Ross County captain Andrew Davies is confident his team-mates are fully focused on league ambitions despite the distraction of next month’s looming League Cup final.
The defender conceded Saturday’s performance in the 3-0 home defeat to Dundee United fell well below the standards set this season by Jim McIntyre’s team and is looking to bounce back quickly at Kilmarnock tomorrow night.
Very little clicked for County in what was at times a strangely sluggish show.
Davies, the former Middlesbrough and Bradford City defender, said: “It was one of those games. Everyone’s very disappointed, but now we have a game on Tuesday to hopefully put it right.
“It was a game we desperately wanted to win, but it just wasn’t our day. We never seemed to get going and that isn’t like us. It was just so frustrating.
“All teams get games when things like this through the season. We’ve got to be realistic. We’re still in the top six and have to go to Kilmarnock on Tuesday and perform a lot better to get a result.
“Dundee United maybe surprised a few people, but not me. I knew they were going to be a good team. They are deservedly where they are for the results they have had, but they’ve got good players.
“We were aware of that before the game, but unfortunately it just didn’t happen.”
There were no easy explanations for County’s bad day at the office, although manager Jim McIntyre felt four or five of his players were well below par.
Davies acknowledged: “Some people just seemed to be a little bit off their best. I’m an experienced player and know you can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t run around and win contests it is going to be tough.
“It was one of those days but the players have been fantastic all year. We’ve just got to move on from this and go away on Tuesday. If we get a win on Tuesday, it’s put to bed.
“The players were annoyed. They’re an honest bunch and want to win. We have an aim this year to finish in the top six and have a cup final coming up and want to go into that game full of confidence.
“I don’t think the cup final was a factor. Certainly, personally it’s not. As the manager has said, the league is our focus, the cup competitions are just a bonus.
“Whatever happens in the final, it’s absolutely fantastic for us to have got there, but we have to finish top six, that’s our aim and that’s what we all set out to do.
“We’re still on track, but have to perform a lot better.”