Ross County manager Jim McIntyre insists his club has not been handed the initiative in the relegation dogfight following fellow strugglers St Mirren’s sale of Kenny McLean to Aberdeen.
County are six points adrift of the Buddies at the foot of the Premiership but play their first of two games in hand on the Paisley outfit at Pittodrie today.
McLean completed a £300,000 move to the Dons on transfer deadline day, with the 23-year-old’s departure leaving a void for Saints to fill.
Despite Gary Teale’s side being weakened, McIntyre says County’s destiny will only be influenced by themselves and has called upon the Staggies to improve their miserable league form which has seen them win just two of 23 games.
McIntyre said: “Kenny is a great signing. I know Derek McInnes really well and he knows a player.
“Kenny is a great young Scottish talent and an exciting player. He’ll do really well there.
“With St Mirren losing a player like Kenny, they’ll be looking to replace him. They’ve made a couple of signings as it is. But it’s all about what we do.
“I’ve said it from day one, we’ve got to win games to get back in the mix.”
Aberdeen are hurting after being knocked out of the League Cup last weekend by Dundee United and McIntyre knows his squad must be prepared for a Reds response.
McIntyre added: “Aberdeen did a lot of things well and they had a perfectly good goal disallowed. Those types of moments are game-changers.
“They created a lot of opportunities and the sign of a good side is how they react, so we know Aberdeen be hurting from last week’s result. But they are flying in the league and will want to continue that. We’ve got to be at our best.
“I’m confident with the performances we have put in. If we can get to those levels we’ve a chance of winning the match.”