Dhanda warns Rangers that County will be a different proposition
YAN DHANDA is warning Rangers that Ross County are now a different beast to the one brushed aside with ease at Ibrox.
The Staggies meekly succumbed to a 4- 0 defeat at Ibrox as a new- look squad struggled through August, before taking a 4- 1 beating at home to Celtic the following week.
Prior to the World Cup break, though, Malky Mackay’s side held Celtic to 0- 0 at half- time in Glasgow before taking the lead.
While they were eventually beaten 2- 1 after replies from David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic, they emerged with great credit.
Dhanda, the former Swansea City attacker, admits the performance has fuelled a belief in the County camp that they can hold their own against Michael Beale’s men in Dingwall.
The Tipton- born 24- year- old said: “You have to realise when you play against Celtic, Hearts and Rangers you are probably not going to have as much of the ball as you would like.
“You get prepared for that mentally before the game, so we know what we have to do.
“We know when we do have the ball, we have to take care of it. When we get chances, we need to make the most of them and punish them.
“Earlier this season, the game against Rangers was difficult. We were a new squad.
“But we went to Celtic before the World Cup and went 1- 0 up, and nearly got the win.
“It shows how far we have come, and how well we have been playing in the last few games.
“Hopefully on Friday we can show we have improved as a squad. We have come together and we will give Rangers a really tough game.
“I’m really excited to be playing one of the biggest teams in the league. Hopefully we can go out there and play really well to get three points.
“It’s going to be a difficult game. With the way we have been playing we obviously haven’t got the results, but in the last game and against Celtic we went 1- 0 up.
“We just have to believe, like we always do, and I think we have a right chance against Rangers – especially being at home.”
With a good home crowd expected and Rangers buoyant after their dramatic late Pittodrie heroics, Dhanda expects a great atmosphere for the Friday night fixture.
He said: “Everyone is excited about the game. With a Friday night game on the television, it doesn’t get much better than that.
“It’s everything you want to play football for, to play against the biggest teams live on the television.
“Everyone has been training well and hopefully we can get a result.
“When you play against Celtic, Rangers and Hearts – the big teams in the league – that’s the ones you
want to be playing in, to show what you can do.”
Dhanda recaptured a regular starting place after Ross Callachan’s injury in October and has been pivotal in improved performances from Mackay’s men.
The victories over St Mirren and Hibs revitalised the Staggies’ challenge, although the 10- man Perth defeat last weekend was a blow.
Clearly finding his feet now in the physical Scottish game, Dhanda feels County as a team are improving week by week.
He said: “We have always trained well as a team but when there are new faces, it does take a while to click. Everyone has seen that happening now.
“In the last few games we have really shown what we can do by getting leads, and even wins.
“On Friday I think we will show what we can do against Rangers.
“Jordan White and I have developed a really good partnership. We speak quite often and he knows when he gets into positions where I am going to put the ball.
“I don’t even have to look, as I know he’s going to be there.
“I know if I get a good delivery, nine times out of 10 Jordan is going to get the first contact on it and put it in the net.
“The time we have spent together in training and on the pitch is starting to show now.
“It’s not just me and him, there are partnerships forming in the team all over the pitch.
“I think if we continue like this, we have a right good chance of getting some good results.
“I’m feeling really fit and very confident. It’s probably the most confident I have been in a while.
“When I’m on the pitch I know at some point I’m going to create a chance, so I’m feeling good.
“It is a busy spell of matches but I think it’s going to be good spell for us. As a player, you just want to be waking up and having a game in a couple of days.
“It’s the best feeling, but we have to make the most of it and get the wins.”