Ross County defender Kenny van der Weg feels the Staggies have the stamina required for another quick turnaround ahead of tonight’s crucial Championship match against Ayr United.
County produced a superb comeback to win 4-2 against Partick Thistle on Saturday, having been defeated following extra-time and penalties in last Tuesday’s Scottish Cup last-16 tie against Inverness.
Tonight’s match could have a huge bearing on the title race, with leaders County able to open up an eight-point gap on second-placed Ayr with a game in hand should they win, and Dutchman van der Weg is confident the Staggies will rally for another big display against the Honest Men.
Van der Weg said: “Tiredness is partly in the mind, but with the number of games we’ve played and with extra-time on Tuesday, you feel it a bit in the body, even if it is in your head.
“In the second half against Partick Thistle we gave everything and showed how much power we still had. That shows how strong we are and how hard we fight for each other.
“We will recover and if you see how much power we had left in the second half after all the games, we are strong enough to go again.”
Van der Weg believes Saturday’s Firhill fightback, in which the Staggies overturned a 2-0 half time deficit, shows the Dingwall men have the character required to turn adversity on its head in their pursuit of the title, adding: “We have come from behind to get a result in a few games. If the opposition scores a goal, we still feel we can get a goal and get the win.
“I felt we showed a lot of character in the second half against Partick Thistle.
“In the first half, we maybe looked tired – it is hard to play so many games. Coming back from 2-0 down just shows how good we are and how many good players we have. It was really good from the team.”
Van der Weg returned for a second spell at Dingwall in January, having initially left last January prior to the Staggies’ relegation to the top flight before going on to have spells with Hamilton Accies and Belgian club KSV Roeselare.
The 28-year-old says the Staggies must rise to the task of being on the front foot, adding: “I have found it good. The Championship is different – most of the time in the Premiership, the other teams had the ball.
“In defence we were good, but now we need to make the game and play. Even 1-0 down we need to keep going – find solutions and score the goal – but so far we have done well.
“This game against Ayr is so important. If we win it will be really good business – we will have 11 games left with a game in hand. It is good to get some breathing space.”