Our turn to attack

McIntyre urges attacking zest from side

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has challenged his players to show their attacking abilities in tomorrow’s Premiership home match against St Johnstone after being forced to dig deep to record goalless draws against Rangers and Hearts.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has challenged his players to show their attacking abilities in tomorrow’s Premiership home match against St Johnstone.

The Staggies dug deep to record goalless draws against Rangers at Ibrox and Hearts at Tynecastle, coming under heavy pressure in both matches.

Home comforts for County tomorrow against Saints, however, and despite winning just one of their last eight matches against the Perth club, McIntyre wants his side to do more attacking against Tommy Wright’s men.

McIntyre said: “We were set up to be defensive and play on the counter and didn’t create too many opportunities against Hearts and Rangers, but still came away with good results.

“Now we’re back athome and we want to make sure we’re more on the front foot.

“If we do that, we’ll create more chances.

“We passed the ball really well against Hearts, the possession statistics show that, but need to get in positions to hurt the opposition.

“Hearts played on the counter-attack and we got done a fewtimes, especially in the first half where we controlled a lot of the ball.

“We need to do better, although when our goalkeeper Scott Fox was called on he made good saves.”

County’s two impressive clean sheets have coincided with the return of defender Marcus Fraser, who had an operation on his shoulder injury at the end of last season, with McIntyre happy the 22-year-old is in competition

“Now we’re back at home we want to make sure we’re on the front foot”

for the right back berth with summer signing Erik Cikos. McIntyre added: “Marcushad to bide his time after surgery and Erik came in, but there is no doubt he was our standout player at Tynecastle.

“That competition he knows he faces is something he maybe didn’t have last season, which does bring out the best in him and long may that continue.”