Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has urged his side to target the first goal in today’s crucial Premiership match against Motherwell.
The Staggies are six points adrift of today’s opponents, as well as St Mirren, at the foot of the table, but can halve the deficit with victory.
County must reverse a dire run of home form, 10 losses out of 11 league games at Victoria Park, including the last seven.
McIntyre warned his players must do whatever it takes to secure a first win of 2015 this afternoon, regardless of how it’s done.
McIntyre said: “We’re forever telling the players to believe in themselves. “I think the players we have here are good enough to get us out of trouble – especially given the ones we’ve added. I really believe that.
“It’s fine me saying it, but it’s about getting the break as well, getting the first goal and going on to win the match.
“It’s important the players play the game and don’t think about anything else but securing three points.
“We’ve gone behind in lots of games, so we’re always giving ourselves a mountain to climb.
“We’ve come back a few times and shown great spirit, but getting the first goal is crucial.
“At this stage of the season, pitches aren’t great although ours is one of the better ones.
“We’re going to find ourselves on difficult surfaces and it’s just about getting results.
“We’re bottom of the league and it is about climbing. By whatever way we get the result, we need to get it.
“It doesn’t matter how it’s done. We need to try to build the momentum.”
A defeat would leave County nine points behind Motherwell with 13 games to go, and McIntyre admits such a deficit would be very difficult to claw back, adding: “We are going all out for the win. We know how important a game it is – both clubs do.
“I’d say a draw suits Motherwell far more than it does us, but there are 13 games still go after this one, so there are still lots of points to play for.
“Defeat would make it difficult. Nothing will be won or lost but it is definitely a very big game.”