County bid to pull away from basement "dogfight"

With any lingering hopes of a top six finish snuffed out in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Partick Thistle, Ross County are now left looking for points to pull clear of any impending melee at the foot of the Premiership.

With just one league win in 2017, County aim to keep the bottom sides at bay, having seen Motherwell collect a point at Ibrox, and Hamilton record only their fifth win of the season - albeit in bizarre circumstances - with a 1-0 victory over 9-man St Johnstone.

As is often the case with football, the task for County now is very simple, as laid out by manager Jim McIntyre:

"We need to win games and pick up more points than we have done - it's as simple as that"

In the last 10 games, County's seven defeats have come by a single goal, something that's not lost on the Staggies gaffer: "We've had a lot of play in games of late, made good opportunities, but we need to be a lot more ruthless in the games ahead"

"The players know what's required - collectively and individually - the games we've lost have just been by the odd goal, so we're doing a lot of things well"

"It's about encouraging the players so hopefully that quality comes through"

"That said, what we have to be doing is winning - and winning by any means - winning ugly, but it's important we find that winning way"

As with the 2-1 defeat at Partick, County started the second half positively, and having seen a number of points dropped from promising positions, McIntyre's calling for a solid all-round performance.

"It's about what you do in both boxes though, equally we have to remain switched on at the back, and make sure we're not making individual errors that's then putting us under pressure in defence"

"The boys are getting into the right areas, trying to do the right things, and it's about encouraging the players so hopefully that quality comes through"

"You'll soon see once goals are scored and we start to win games that the confidence levels will go up. We're just trying to encourage them as much as possible, because the work-rate is there for all to see"

Paul Hartley's Dundee were hit for seven at Dens Park on Friday as Aberdeen ran riot with an emphatic rout, leaving them also eager for a reaction to that disappointment.

McIntyre said: "Dundee will be desperate to bounce back after what must've been a very sore night for them, but equally so are we, Saturday was our last chance for a shot at sixth place - that's gone - now we're in a dogfight"

"We've just got to make sure we win games so we don't get dragged down into it - starting with Dundee - it's a clear goal for us now"