The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Time to perform under title pressure
County winger issues rallying call
Ross County winger Davis Keillor-Dunn wants the Staggies to rise to the pressure of being Championship title favourites by moving to top spot with victory over Ayr United on Saturday.
County are two points adrift of leaders Ayr ahead of this weekend’s Victoria Park encounter, which will complete the opening round of second-tier fixtures.
Keillor-Dunn has challenged his side to send out a statement to rest of the league by moving to the summit and said: “We want to go out and win and put on a good performance for the fans.
“This could be the turning point – I think it’s a massive game.
“If we go top of the league then it’s our place to lose. We go out and try to win every game from now.
“I enjoy it – I love the pressure and I want pressure games every weekend.
“To get the three points, it’s all good talking but you’ve got to go and do it on a Saturday.
“I think we’ve got some of the best players in the league and, with the football we are playing, I think we should be up there as favourites or thereabouts.
“The boys like that pressure and we just want to keep going out on a Saturday
“This could be the turning point. I think it’s a massive game”
and winning games.” Keillor-Dunn, who made his breakthrough in the Staggies team under Jim McIntyre in the Premiership last season, netted his first two goals of the season in last Saturday’s 3-1 IRN-BRU Cup victory over Montrose.
The 20-year-old saw three of his former Development League teammates – Ross MacIver, James Wallace and Tom Kelly – introduced for their senior debuts and hopes more young prospects can follow his own pathway into the first team.
Sunderland-born Keillor-Dunn added: “There have been some brilliant performances from the young lads in their league, and they are making it hard for the managers not to see that.
“Coming on, all three of them looked confident so I’m pleased with the way they are going.
“If they keep doing what they are doing, I think they’ve got a really good chance.
“To get into the team, I think you’ve got to be able to deal with the pressure.
“I know the three boys that came on are really good, positive and confident lads.
“I know they will have a really good chance if they keep up the hard work and what they are doing and what they are asked from the managers.”