Home   Sport   Article

John Hughes: Ross County must mind the gap with Hamilton and Motherwell


By Andrew Henderson

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

Ross County manager John Hughes believes Motherwell are a better side than the league table suggests – making it all the more important to stretch the distance between the sides tomorrow night.

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Rangers(5) v Ross County(0). 23.01.21. Ross County manager John Hughes.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Rangers(5) v Ross County(0). 23.01.21. Ross County manager John Hughes.

The Staggies are currently one place and one point ahead of Motherwell, although the Steelmen do have two games in hand.

Hughes said after County’s 5–0 defeat at Rangers last Saturday that tomorrow’s match was the one they could really be judged on, and three points would go a long way to heap the pressure on an under-performing group at Fir Park.

County’s manager expects a difficult contest because of the quality that Motherwell have, but is optimistic that his side can come out on top in Dingwall.

“They are around about us and we want to extend that lead, hopefully, to four points,” Hughes said.

“We know what is at stake. We are under no illusions how difficult it will be because Motherwell are in a false position, that’s for sure.

“They have internationalists, they are a good side and in Graham Alexander they have a good manager.

“It will be very difficult but if we have aspirations to remain in this league then we have to make sure we are picking up the three points.”

Tomorrow’s match will be one of the biggest of County’s season so far, but Hughes was typically bullish about the effect pressure could have on his squad.

“If you want to come to play football without any pressure then you are better not coming into it,” he said.

“It is all part of it. You have to thrive on that and turn that and the disappointments into your fuel.

“There is no point letting it affect you, they need to embrace the pressure and use it as their energy source to prove people wrong or to go and win games.

“The boys are taking it on because they are a good honest bunch of boys.

“I am confident that if these boys keep doing what they are doing in training, then they will have enough to stay in the league.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More