Captain Jack Baldwin says Ross County are "well-equipped" for frantic period of matches – starting with high-flying St Mirren in Dingwall
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Jack Baldwin is confident Ross County are well-equipped to handle a manic five games in a fortnight.
The Staggies’ squad was threadbare at times last season as it lurched towards the relegation play-offs but skipper Baldwin reckons shrewd summer signings and permanent deals have been transformational.
Having slipped to second bottom in the table, County certainly need to pick up points from a run of quickfire games against St Mirren, Dundee, Motherwell, Hibs and Celtic within 14 days.
But Baldwin stressed: “When you do get these congested fixture periods, when you are playing every Saturday and Tuesday, picking up results early on can take the momentum into the next game.
“You tend to not do too much work on the training pitch. With the way the manager and staff work, we do a lot of video analysis on the games.
“It will be more rest, recover and watch stuff back, then roll into the next game.
“If you can get a winning habit within that, things can change so quickly.
“It’s definitely a period we want to try and capitalise on.
“Are we equipped for it? We’ve got a massive squad this year.
“We’ve got lads that aren’t even making the squad, who would easily just fit into the first 11 at any given notice.
“We’ve definitely got the depth this year. They are all great lads who have committed permanent deals to the club.
“Previously we’ve had a lot of loan lads come in, but everyone has that settled mindset now.
“We’ve got this group together for the next few years and I think, mentally, that helps for the lads in and around it.”
County struggled last season but, in a good few past seasons, have tended to thrive once the games come thick and fast.
After the next international break, the frantic Christmas period will be key in determining where a large chunk of the points go within the Premiership table.
Baldwin stressed: “This winter period we’re coming into is a real pivotal time in the football season, as you play so many games.
“The results swing here, there and everywhere.
“In the first season I was here, we got that run together and we started creeping up the table.
“It’s all about momentum in these stages of the season.
“If you can get some results together you just roll into the next game, things feel good, and that will just continue into the next game.”
Manager Malky Mackay also emphasised the importance of grasping a lion’s share of points from looming matches.
He is relishing the intensity of the fight for places within his bulked up squad.
The County manager stressed: “They are all fighting for who takes the jersey, and who keeps it.
“The competition for places is healthy.
“It’s what I want - I want to be looking at people who are having to do all they can to hold on to the jersey.
“If they don’t, somebody is standing there and the ones I'm bringing on are actually giving them a run for their money.
“There are Saturday-Tuesday scenarios coming up - a really tough period of games and none more so than St Mirren.
“Steve Robinson is a good, experienced manager and someone who has done really well with St Mirren. They’ve looked like a real tough team to play this season.
“That’s what is coming to us at the weekend, but we love playing here and I’m delighted we have them at home..
“Certainly, in years gone by, we’ve done well at busy times of the season
“It is important to make sure we pick up as many points as we can.”
