Yan Dhanda believes Ross County’s supporters are starting to see what he can offer Malky Mackay’s side.
Attacking midfielder Dhanda’s summer arrival from Swansea City was greeted with much excitement among the County faithful.
Although he was given limited starting opportunities in the early weeks of the campaign, he has broken into the Staggies side in recent weeks.
Dhanda’s impressive performances have helped County pick up form, with back-to-back wins over St Mirren and Hibernian moving them off the foot of the Premiership.
The 23-year-old provided the assist for George Harmon’s opener in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Easter Road.
Dhanda senses a connection building between County’s side and the Dingwall support.
He said: “I see a little bit from fans, there’s always some good and some bad.
“I’m just happy to be playing football again. I love creating, and it’s nice when people think you are doing well and like your style of play.
“I appreciate that when I see it.
“In the games against Hearts and St Mirren at home, we certainly felt the fans were really with us and enjoyed our style of play.
“We were playing really well. We obviously didn’t win against Hearts, but we still felt the fans were proud of the performance.
“We could feel a difference, which is nice.”
Killie match a turning point
Although County only returned to winning ways against the Buddies on Saturday, Dhanda felt results had been brewing for several weeks.
He pinpointed the narrow 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock on October 22 as being a turning point.
Dhanda added: “It helps when you are getting the results, but I think the Kilmarnock game was probably the biggest change.
“We weren’t getting too many results before that, but something clicked in that game.
“We didn’t get the three points, but we felt more comfortable as a team and knew each other’s roles.
“From that game we started to realise we are good, we can pass it around and create chances.
“Since then we have just kept building and now started to pick up some points.
“Last year the team did very well and finished in the top-six. This time last year, it wasn’t as many points as we have now.
“If we take confidence from that, and keep training and playing the way we do, I think we have to try our best to get up there.
“We have beaten Hibs and St Mirren who are doing really well. Given they are higher up the league, if we continue with the way we are playing and the group sticks together, I think we can do it again.”
Dhanda keen to rise to Celtic challenge
County play their final game before the winter break on Saturday, when they make the trip to Celtic.
Although Dhanda is aware of the challenges that await the Staggies at Parkhead, he is eager for his side to stamp their own mark on the game.
He added: “When you go away to Celtic, they are a possession based team and it’s going to be difficult.
“There are going to be moments in the game where we don’t have the ball, and it’s uncomfortable.
“We are playing against a massive team who were in the Champions League. We have to respect that we aren’t going to have the ball as much.
“On the other hand, if we want to get a result we have to be tidy on it and create chances to score.
“There’s a bit of both needed.”
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