Greater level of consistency has set Ross County up for successful Premiership campaign, says manager Malky Mackay
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Malky Mackay believes the early Premiership results have reinforced how tight this season will be – and that consistency will be king for clubs to be successful.
Five matches into the new campaign, not many will have been expecting St Mirren and Motherwell to occupy spots in the top three.
Having only just avoided relegation in a play-off final, it may be a surprise to many to see Ross County sitting inside the top half too – especially given they played Celtic and Rangers in their first handful of games.
However, Mackay thinks the Staggies are beginning to show a level of consistency that could set them up for a good season and ensure they are tricky customers for anyone else in the division.
"(Early results) will make everyone look and think this year will be really tight," he explained.
"I thought that already, and both Motherwell and St Mirren have started so well while two of the big city clubs in Aberdeen and Hibernian haven't started well.
"I look at sizes of squads and runs of games, because teams have found that in the past they can get four wins on the bounce and be sitting third.
"At Ross County we've got to concentrate on picking up points and showing a consistency in how we play – which it looks like we have more than last year. We have to keep creating chances and make sure that everyone out there in a blue jersey runs hard for the team.
"From day one I wanted us to be a team that people can't think 'good, we're playing Ross County this week' about. To an extent we've done that, but I want that to continue so that when we play teams they know they're in a game."
It was another hectic summer in the transfer market for County, who despite getting a handful of players signed up early on were still concluding business on deadline day.
Unlike last season, though, several new arrivals have hit the ground running and helped the Staggies get off to a strong start.
Mackay believes that is down to the extra experience the club has amassed over the last couple of years, and the investments made behind the scenes beginning to pay off.
"The work laid down and that Roy (MacGregor) invested in is starting to show," Mackay stressed.
"By that I mean we have a recruitment department led by Enda Barron and a couple of people out there looking at players over a longer period to try and bring them in, rather than being reactionary.
"As time has gone on, we have managed to work that better and that is hopefully going to be set in place at the club for years to come.
"You hopefully bring the percentage chance of a player not settling or working out down. That's one of the reasons the settling-in process has improved.
"We also have Fiona MacBean at the club, who has got a real great handling process for people coming into the area.
"When someone decants from another part of the country, you want to get them settled in quickly. There are many little factors which have allowed players to come in and settle quicker."
