Ross County midfielder Ross Draper says the Staggies will be able to take their late Scottish Cup exit at Kilmarnock on the chin if they return to winning ways in the Premiership at Motherwell on Wednesday.
County were defeated 1-0 by Killie on Saturday courtesy of Lee Erwin’s 88th-minute penalty, which came after Tim Chow was red-carded for a foul on Rory McKenzie.
The result means County must now solely focus on league matters as they look to address their current Premiership position which sees them three points adrift at the foot of the table.
With 16 games remaining, former Caley Thistle midfielder Draper knows league matters take priority and said: “For us, the cup is not a major issue. We need to get back to winning ways in the league and we start on Wednesday.
“It’s not nice when we’re bottom. We’ve had a month to go away and try to enjoy the time off with our families, when really we just want to get going again.
“We want to try and pick up as many points as we can and close the gap.
“We’ve got a chance to try and put that right in the games coming up.”
Draper felt Bobby Madden’s penalty award was harsh but the Englishman is determined to build on the encouraging aspects of County’s display.
He added: “We put 88 minutes of hard graft in, but a bit of bad luck at the end and we go home. That’s football sometimes.
“There has always been the determination, that has never been questioned. We will take the positives.
“I’ve seen the penalty back and I can understand why he gave it because Tim had his arm stretched out. But it was not a pushing motion, it was just a desperation of trying to feel where he is, in case he stopped running and he ploughed into the back of him.
“I think the lad has stretched, taken a touch then stumbled because of his stretch and gone down.
“I think it’s a soft one – sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.
“We didn’t get the luck but if we lose this one and then win on Wednesday it is not a big problem.”