Crown in sight but Adams not racing to be king
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IT should come as no surprise to anybody that Derek Adams will have tunnel vision and only one focus this weekend as Ross County stand on the cusp of historic success.
Victory at Livingston and a failure by Dundee to beat Falkirk at Dens Park would seal the First Division title and the Dingwall club’s passage to the promised land of the Scottish Premier League.
Unsurprisingly, though, a manager who has studiously avoided letting his gaze wander beyond the weekly task of winning three points is not about to get the transistor radio out in the technical area and tune in to events on Tayside.
Some 18 years after Ross County took their first faltering steps in the Scottish League, the magnitude of the achievement now within reach is mind-blowing to club staff, directors and loyal supporters.
But while everyone else of a Ross County persuasion will be bursting with emotion and expectation at Almondvale, Adams will be the calm in the eye of the storm.
The Staggies’ boss said: “We need four points — that’s our aim and our focus. Whatever happens anywhere else, happens.
“We want to try to finish the season with as many points as we possibly can. That’s what the players want and what I want.
“We still have a good bit of work to be done. We’ve got six games to go and we’re going to go for it.”
County have enjoyed two 3-0 triumphs and a draw against Livingston this season.
The team managed by John Hughes and John Collins has been nothing if not erratic and unpredictable, but Adams rates his former club’s attacking strength and verve.
He said: “Livingston are the second highest goalscorers in the league and have the second highest goals against.
“They certainly have an attacking style about them. Hopefully there are goals in the game and they go Ross County’s way.
“They set themselves out in a certain style and they have good legs in the team.
“They have energy and a youthful squad and play with no fear. That is probably why they are scoring goals and leaking goals as well. It is going to be a difficult match down there.
“They will certainly not want us to go down there and win the game.”
Some might say it would be fitting for the league title to be secured at Livingston, given the number of County players who have a past association with the Lions.
Richard Brittain, Colin McMenamin, Gary Miller, Scott Boyd, Sam Morrow, Steven Craig, Rocco Quinn and Adams himself all had spells there.
Adams said: “It’s true there are a lot of players here who have played for Livingston in their careers, including myself.
“We know the surroundings and we know the football club. But before we even think about those kinds of things we’ve got to do our own work first and make sure we take care of ourselves.
“There are a lot of players here who have been at other clubs and been discarded, before picking themselves up at Ross County.
“What I’ve tried to do is take them in, give them back confidence, regenerate and make them believe in themselves again.
“We’ve worked to help them become better players on the training ground and they have done that.
“They have come here and played a lot of games at Ross County, winning cups and championships already.
“That’s something I enjoy in managing and coaching them and I take great satisfaction out of seeing them do so well.”
County look set to take south the biggest travelling support of the season as fans from far and wide clamour to be part of what might be a historic day.
Adams stressed: “We are going to be taking between five and seven hundred fans, which is fantastic.
“That will give the players a tremendous boost just hearing the fans singing. It happened at Dens Park and at Partick.
“The players feed off that atmosphere exceptionally well. That’s what we need and I’m sure we’ll get it.
“It’s important we finish the season with as many points as we can. The players want that and it is good for their CVs as well.”
Only David McNamee is injured for County, while Colin McMenamin returns from suspension.
