Ross County defender Tom Griviosti has hailed the Staggies’ resolve in dealing with a hectic schedule to move within touching distance of winning the Championship title.
County moved eight points clear of second placed Dundee United courtesy of Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Dunfermline at Victoria Park. Should Robbie Neilson’s side fail to defeat Ayr United on Friday, County will have the opportunity to secure top spot with a victory at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Their encounter with the Pars was County’s eighth match in exactly a month and although he accepts it has not been pretty at times, Englishman Grivosti feels his side have shown impressive determination.
Grivosti said: “It’s hard when we’re playing so many games – you’re looking at the schedule and thinking we might struggle.
“We have won two and drawn one and we have to take the positives out of that. Looking at the performances of late, we have just been grinding out results.
“The fatigue shows in the end when we’ve got four games in 10 days.
“The lads have been brilliant at just grinding out results. At the end of the day, that’s what you need when you are winning the league.
“We can be happy with ourselves. We know we can play better but we are getting the results and that’s all that matters.”
Grivosti insists County must be ready to capitalise on any United slip up against Ayr, adding: “We can’t take our foot off the gas. We just have to concentrate on our game on Saturday.
“If we get a boost from a result on Friday night, so be it.
“We just have to fully concentrate on our game, and what will happen will happen.
“We can’t concentrate on what we can’t affect.”
Grivosti’s second half winner against Dunfermline was his first senior goal, with the 19-year-old having joined from Bolton Wanderers in 2017 before making the breakthrough this term, making 16 appearances so far.
He added: “It’s a proud moment for myself. Richie Brittain was in telling me to soak it all in because it only happens once.
“I’m just made up. It’s a good time to get my first goal, to get us a 1-0 victory. It has worked out perfect.
“We practice our set-pieces on a Friday. I didn’t start so I was not involved, so I just kind of did my own thing – I didn’t know the routine.
“I just ran in the box, got to the front post and got my head on it. It was a bit of luck but thankfully I got the goal.
“There was no masterplan, it was all just off the cuff, but it worked out well.”