Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell insists the Staggies need no warning over the consequences of failing to find consistency in the second half of their Premiership campaign.
County marked the midway point of the season with Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Motherwell, which leaves them eighth in the table, five points ahead of Hamilton Accies in the relegation play-off spot.
Kettlewell and fellow co-manager Steven Ferguson were unable to save the Staggies from relegation when they took over from Owen Coyle nearly two years ago, with the Dingwall men ending a dire campaign with only six victories.
Kettlewell says past experience proves any complacency from the Staggies in the second half of the campaign will be punished.
He said: “If you stand still in the Premiership you will get caught on the hop.
“We found that out two seasons ago when we couldn’t find any consistency or form and we were relegated from the league.
“You could make argument that we didn’t deserve it or whatever, but we were relegated for a reason. We take our share in that because we had a hand in it for 10 games.
“We are not going to make any excuses. Players are paid to come and perform in the Premiership.
“Everybody says they want to play in the Premiership against the best players, but with that comes an added pressure and a real challenge to test yourself.
“When you’re giving yourself a number out of 10, you need to be a seven most weeks in the worst-case scenario – but can you get an eight or nine?
“If you fall below that you are going to find it exceptionally difficult. We need to find a level of consistency.
“That comes down to us as staff and the players. If we can’t find that, we are going to look for a solution.”
County hope to have striker Lee Erwin available following illness when they sign off for the winter shutdown away to St Johnstone today.
Kettlewell insists fatigue will not be a factor following the Boxing Day loss to Well and has challenged his side to sign off on 2019 on a positive note.
He said: “The games come thick and fast at this time of year. There is very little in the way of training. It’s just a case of making sure we know what we are playing against and we know what the gameplan is.
“We need to try and get the players as fresh as they possibly can be.
“We are all saying the same. It’s no different for us than it is for anybody else.
“We never use that as an excuse. The more you can reel out games, the better. You start to find that level of consistency.
“You see some of the top teams doing it constantly over the course of the season, so I believe we are equipped well enough to do it as well.”