Ross County interim co-manager Stuart Kettlewell says the Staggies’ recent home form is a source of encouragement ahead of the Premiership post-split fixtures.
County have picked up five points from a possible nine at Victoria Park since Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson took over from Owen Coyle, with a victory over Partick Thistle as well as draws against Hamilton Accies and Hibernian.
That sequence has moved County off the bottom of the the table, a point above Thistle.
The SPFL will release the post-split fixtures this week, with County hoping for three home matches from their remaining five games, and Kettlewell feels Dingwall form could be key to his side’s survival hopes.
Kettlewell said: “We have already spoken about trying to turn things around a bit at home. That’s three games we have now played here and we are unbeaten – albeit with two draws in among that.
“Ideally we would have liked to have turned a couple of them into wins. It’s not to be, but I think people are seeing we are a hard team to play against at home. It’s very difficult to break us down.
“This is a free week and I am sure we are coming in pretty positive from the fact we have picked up four points from the last two games which were difficult, high pressure games.”
Former Caley Thistle attacker Billy Mckay has been handed a prominent role up front since the co-managers took charge and the Northern Irishman’s work-rate has impressed Kettlewell, who added: “We have seen the work Billy has put in and the influence he’s had on our team in the last couple of games – and even before that as well.
“I think a bit of fatigue set in against Hibs, I don’t think he could have run another step and that’s what it’s going to need to be to get us out of this situation.
“That’s not just from Billy, that’s from the rest of the players. We felt we did that.
“We gave them a pat on the back because we couldn’t ask a great deal more from them in the game.”
