Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell is drawing on inspiration from some of his most memorable nights at Victoria Park as he looks to steer the Staggies to a crucial Premiership win over Dundee.
The Staggies face an uphill task in their efforts to avoid relegation to the Championship, having fallen two points behind Partick at the bottom with just two games remaining.
Should Thistle defeat Motherwell at Firhill tonight, County’s relegation would be confirmed unless they match the Jags’ three points with victory against Dee.
Instead, former County midfielder Kettlewell is intent on making tonight a turning point in the Dingwall club’s bid to stay in the top flight.
He said: “We have this special element of a night under the floodlights. In the last 10 years I’ve been involved at the club there always seems to be that extra buzz about it.
“I’ve got so many good memories of it as a player, as well as part of the coaching staff over the last couple of years.
“A 3-0 win over Partick Thistle for one, back in the season we were first promoted to the Premiership.
“I remember beating Hibs 2-1 up here in the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay when we went on to reach the final in 2010.
“There have always been some good results to pop up on those kind of nights, the last being the 4-0 victory against Partick. The players were fantastic that night. That doesn’t give us a God-given right to win the game in that manner, but I think there is a special element to it – and something we want to draw on.
“That’s something myself and Steven Ferguson experienced over the years. Why not go and write the next chapter with this game?
“This could all be blue-sky thinking from us. There has to be that positivity, but I feel this could be the next chapter – one we look back on and say ‘remember that night’.
“That’s the message to the players – don’t just drift through the games without good memories. Sometimes those good memories come from adversity.”
County are targeting their first victory since that 4-0 win over Partick on April 3, however Kettlewell says the Staggies must balance risk with reward, adding: “The message is clear – we want to win six points.
“There’s obviously going to have to be an element of risk involved to do that.”
