Ross County goalkeeper Scott Fox feels he and the Staggies defenders must cut out the mistakes to ease the pressure on leading scorer Liam Boyce.
The Staggies have conceded 54 goals this season, with only Motherwell and Caley Thistle letting in more. Jim McIntyre’s men have keept only five clean sheets all season.
Fox accepted he was at fault for Patrick Roberts’ goal in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Celtic, with Boyce equalising from the spot in the final minute to salvage a point.
Fox feels defensive lapses have cost his side this season and the former Partick Thistle goalkeeper feels he and his team-mates can do more to take the heat off Boyce, who has netted 17 times this season.
Fox said: “As defenders, we feel we have conceded too many goals this season. We can make excuses here and there but we want to keep more clean sheets.
“Liam Boyce has scored a number of goals for us again this season, he’s been brilliant. As defenders and me, as a goalkeeper, we need to keep more clean sheets and defend better.
“It’s down to basic mistakes. I was at fault for Celtic’s second goal on Sunday, so we all need to cut them out and I don’t see it being a problem.”
With five games remaining, County are three points above Dundee, who occupy the relegation play-off position, and take on Caley Thistle at Victoria Park a week today.
Having missed out on their target of a top-six place, County are aiming to finish as the best of the rest of the Premiership but Fox is refusing to cast his eyes any further than steering clear of a relegation dogfight.
Fox said: “We want to get away from the relegation play-off position quickly. We want to make it mathematically impossible for us to go down as soon as we can. That’s our main objective now.
“It is going to be tight and there will be twists and turns, so we can’t look too far ahead. We want to get the job done first then maybe take it from there.
“We know it will still be difficult. We are not under any illusions, we are still there or thereabouts. The next two or three games are massive for us.”