Manager sees Ross County grasping what Scottish Premiership is all about
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MALKY Mackay believes Ross County’s 10 summer signings are beginning to thrive in the Premiership after a difficult assimilation.
All the signs were there on Saturday as the Staggies showed character to overturn a 2-1 deficit to beat St Mirren 3-2 and move off the bottom of the table.
The County manager singled out a clutch of players for individual praise, including midfielders Victor Loturi and Yan Dhanda who showed class alongside unlikely goal hero Jordan Tillson, netting his first for the club in 92 appearances.
County’s young full-backs Callum Johnson and George Harmon also excelled in a side now looking far more composed, fluent and dangerous in their attacking play.
“It has been a new group of players trying to get to grips with an intensity of the Premiership that people don’t always understand,” Mackay said. “They are getting to grips with the frenetic nature of this league, and understanding how I want us to play.
“The midfield area in this league, is a tough place to be. It’s 100 miles an hour. For boys coming from other parts of the world, England and Canada, it’s different.
“They have a lot of technique, but they have to adjust to the relentless nature of these games.
“Against St Mirren, I’m delighted they had the calmness of mind, with two minutes to go, to go up into the top left-hand corner and keep the ball. That’s them showing a bit of nous and understanding.”
Hibs have slipped to fifth in the table, losing four of their last five Premiership games, including Friday night’s 4-1 beating away to Aberdeen.
Manager Lee Johnson has been lamenting his team’s “soft underbelly” despite praising their attacking play.
Mackay, though, won’t be lulled into any complacency at Easter Road where County lost on both visits last season.
“It’s a big stadium, against a team that has been doing well,” he said. “We are under no illusions as to how tough it will be. Every team we play in this league gives us a challenge. It’s one of the toughest leagues in years.”
Mackay will assess defender Jack Baldwin after his early exit from the field on Saturday.
