Kettlewell is keeping faith that Ross County can claim scalps of top six sides in Premiership
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Stuart Kettlewell is urging his players to revel in the challenge of tackling four of Scotland’s top six teams over the next month – and look to create shockwaves.
Having drawn plaudits from a deceptively close-fought encounter with Celtic, despite the ultimately crushing scoreline, the Ross County manager knows his team are playing well.
But tomorrow’s difficult Perth trip will be prelude to a clutch of even more formidable tests, with league matches against three of the top four – Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs – next up.
There will be no room for the faint-hearted in those games given the quality and form of the big city clubs.
Kettlewell, though, wants to ensure his players approach the testing September and October sequence with zest, hunger and positivity.
With St Johnstone – a team they drew three times with last season – and those subsequent matches in mind, the 36-year-old is convinced County have the potential to upset a few expectations given the quality of their recent play.
“We said we wanted to amass points early in the season and then you look at a tough run of fixtures,” Kettlewell said. “But if you are not embracing that or enjoying it then you probably shouldn’t be here.
“I look at the current run, playing Celtic and Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs who are flying, and St Johnstone next.
“I embrace that. As players and management, it gives you an opportunity to take it to another level yourself.
“If you can add that result in there as well and pitch in points I think it gives everyone a huge boost.”
Kettlewell is content with County’s start to the season, with the Staggies presently tucked in as best of the rest behind the big city four hitting a rich seam of form.
But he knows they could have achieved better and is acutely aware of the need to turn plaudits for decent football into the hard currency of points.
“There’s only three points between ourselves and the bottom of the table,” he said.
“That shows you everyone has had a couple of good weeks so far. It’s vitally important you are on your mettle every single week. If not, then you find yourself starting to get cut adrift.
“It can be hard to get out of that rut, so it’s important you keep chipping away at the points tally and keep turning in performances home and away because it builds confidence.
“I genuinely believe that at some point, with the chances we’ve been creating and the type of football we have been playing, then we will go and score three or four goals in a game. It wouldn’t surprise me.
“But I’d also like to bring back that clean sheet element we had in our first two games. We were solid and giving away very few chances in all situations.
“It’s important we get that blend back into the team.”
Kettlewell has been monitoring the fitness of Billy Mckay, Ross Draper and Connor Randall after those players picked up niggles and knocks in the defeat to Celtic last weekend.
Read the full edition of today's Ross-shire Journal here.
