Fergie tells County to respond to Cup shock
BY ALASDAIR FRASER
STEVEN FERGUSON believes hurt and anger should put extra fire in Ross Counties’ bellies tonight against Hearts.
But the Staggies co-manager will warn his players to beware an opposition side with every bit as much to prove.
Ferige slammed his side for their Scottish exit at Ayr but is glad they have a chance to bounce back.
He said: “I don’t think anybody connected with the club would accept that performance. We now have an opportunity, very quickly, to put that to bed by improving hugely on what we did on Saturday.
“We’ve been consistent in our message since Saturday – that sort of performance is not going to be tolerated.
“The only way we can really put it to bed is by going out and showing our own supporters and everyone else it doesn’t happen too often at Ross County. We certainly believe in the players – there’s no loss in belief. Stuart Kettlewell and I take responsibility but the players have to take some sort of responsibility as well – and they have collectively.
“We can’t tolerate the lack of intensity and poor body language and we can’t tolerate other people working harder than us.
“At a team like Ross County, if that happens it is very difficult to win any game.
“We should be hurt and we should be angry, which we are. How we perform will say a lot about our character.
“The values Stuart and I have tried to build are about togetherness, neversay-die attitude, intensity to our play.
“I’m sure Hearts, more than anybody, will want the focus back on the football.
“They’ll feel they can do that.”