Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell says he is not concerned by the Staggies’ squandering of winning positions in their last two matches.
County have taken a first half lead in their last two matches, but were forced to come back from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock before losing 2-1 to Dundee United on Saturday.
Although Kettlewell had hoped to take more than one point from the two home matches, he insists the resurgent second half displays from the Staggies’ opponents should come as no surprise.
Kettlewell said: “If we get our noses in front against the likes of Motherwell and Kilmarnock, these teams are always going to fire back at you.
“They are good teams with good players and they have invested heavily in their squads.
“The opposition don’t just stand there and watch us play in the second half, they’re going to have a word from their manager to try and get at us.
“We were level against Dundee United, but ahead in the other two games, so their natural reaction is to get back on the front foot and see if they can get something out of the game.
“I expect that from good teams, and good players at big clubs.
“Do I think we can do better in some of the second half situations? Absolutely.
“I think if we could retain the ball a bit better we look stronger physically, but that’s a work in progress that we have to try and improve.
“We’re four games in, with a limited number of games in pre-season, so the fitness levels will improve as we go along.”
Kettlewell has injected fresh youth into his side, most notably teenage left-back Josh Reid, who has started all four games.
Kettlewell feels the experienced players in his squad have led the youngsters by example, adding: “The blend of youth and experience is very good. That was something we were targeting.
“One of the most important aspects for me is we don’t just have experience for the sake of it.
“Those experienced players still need to have the same attitude and hunger as the young guys .
“There is no use in them thinking the game owes them a living and strutting about because they have played several hundred games.
“It’s so important they are a good influence and they are good experienced players, as opposed to the ones that teach bad habits and have that mediocre work-rate about the place.
“I feel we have got that with the experienced guys that are here. We look to drive our tenacity and hunger from those younger ones, but often that is led by the experienced guys who have been over the course and know how it goes.”
