Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson says patience is required for the Staggies to unlock their Championship opponents who he feels are showing the Dingwall side respect this season.
County have made a fine start to life in the second-tier following their relegation from the Premeirship last season, with three wins from their opening four matches putting them top of the table.
In their two home matches so far, County have enjoyed large spells of pressure against Alloa Athletic and Falkirk but have been forced to wait until the latter stages to make a breakthrough.
Ferguson says his players must not let frustration get the better of them, and he said: “The message is clear from us. Teams are showing us respect, which is a compliment to our players.
“If they set up to be really difficult to beat and slow the game down to try and knock us out of our rhythm, it is almost a back-handed compliment.
“That doesn’t make it any easier when we’re trying to score the goal. We just need to trust each other and trust that when the opportunity comes we’ll take it.
“Nobody’s happier than our players and staff at the prospect of having more of the ball this season.
“It is a different proposition having the ball to not having it very much. I’ts more fun having it – its as simple as that.
“The players enjoy it more, especially the types of player we have. They all want the ball.”
County face League 1 side Raith Rovers in an IRN-BRU Cup second round tie at Victoria Park on Saturday, with Ferguson open to the possibility of making changes for the visit of the Kirkcaldy side.
Defenders Marcus Fraser (calf) and Sean Kelly (head) were both sidelined against Falkirk at the weekend and Ferguson says he and fellow co-manager Stuart Kettlewell will not take any risks, adding: “We’ll look at it again. We always try to look at the bigger picture and if guys need minutes there’s an opportunity to do that.
“If guys need a little bit of extra time for knocks to clear up then we’d be crazy not to use that opportunity to rest them up.
“Stuart and I both feel when making changes to the team it isn’t a seismic change, it’s a tweak. The players are well aware it I going to be a squad that completes this season rather than just 11 players.”
