Ross County midfielder Martin Woods reckons the Staggies are a threat to any team in the Premiership.
County’s 1-0 win against St Johnstone on Tuesday moved Jim McIntyre’s men 13 points clear of bottom-placed St Mirren, who were thrashed 5-0 by a Motherwell side three points behind in 11th spot.
County’s victory was its seventh in eight games and came just three days after the 2-1 win against Dundee United at Tannadice.
It caps a remarkable turnaround in form for the Dingwall side, which was six points adrift at the bottom of the league at the beginning of February.
Woods believes the last two wins in particular, against sides in the top six, show County mean business regardless of the opposition.
The 29-year-old believes United, in particular, underestimated the challenge and said: “It’s important we keep turning out performances in every game. We’re doing it time and again.
“We are not shrinking violets. We’re up for it and we can see a couple of clubs above us getting drawn into the relegation issue as well.
“I’d say they need to start watching their backs, if they’re not already doing so. Partick and Kilmarnock will be looking at the league and panicking a bit now.
“We’re right on their tails and they’ve a couple of tough games coming up.
“In certain games we’ve been taken too lightly, although I don’t think that’s the case now.
“I thought that was the case on Saturday against Dundee United. I felt they disrespected us with the way they set up. I didn’t feel they were organised enough. It was a case of them thinking their players were better.
“I don’t think they are. Anybody who takes us lightly now is in for a tough game.
“We’re striving for high standards and all the players are pushing each other on. If somebody isn’t having the best of games, somebody else is digging them out. That’s the mark of a good team.”
Woods believes manager McIntyre is finally being rewarded for his perseverance in attempting to find a settled side, and the former Sunderland and Leeds United player added: “It was hard to imagine, but I always knew if we could take our chances and defend properly, it was only a matter of time before we put a run together.
“But I don’t think anybody could have imagined what we’ve done so far.
“We’ve been firmly in most games this season but we’ve now found a formula where everybody is looking after their own man, working hard as a group and gaining the benefits.
“It was hard because the manager was trying to find that formula and chopping and changing the team a lot.
“We’ve now managed to find a formation and a style, with the personnel now mostly staying the same. That builds confidence.”