Home   Sport   Article

Ross County aim to stay undefeated at home as Dundee United head to Dingwall


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!

Experienced midfielder Ross Draper sees tomorrow’s match against Dundee United as a chance for Ross County to continue their impressive home form.

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(2) v Kilmarnock(2). 12.08.20. Ross County's Ross Draper went so very close to scoring in the opening minute when he used his knee on the ball to try to beat Kilmarnock 'keeper Danny Rogers.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(2) v Kilmarnock(2). 12.08.20. Ross County's Ross Draper went so very close to scoring in the opening minute when he used his knee on the ball to try to beat Kilmarnock 'keeper Danny Rogers.

There was a notable difference in County’s home and away form last season, with the Global Energy Stadium a much happier hunting ground for the Staggies.

So it will have brought a smile to their faces when they saw that three of their first four Premiership matches of the 2020/21 season would take place in Dingwall, with United’s trip north tomorrow rounding off that run.

Micky Mellon’s newly promoted side lost out to Hibernian at Tannadice on Tuesday night, and with the Staggies unbeaten through their first three league games for the first time in the top flight, Draper thinks the game is a chance for County to extend that run even further.

“We want to win all our home games and make this as hard a place as possible for teams to come,” the 31-year-old said.

“We started well at home with the Motherwell result, and keeping an unbeaten run is important to us.

“Dundee United have had a bag of mixed results, so they will come here wanting to bounce back. We will do everything we can to try and win the game.”

Much has been made this season of playing games behind closed doors.

No fans in attendance creates an entirely different atmosphere for the players, but so far that does not seem to have been an issue for County, who dragged themselves from 2–1 down against Kilmarnock to claim a point on Wednesday.

“It’s a strange one really,” Draper admitted.

“We played down at Parkhead in pre-season and it was dead, which was probably where we saw the difference.

“With all due respect, it’s maybe not as big a difference for teams like ourselves.

“Maybe we will use that to our advantage in any small percentages we can.

“Home games are important for us so we want to try and kick on, and Saturday is an opportunity for that.”

Draper gave County the lead against Kilmarnock, scoring his first goal in nearly two-and-a-half years to put the Dingwall outfit ahead in the first half.

Killie came out refocused for the second half though, and two goals in a seven-minute spell from Alan Power and Chris Burke turned the game on its head.

Ross Stewart’s penalty 11 minutes from time was the saving grace for County, but manager Stuart Kettlewell claimed responsibility for his side falling behind.

“We have no right to dominate any game from start to finish, but we did dominate a lot of the first half and I thought we had a decent chunk of the second half,” Kettlewell said.

“Kilmarnock came right back into it and were more expansive in the second half, but we did dominate large parts of the game which I’m really pleased about.

“I always know the opposition, whoever we play against, will have something in the game – whether it be direct or trying to play through us. The frustration for me was we conceded two goals in that spell. I thought we’d maybe weathered a storm.

“It was from us being in possession that we concede so I’ve just said to the players, I take full responsibility for that by asking them to try to pass the ball and try to be creative.

“These guys can punish you and we know that.”

For more sport news click here.


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