As far as Stuart Kettlewell is concerned, the time for talk is over – and actions speak louder than words.
The Ross County co-manager has witnessed enough false dawns this season to be wary of paying lip service to good form and good intentions in the Premiership.
Equally, he knows enough about the rigours of top-flight action to know the Dingwall club cannot let the setbacks drag them down too low.
A fine victory over Livingston seven days ago served as reminder of the Staggies’ potential when it all comes together, but Kettlewell is challenging the players to prove it on a weekly basis.
With 13 games to go, starting with Hibs at Easter Road tonight, County sit six points above the relegation play-off place and seven above bottom spot.
It looks like any decent burst of sustained form and results would secure safety in the top-flight but, again, Kettlewell has no great appetite to speculate.
He said: “Myself and Steven Ferguson are not being pessimistic in any shape or form. You take all the criticism when you’re losing games – and rightfully so.
“Everyone wants to see their team winning games of football.
“But it is so important the players realise the Livingston win was one game of football. We tasked them with winning it and it is about how we build on that.
“We think it is a foundation to go and try to put a run together, but we’re a wee bit wary of this talking about what we’re going to do, rather than acting it out.We’re not going to dress up what we’re aiming to do. We just want to go and play games of football and put points on the board.
“We saw a group of men out there against Livingston. We matched them physically and matched them with our energy. We had the better quality on the day to go and win the game.
“That’s a simple formula and one that will stand us in good stead, if we can reproduce those levels from now until the end of the season.”
County, in seven all-time visits to Easter Road, have picked up one win and three draws, but always run them close.
Only once – in a scoreless draw – have the Highlanders failed to hit the net at the Hibs home ground.
Kettlewell – who is still without Ross Stewart, Michael Gardyne and Tom Grivosti – added: “They’ve made one or two changes and freshened it up in midfield so we’ll see what we get.”
