INvERNESS CT 1 White (65) AyR UNITEd 0

John Robertson is refusing to discount the chance of a Caley Thistle Championship charge after watching his walking wounded eke out only their second home win in the league.

The illness and injury-ravaged hosts triumphed through Jordan White’s 10th goal of the campaign.

Gone was the Highlanders’ tendency to shoot themselves in the foot while ahead, despite a sickness bug tearing through the camp to add to injuries and a double suspension headache.

A similarly depleted Ayr – missing 28-goal Lawrence Shankland and five others – have now gone five games without a win since late November.

Robertson, though, was just thrilled with a first home victory since September.

He said: “Jamie McCart, incredibly, climbed out of his sick-bed this morning. At 11 am he wasn’t playing – he’d been sick all night.

“He felt he could just about get through the game. Coll Donaldson has an ongoing groin issue and we had Shaun Rooney and Brad Mckay suspended along with the injuries.

“Joe Chalmers took a dull one, but refused to come off because they all know what’s at stake and what they need to do for the club, for the fans – and for themselves.

“I can’t praise them enough for the battling qualities they’ve shown.

“That’s why we’re not giving up on anything. We’re still confident we can gather enough points to push up that table and give it a real go.”

Caley Thistle struck woodwork twice in last week’s home defeat to Queen of the South – and were at it again on 17 minutes.

Tom Walsh’s ball across the box found Aaron Doran pouncing sharply to volley, but the Irishman hit the right hand upright from 12 yards.

It was like basketball at times as it swung from end-to-end, but the hosts made the breakthrough on 65 minutes.

After an Aaron Doran cross from the left fizzed away harmlessly, Sean Welsh hoisted it back across. Jordan White leapt brilliantly to power a six-yard header past keeper Ross Doohan.

Ayr boss Ian McCall admitted: “We were depleted, but that’s no excuse.”