Ross County hope new "freshness" can spring life into relegation fight

Having seen results go against his side in recent weeks, and injury problems pile up, Ross County manager Owen Coyle believes the Staggies can go a long way to turning things around this weekend.

"The bottom line is we haven't done well enough in terms of results", said Coyle, who's now seen his side fail to win in 13 games.

"Obviously a lot of that of late has been down to personnel missing, but I'd like to think now there's a freshness to the side with some players coming back in"

"We need to give ourselves that chance" - Coyle on County's relegation battle

Jim O'Brien (illness), David Ngog and Chris Routis (shoulder) are likely to challenge for squad places, while Greg Tansey's getting closer to fitness.

Added to that are new faces Liam Fontaine - who featured for the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's 4-2 defeat to Aberdeen - and also Fulham's Mattias Kait and West Brom's Max Melbourne who have come straight into the fray.

"The match at Dundee is huge", said Coyle, "but it's one that - if we're at our best - then we're more than capable of winning"

"We've got to cut out the unforced errors and that comes with a mentality, a focus and intensity and when we've shown all that we can cause teams problems"

"Collectively we're the only ones that can change that, and if you start to win games then your fortunes can change very quickly"

"But the sooner we win - obviously the better"

With Hamilton and Partick on 23 points it could also draw Neil McCann's side into the relegation dog-fight, taking County up to 20 points, just five behind Dundee.

Coyle said: "By winning it would get us right back in the mix, we need to give ourselves that chance"

"It's all about getting safe first, then looking to build again come the summer"