Ross County defender Keith Watson feels the pressure remains on Dundee United to keep pace with the Staggies at the top of the Championship.
United have closed the gap on County to just two points with a run of three league victories in a week, albeit the Staggies still have two games in hand.
Watson is aware of the impressive turnaround from his former club, who could have fallen 14 points adrift had they lost to the Staggies in a league encounter at Tannadice which they won 1-0 last Tuesday.
Watson knows his side face stiff competition in their pursuit of the title, but he insists Robbie Neilson’s men have less room for slip ups.
Watson said: “We’re in the driving seat at the moment. I’d much rather be in our position.
“We’ll just let them say what they want and we’ll get on with it. We only concentrate on ourselves.
“The only way we can shut them up and keep them quiet is by winning games. That’s what we’ll look to do.
“We’re obviously ahead of them in the league at the minute and they’re the ones who have to catch us. I’d say the pressure is probably on them more to keep up with us.
“We’ve got big games coming up. Alloa away on Saturday is a difficult game and one the boys will be looking forward to.
“It’s a good chance to get back to winning ways in the league.”
Having claimed one piece of silverware in Saturday’s IRN-BRU Cup triumph against Connah’s Quay Nomads at Caledonian Stadium, Watson is all the more hungry to add another trophy, with the 29-year-old adding: “It is great for spirit and bonding. Players can go entire careers without lifting trophies and we, as a team and group of players, have done it together.
“We enjoyed it that much we want to go and do it again.
“Singing last year, I never really thought I’d have lifted one trophy and potentially have the chance to win another one.
“The boys here all get on really well and fight for each other on the pitch, and have a great laugh off it as well. It’s a great bunch of boys and one I’d like to win more trophies with.
“Now all our focus is on the last eight league games and they’re going to all be massive. It’s eight cup finals, really – that’s the way we look at it.”
Watson netted a stoppage time winner when County last visited Recreation Park, and despite the Wasps occupying bottom spot in the table the Livingston-born player expects another close encounter.
He added: “It was a big goal for us and a big three points.
“Every time we’ve played Alloa they’ve given us a good go. They’re fighting for their lives at the other end of the table, but every game is difficult because every team is fighting for something.”