Ross County’s play-offs aversion will drive them on, says defender Josh Reid
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JOSH Reid believes Ross County’s determination to avoid another heart-stopping play-off scenario will drive them on in the relegation fight.
The Staggies await Livingston’s visit tomorrow knowing defeat would allow the West Lothian outfit to draw level on points at the foot of the table.
Victory, in contrast, would reopen a six-point gap between 11th and 12th place and allow County to refocus energies on catching St Johnstone, currently five points above them but with an extra game played.
Reid, who attended the dramatic match prior to his move back to boyhood club County later that June, has no intention of reliving the gut-churning tension of County’s second leg comeback victory over Partick.
“Nobody looks forward to a relegation battle, but we’ll relish the chance to make sure we’re not 11th again,” the 21-year-old, who returned north after two and a half years at Coventry City, said.
“We’re not going to have that heart in mouth scenario that we had last season.
“I was there for that Partick Thistle game and I don’t think any Ross County fan or player wants to be part of that again.
“We’ll do our best to try and stay well clear of that.
“There were a few near-heart attacks last year with that game. It’s a double header that nobody wants.
“We know that we’re more than capable of putting results together and getting up the table.”
One of interim manager Don Cowie’s first acts after succeeding Derek Adams was to restore Reid to the starting line-up against Rangers, then Dundee.
“It has gone really well. The whole group is positive and we’re all pushing in the right directions,” Reid said.
“We all know where we want to be come the end of the season. We have a good group in there and all the boys are positive.
“In the last two games, results haven’t gone the way we hoped but performance-wise, it is definitely better.
“The boys are looking forward to Livingston. Everyone knows the significance of the game, but we’re just going to approach it like normal. There are 12 more games to come, so there is a long way to go.”
