Alex Iacovitti insists Ross County must build on the strong foundations they showed in their 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Staggies ended a four-match losing streak by claiming a hard-earned point in the Granite City – their first outing of 2023.
Although County were satisfied with their day’s work, Dundee United’s victory over St Johnstone means they are now three points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.
However, having claimed their fifth shut out of the season against the Dons, Iacovitti insists more solid defensive showings will be key to his side’s hopes of climbing the table.
Iacovitti said: “We had to start from scratch and go to basics. The results we had before this one hadn’t been great.
“To see it out away from home, take the point and the clean sheet, is positive.
“Against Dundee United, it was never a 3-0 game – we knew that – but we had to be much tighter, and against Aberdeen we did that.
“We were much more compact, the distances between each other were better, and everyone wanted to defend together. It was a massive improvement.
“It gives us something to build on for the rest of the season.
“Clean sheets are massive in this league, especially at a place like this where they get the fans behind them.
“It’s a big point.”
Staggies stood firm to Dons’ pressure
Iacovitti made a superb block to deny what looked like a certain goal for Matty Kennedy in the first half, while Vicente Besuijen was also thwarted by Staggies keeper Ross Laidlaw from close-range late in the game.
Central defender Iacovitti was pleased with the way his side otherwise limited the Dons to few clear-cut chances.
The 25-year-old added: “At the end they threw everything at us, so to stay strong and get through that period was massive.
“There weren’t too many on target. There were a lot of balls into our box that I thought we defended well.
“Ross only had to make two or three saves. He wasn’t too busy which was positive. We just have to keep building on that.
“My block in the first half was just instinct – I saw him (Kennedy) running on to it and thought I had to throw myself at it. Luckily I got there, and it was a massive moment in us keeping a clean sheet.”
“I think we can play better at times, but we take the positives.”
County primed for Livi test in Dingwall
Malky Mackay’s men will look to get back on the winning trail in order to move off the foot of the league, with Iacovitti hoping to build on the point when the Staggies host Livingston on Saturday.
He added: “We’ve been before, a few of the lads. We’ve been bottom of the league and know how tough it is and what it takes to get out of it.
“We’re confident we will get out of it. It’s just the little things like getting a point and a clean sheet and get a bit of momentum going again.
“It’s a massive game at home. Livingston are a tough team and a big team. But we’ll look at them in the next couple of days, their strengths and weaknesses, then give it a good go.”
Conversation