October could define season for Ross County, says defender Harry Clarke
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Ross County defender Harry Clarke believes results this month could prove to be make or break for the club’s season.
After a tough start that saw them play the entire top half of last season, the Staggies are still searching for their first league win of the campaign.
Over the next few weeks, though, County come up against teams who would be expected to finish closer to them in the Premiership, starting with Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow.
So Clarke says that results in those matches could well dictate how the rest of County’s season plays out.
“It’s a great opportunity for us,” the 20-year-old insisted.
“We’re still yet to get a win, and we’re sitting down at the bottom which isn’t where we want to be.
“We need to start getting results as well as putting in good performances.
“Last weekend was probably the best we’ve played, but it doesn’t count for anything when you’re conceding goals in the last minute.
“We need to start putting points on the board, and Dundee United will be a tough test away from home but it’s nothing that the team and I won’t stand up to.
“We’ve had a tough start, the top five from last year in the first five games.
“Now we’ve got – not easy games, but easier games on paper – so it’s a big opportunity. I think October is going to be a defining month for us, and if we can start picking up points then we’ll be in a good place.”
There has been plenty of positivity around the performances County have put in so far this season, albeit without getting the rewards from them, but Clarke is set in his thinking that they cannot afford to dwell on disappointments.
“Not getting wins is going to play on your mind, obviously,” Clarke, on loan from Arsenal, reasoned.
“I’m not going to say it doesn’t affect me personally and other boys, but team morale is good.
“Boys are not coming in with their heads down and feeling sorry for ourselves. The gaffer tells us that as well, we have to move on to the next week.
“At Motherwell we played really well after the Hearts game where we were really down, conceding from the free kick. A similar thing happens at Motherwell, but you can’t dwell on it.
“It’s disappointing, we should be higher up the table on performances, but you’ve got to get on with it.”
