Malky Mackay believes Ross County have shown they can take the rough with the smooth in the Premiership.
County make the trip to Celtic this weekend, in their final match before the winter break.
The Staggies go into the match high in confidence, following back-to-back wins over St Mirren and Hibernian which have moved them three points clear of the relegation zone.
County had previously struggled to string form together, with the low point of the campaign coming in a 5-0 home reverse to Motherwell in early October.
Mackay feels that result was symptomatic of a fiercely competitive Premiership, however he is pleased his side have shown it to be a one-off occurrence.
He said: “We were desperately disappointed that night, without a doubt.
“In the first half we were worthy of a really tight, close game. In the second half, we pushed and it ran away from us.
“I think that could happen at any point. At the start of the season Livingston got beaten 5-0 up at Aberdeen, and they have gone and beaten them recently.
“It’s a very tight league. We saw St Johnstone, with 10 men, equalising in the last minute at St Mirren.
“Dundee United also came out with a result like they did against Kilmarnock, which probably wouldn’t have been on the cards.
“It’s going to be a really tight league. When we look at it from third all the way down, nobody has really grabbed that third spot right now. But it’s early days.
“It was the exact same last year, and I think it’s an even stronger league this year.
“I look at some of the finances that have been spent, and what might happen in January with some teams.
“It’s going to be a situation where there’s a lot of nip and tuck. On any given day, anybody can beat anybody here.
“St Mirren did it against Celtic a few weeks ago.”
Staggies eager to embrace Parkhead test
Mackay, who made 10 new additions during the summer, hopes players making their first trip to Parkhead relish the opportunity to test themselves.
He added: “We are going to the champions down at Parkhead. It doesn’t get any harder than that.
“As I said before Tuesday night, we were at a lovely stadium with a lot of people on a great surface and the players should embrace that.
“They should also embrace this. It’s one of the reasons I spoke to some of the players about coming to join us, to experience Parkhead and Ibrox.
“On Saturday we experience 60,000 people at Parkhead. They should desperately want to play against the best in the country.”
Mackay thrilled with Harmon’s goal threat
George Harmon has emerged as an unlikely goalscoring threat, with the left back netting twice in his last two matches.
Mackay feels Harmon’s goals have come as a reward for his determination to impress, following his summer switch from English sixth-tier side Oxford City.
The Staggies boss added: “No matter who it is, it’s about people getting into the box.
“I’m really delighted for George. He’s one of those stories of someone bouncing back, he was probably desperately disappointed to end a long time in West Brom’s academy when he was released.
“George threw himself into the sixth tier of English football with Oxford City. He was going into a men’s league at that age – and you sink or swim there.
“He swam well, to the point our recruitment team looked at him and thought of him as a possible succession plan for years to come.
“Like anything, when someone comes into the building you see what they are like. He did great.”
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