Midfielder Stuart Kettlewell came in from the cold to help earn Ross County a point against Partick Thistle in a 1-1 draw and believes the Staggies are capable of going on a winning run to escape the Premiership relegation play-off place.
The Victoria Park men fell to 11th position in the table on goal difference on Saturday as St Mirren rose above County and Partick by beating Kilmarnock at Paisley.
Kettlewell played for the first time since being sent off in a 3-3 draw against the Jags at Firhill on January 11.
Kallum Higginbotham put the Glasgow team ahead with a free kick inside 10 minutes but County captain Richard Brittain replied with a stunning free kick of his own.
Kettlewell, 29, said: “I was delighted to be back playing but hoped for a better result.
“I tried to play my way back into the team and it came out the blue to start.
“It was a bit scrappy and neither team really took control of the game.
“I don’t think our goalkeeper had a save to make and we had one or two chances in the second half. A draw was a fair result.
“It is so tight at the bottom. Last week we beat St Mirren and this week they got a good result.
“But we don’t want to settle for second best. There is quality in the squad, there are players who can score goals and create chances.
“Every one of us will say we could have done better. We have a hard run of games coming up but if we can put a run together we can put some daylight between ourselves and the teams around us.”
The former Queen’s Park and Clyde player added: “We just need to relax, try to control games and pick up points. We know we can play better than we did against Partick.
“There is a group of teams at the bottom now and even Hibs could get dragged into it.”
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