Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson says the Staggies have given themselves the ideal platform to resume their Championship title push following this weekend’s break from action.
County maintained their five-point lead at the top of the table courtesy of hard-fought victories over Partick Thistle and Ayr United last week, but have no game this weekend due to the Scottish Cup.
Ferguson feels the Staggies go into the break in buoyant mood ahead of their next game at home to Morton next Saturday, and he said: “We spoke on a couple of occasions prior to the two games knowing we had this break coming up.
“We felt we would be in a better place going into it psychologically by getting six points against Partick Thistle, who came down with us last year, and Ayr United who have been neck and neck with us all season.
“They were two huge games, and we believed if we managed to get the six points, we would go into this mini break with a bounce in our step.
“We now start the next wee phase. We know we are in a battle to win the Championship, there are dangerous teams around us.
“But it’s also really hotting up outside the top four. I got a real shock when I saw Dunfermline are two points behind Inverness now.
“That just shows it’s a brilliant league.”
Ferguson hopes the break can help some of the Staggies players recover from injury, with the likes of Iain Vigurs and Sean Kelly nearing a return.
He added: “I think we are the only team in Scotland that has not had a weekend off since the start of the season.
“It has come at a great time for us. It’s no secret the injuries we have had. Unfortunately some of them are so severe that a week is not enough to get them back, but there are certainly guys who have been carrying niggles or little things that have needed tidied up.
“This has given us a chance to give them a little time off before a full week’s training going into the Morton game.”