Ross Stewart netted the winning goal when Ross County last faced Motherwell, and the forward is determined to rekindle similar Staggies resolve when the two sides meet again at Dingwall today.
Stewart’s goal on September 21 capped an excellent turnaround in which the Staggies came from behind to triumph 2-1 at Fir Park, against an impressively performing Steelmen outfit who sit third ahead of today’s game.
Stewart accepts County fell short of that standard in Saturday’s 4-0 loss to Livingston but the attacker is determined to capitalise on the quick opportunity to make amends this afternoon.
He said: “It was a really good result when we came back from behind. That result showed a lot of what we have in the squad with the character and fight. We want to show a lot more of that on Boxing Day because we know it was missing at Livingston.
“We had won two matches before Livingston so Saturday was a tough one to take.
“We now have the chance to put that right to give the fans something to cheer about.
“Our home form is going to be huge for us for the rest of the season – we have to pick up as many points as we can.
“Motherwell are flying just now and we know it will be a really tough game.”
County’s squad was depleted by a virus last week, which affected preparations for Saturday’s match against Livi.
Although he was not among the players most badly affected, Stewart felt his side should have put up a better fight against Livi.
He added: “I had a few symptoms but not as bad as some of the other boys when it was kicking about.
“It wasn’t ideal but the managers did a really good job managing it to make sure we got a team out.
“It did cause a lot of disruption. We were struggling for bodies on the Thursday which is far from ideal two days before a game but come Friday we were in a better place and prepared as well as we could for the game, although Saturday didn’t go the way we wanted.
“I am not one for making excuses when you declare yourself fit to play. When you go out you have to give everything you have but, as a team, we were nowhere near where we could and should have been.”
Stewart, who is County’s leading scorer with 11 goals, is refusing to be distracted by speculation linking him with English Championship clubs, with the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City believed to be interested.
