Michael Gardyne believes familiarity is breeding success at Ross County.
The Staggies have moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference after a three-match winning run and as they go in search of a fourth win today on-loan Dundee United midfielder Gardyne believes having a settled starting 11 has been crucial to the club’s revival.
He said: “Getting three wins on the bounce has been massive.
“We haven’t won back-to-back games all season, so to win three games has been great but we’re still down at the bottom of the league and it’s the games coming up which matter now.
“Before these three games the manager had no choice but to change the team as we were not doing the business but since getting that first win we’ve helped him by giving him the chance to keep the same team.
“We’re building relationships now and it’s the first time I’ve played with Martin Woods behind me in every game and we’ve also got Liam Boyce and Craig Curran working together well as an attacking partnership, too.”
Gardyne has been part of the winning run and his performances will be key in the remaining 11 matches in the division.
He has added incentive to do well as his contract at United expires in the summer and he knows a strong showing in his second spell at County will alert suitors.
He said: “Everyone is playing for their future and we want to keep County in this division.
“I’ve not heard much from Dundee United, County is my only focus. It was nice to come back to a club where the supporters appreciate what I’d done before.”
Partick Thistle stand between the Staggies and a fourth win in a row today and with their three rivals at the bottom of the league – Motherwell, St Mirren and the Jags – all winning last weekend Gardyne knows the importance of continuing to pick up points as the race to avoid the drop intensifies.
He said: “If we can keep the run going we will see where we are come the split but the games afterwards will be massive.
“No one wants to go down automatically and the play-offs look really tough, too, with the possibility of playing Hibs, Rangers, Queen of the South or Falkirk.”