Routis sees make or break time for Ross County
It's the proverbial 'six-pointer' for County at Partick this weekend
Last updated 29th Mar 2017
Chris Routis admits Ross County will struggle to make the SPFL Premiership top six if they don't secure a positive result at Partick this Saturday.
A vital point against Inverness - thanks to Alex Schalk's late leveller - puts County in the position where they can move three points behind Partick, should they win at Firhill.
The Frenchman says "We stayed in the game (against Caley Thistle) despite going behind, and it was important to keep the space between us and Inverness at the bottom, but still maintain that focus for sixth place"
The Jags presently occupy the final berth in the top six, with four sides fighting out for the last place in the top half.
The defender says "If we don't get the result on Saturday - I don't want to say it'll be impossible, because nothing is - but it will be really hard to reach the top six"
"Should we get the three points then we'll make the league really close, I think it's good that we have three games in a week, that leaves you no time to reflect"
"I hope we can prove ourselves on the pitch now"
"I think we can do it, we're ready to make the top six and achieve our aim"
Earlier in the season, it ended 1-1 at Firhill following a late equaliser for Ross County from Chris Burke, but December in Dingwall saw disappointment for County.
"It ended 3-1", says Routis, "and we had the chance to split the seventh and eighth places and didn't take it, which is something we've done a lot this year"
"We failed to take our chances - and from that - Partick then pushed back into a good position"
Martin Woods is back in training for County, with skipper Paul Quinn, Jay McEveley and 'keeper Scott Fox making progress.
Routis believes the international break may have bought them some valuable recuperation time approaching the run-up to the league split.
"I'm not long back and there have been times throughout the year where we've been missing players, but now we need everyone ready for the end of the season to get us where we want to be"
"We've missed a lot of our chances throughout this season, and then have seen results go against us, but now I think we have the players and the minds to prove ourselves"
"I think we can do it, we're ready to make the top six and achieve our aim"