisher but I think he has to do more to link the play for us. At times he can be better. But his actual work-rate and quality around the box is really good.
“It’s a great touch and finish. There’s no doubting that his attributes are his work-rate and his finishing.”
