Ross County midfielder Lewis Spence is looking no further than tonight’s Premiership opponents Hibernian for inspiration to turn their campaign around.
County are without a win in their last nine games in a run stretching back to September 21, with the Staggies aiming to end that streak when Hibs visit Victoria Park this evening.
Hibs’ struggles near the foot of the table saw manager Paul Heckingbottom sacked last month and replaced by Jack Ross, with the Easter Road outfit taking 10 points from a possible 12 to move into the top half.
Spence hopes County can enjoy a similar revival, and he said: “Look at Hibs, they were down at the bottom but then they won three and now they’re sixth. If we can get two or three good results, a couple of wins then you’re right up there.
“The flip side of that is that if you keep losing games and not picking up points, then you’re going to start going down the table.
“It’s a busy period coming up in December, there’s a lot of games, so we need to start picking up points and we can only do that starting on Wednesday.
“Every team will go through a bad run, maybe except from the top two.
“You look at Hibs and Hearts, the run they’ve been on, but now Hibs have picked up.
“We can’t just keep the run going, because that’s when you start looking down and thinking we’re in a bit of trouble here. We’re confident of turning it around, we believe in the squad and the managers.
“It’s all right talking about it, but we need to get on to the park and do it. This is a not bad chance at home and hopefully if we can get three points that will kick us on again.”
Tonight’s visit of Hibs is followed by another home game against Kilmarnock next Saturday, and Spence is eager to restore the Dingwall fear-factor that helped the Staggies achieve promotion from the Championship last term.
The 23-year-old added: “The home games are vital, because it’s our home crowd.
“Last season we had really good home form, and we want to get back to that.
“A lot of teams don’t like coming up here with the travel and the weather, it’s a tight pitch too. We need to make it like a wee fortress here if we can.
“We’re looking forward to every game to be honest, but against the teams round about us those are the games we’re looking to get three points.”
Spence missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury, but has returned to start County’s last six games.
The former Dundee midfielder added: “I’m back up and running now. I had a shoulder operation that kept me out for four months or so, but I’m happy to be back in the team and back involved with the lads.
“Obviously I want to get some victories in there as well, and I think we will do that – we’re a confident bunch.”