Perth points way forward for Ross County boss McIntyre
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ROSS County hope to cash in on St Johnstone’s inconsistent home form – by netting their first win in 11 fixtures on Saturday.
Staggies boss Jim McIntyre knows that many sides are picking up most of their points on the road – his included – and is determined to drive his players on to the win which could take them off the foot of the table.
The Perth Saints won 2-0 in Dingwall earlier this season and he’s aiming to redress the balance.
He explained: "I think a few teams have struggled at home this year, not quite getting that consistency they’d want on their own patch. Partick Thistle have been a wee bit like that, as have we.
"The games between St Johnstone and us are always close. Even the game here where they deservedly went in 1-0 up, we had the best of the next 20 minutes but got caught with the sucker-punch. We didn’t produce enough quality to get an equaliser.
"If you look at last season as well, the games were very close. I expect it to be the same again.
"They’ll be looking to get better results at home and our form away from home has been good, so it has the makings of a good game."
He makes no excuses either for his team being bottom of the back, but is well aware a win could provide a massive lift to his group of players.
He stressed: "We know we are where we are because we deserve to be there. We’ve not picked up enough points.
"Equally, though, we know on our day we’re a good side. If we do the right things and give ourselves opportunities then we’ll win matches.
"It is just a matter of getting back to that. If we can manage to do that down at St Johnstone, that’s a wee springboard."
Before the international break, County battled back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Rangers at the Global Energy Stadium thanks to Andrew Davies cancelling out Clint Hill’s opener.
Looking back, the County boss take plenty of encouragement from that outing.
He said: "We certainly threatened them. In the first half as well we got into some really good areas. Just our final bit let us down.
"But the amount of forward play we had in the match is encouraging. We know we have to stop giving away the first goal because it really does harm your chances of winning the game.
"But the response was excellent. We want to make sure we’re starting games well and we actually did against Rangers, but in their first attack they get a corner and score from it. That’s the kind of frustration we’re feeling at the moment.
"As I say, the players responded really well from that and played a lot of the game on the front foot."
The trip to Perth is County’s first of eight before the end of the year and McIntyre senses a chance for their fortunes to turn.
He said: "It’s a crucial period. With the teams so bunched together, it’s time to make our mark and try to get ourselves away from that group.
"It will be very difficult to do that. With what has gone on in the first 13 games, it is clear to see the teams are very evenly matched. Hence the reason there is nobody detached and there’s three points between sixth and bottom place.
"It is just the way the league has been this year – quite crazy at times.
"But it just let’s everyone know there is not very much between the teams and it is the fine margins that are winning and losing games."
County have not had an easy run of fixtures, having played Celtic, Aberdeen and Rangers in recent weeks during their winless spell which stretches back to August 20 when they beat Kilmarnock 2-0.
McIntyre added: "It has been a tough run of fixtures. We’ve acquitted ourselves well in a number of them and we’ve let ourselves down in a number of them.
"It has been a mixed bag from us but what we know we need more of is wins.
"As good as some of the points we’ve picked up on the road have been we know the only way to climb the table is to put back-to-back wins together."
