Ross County manager Jim McIntyre is determined to ensure the Staggies are in the Premiership’s top six by the time their Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Dundee United comes around in January.
County were drawn at home to United on Monday and will take on the Championship team at Victoria Park on the weekend of January 21 and 22 in their first game after the three-week winter break.
The Dingwall men are eighth after taking four points from a possible six from their last two matches against St Johnstone and Hamilton Accies, with only goal difference separating them from sixth-placed Motherwell.
County play six league matches before the turn of the year and McIntyre wants his side to go into the break full of confidence ahead of a tricky cup tie against the Arabs, who defeated the Highlanders 3-2 in last year’s competition.
McIntyre said: “There’s no doubt it is one of the tougher ties of the round. United have been flying. Ray has done a fabulous job there.
“They got off to a bit of a slow start but have come on really strong. That’s understandable as he has a new team there. He’s trying to fit everyone in, new personnel.
“He looks as if he has his settled squad now and the players know each other.
“We face a really tough tie but we’re at home. We’ll look forward to that game when it comes around but we’ve got a lot of very important league business before then – six matches.
“That’s all the focus is on. We want to make sure we’re going into the break back in that top six. That’s the aim. We’ve got six games to achieve that. The cup game will then look after itself.”
County take on Hearts in their next match on Saturday, with Jambos head coach Robbie Neilson poised to join English League One side MK Dons after tonight’s Premiership match against Rangers.
Despite the doubt over who will be in the away dugout at Victoria Park this weekend, McIntyre is not surprised to see Neilson attract attention, adding: “We’ll need to wait and see what happens. Robbie has done a terrific job. All credit goes to him, Stevie Crawford and his team. They’ve obviously taken Hearts back up and then cemented that with a strong finish in the league.
“When a young manager does well like that, and fits the type of profile MK Dons are looking for, then it is no surprise.”