Ross County have already been forced to show patience against Alloa Athletic this season and co-manager Steven Ferguson expects more of the same in today’s Championship trip to Recreation Park.
The Staggies needed two second half goals to defeat the Wasps 2-0 in their final Betfred Cup group match in July, before Marcus Fraser’s late winner secured a 1-0 home victory over Jim Goodwin’s men in the opening league match of the campaign seven days later.
Although County are in contention for the title, Ferguson insists his players must be prepared to tough out the points against their part-time opponents.
Ferguson said: “I think we’ll need to be patient again on Saturday. Alloa have proven, since the start of the season, how effective they can be – especially at home.
“They’ve picked up a decent points tally. People can make much of the fact they’re the only part-time team in the league and say we should go down there and win the game. If only it was as easy as that.
“These guys are part-time, but very experienced. They balance their work life and football very well. That’s the reason they are in the Championship.
“Alloa have done that for years. They’re a club in a good catchment area and can get guys who probably could be, and should be, playing full-time but have chosen at this stage of their career to earn their living somewhere else while playing football.
“It is just a huge credit to Alloa that they’re competing in the way they are. It can’t be easy.”
County will be without midfielder Iain Vigurs, who is recovering from a bruised foot, with Ferguson adding: “Iain is coming on good. He is well on the road to recovery.
“He wasn’t able to weight-bear. It was just that pain threshold, which he is now getting through – he’s back running.
“But it would be unfair to Iain to expect him to be involved this weekend.”
