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Tough at top, tougher at bottom

Ross County co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson.
Ross County co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson.

It’s a big night for two of my former clubs but the pressure on Ross County is far greater than it is on Aberdeen.

The Dons head for Motherwell looking for a win which will take them clear of Rangers in the race for second place in the Premiership. Ross County would love to have that sort of pressure compared to the challenge they are facing of trying to keep their place in the top flight.

I’ve been involved at both ends of the table in my managerial career and I can tell you now competing for a title or a European place is nothing in comparison to the pressure at the bottom.

The pressure is relentless and as manager you carry the burden like a millstone around your neck. You don’t sleep well as you are consumed by thoughts of what will happen if the club goes down. You think of budgets being cut, players being moved on and staff losing their jobs.

It is horrible.

But as the manager you can’t show it and I’m sure Stuart Kettlewell and Stevie Ferguson are showing the strong mentality and leadership required in the Staggies’ time of need.

They know they can’t show any sort of fear. It’s time to face up the challenge head-on and keep the nerves at bay.

Tonight’s match against Partick Thistle is one of County’s biggest games of the season. The management team knows it’s a game which it has to find a way of winning.

It’s easier said than done when you are at the bottom though as clearly winning games has been hard to do if you are in that position in the first place. So how do you win? It’s a cliche but it’s the back to basics approach which works.

As a player make sure you don’t do anything silly, don’t concede daft goals and take your chances. If you are going to lose a goal make sure it’s one the other side earned, not one which was gift-wrapped.

Above all else don’t do anything daft like Andrew Davies did at Celtic on Saturday. The County captain’s challenge on Celtic’s Scott Brown was a shocker but it’s the knock-on effect which is really damaging. He left his side a man down and it’s very difficult at best of times to get a result at Parkhead but with 10 men it’s near impossible.

He is a key player for his club and the fact Davies apologised to his team-mates tells me it was a poor challenge but it’s tonight when he has to sit and watch from the sidelines that the folly of what he did will really hit him. His team-mates can soften that blow by beating Partick tonight.

The Jags will be feeling every bit as nervous as the Staggies and this game will be decided on who holds their nerve.