Ross County captain Connor Randall says Premiership survival against Livingston is a matter of pride to the players
Connor Randall admits Ross County will be driven by pride as well as a sense of defiance as they look to seal Premiership safety.
The stubborn Staggies have stared relegation in the face and refused to budge in the last two seasons, defeating Partick Thistle and then Raith Rovers in the play-offs.
That made it 11 top-flight seasons in the last 12 years in all, with sights now set on 12 from 13.
While many have Livingston as favourites given their surge of momentum from the Championship, Randall served notice that County were ready to draw on all of their survival experience and defiance to fend the Lions off.
The County skipper said: “It’s two massive games for the club and for everyone involved.
“We've got to look forward to that challenge, face it head-on and make sure we're best prepared to go and achieve what we want to achieve.
“Thursday will be a big occasion. There's a lot on the line.
“It's just about us staying calm and going out there like we always do, with a gameplan we think is going to work.
“I think the experience of coming through it before, in the last two years, means you know how good that feeling is when you succeed.
“That's something you're going to be fighting for.
“It's a different opposition. You can't really look too much into what's happened previously. It's about facing what's in front of us.
“That’s what we're going to do - prepare ourselves as best we can and everyone will be coming out fighting.
“Is there a source of pride at how we’ve fought off relegation in the past? Definitely.
“We desperately want to keep this club in the league. That's what everyone is fighting for. It's a massive motivation for us.
“We’ve got the first game coming on Thursday, and we are fully focused on that.
“But of course, the motivation is the end goal for us. Everyone is going to be fighting to keep this club where we want it to be.”
The battle-cry sounded, Randall turned his thoughts to the team standing in their way.
The Liverpudlian said: “They have had a good season - it's clear to see that they're a good side.
“We are going to be preparing for the best Livingston likely to present themselves
“It’s a massive game for them as well.
“But we have prepared thoroughly and can hopefully put on a good performance ourselves.
“We saw some of their strengths in the Scottish Cup when they beat us, and you can look back on that, but it is also about what we do.”
With already County written off by many, Randall cut a relaxed but determined figure.
He added: “We don't listen to any outside noise. It's about us focusing on ourselves.
“The pundits can think what they want to think - that's their job.
“But it's about us concentrating on ourselves, going out there and putting in a performance that we can be proud of, the club can be proud of.
“It's two opportunities for us to go and take the challenge on, and it's about us stepping up to it as we know we can.
“We will be fighting tooth and nail to make sure we get the job done for this football club.”
While County’s squad is stretched by injuries - two academy players filled the bench on Sunday - Randall remains confident, particularly with promising signs in the last two matches.
He said: “A couple of young lads were on the bench on Sunday. It’s good to see them coming through.
“It's that point of the season. It happens, we get knocks and bruises, kicks and stuff.
“But we've got enough quality and enough numbers within the squad available to go out there and perform to our best level.
“On Sunday I thought we were excellent in the first half, and it's about us coming out in the second half and replicating that.
“The performances have improved, but these are two games in isolation, two cup finals, so it's about us fully focusing on that.”
If no other incentive existed, the survival parties County have thrown with their fans in the previous two years would be worth it alone.
Randall added: “With the situation we are in now, that's the reward. That's what everyone's trying to achieve.
“We have done it in the last two years, and it's a fantastic feeling.
“We all want to keep this club in the league. It's going to be a tough test – but that's what we're going out to try and achieve.
“That's the goal, that's the motivation for everyone, and it's about us pulling together now and going out there and putting in some good performances.”
