No repeat of joy day for Randall
IT was a day that Connor Randall will always look back on as a wonderful career high.
The sheer joy of coming back from 3-0 down to beat Partick Thistle in the dying moments of last season’s Premiership play-off final felt like winning a cup.
But the Scouser admits he is desperate to avoid experiencing it all again this time round.
Randall reckons the relief and raucous celebrations with Staggies fans on that unforgettable day last June galvanised the whole club, despite the struggles this season that saw the departure of boss Malky Mackay and Derek Adams’ disastrous short spell in charge.
County are currently in the relegation play-off spot but Randall believes they can climb out of it under caretaker boss Don Cowie.
The 28-year-old said: “We could not have been any closer to going down last season, trailing 3-0 on aggregate with 19 minutes left.
“We’ve shown we can drag ourselves out of a scenario like that. Plain and simple, though, we don’t want to do it again.
“Don’t get me wrong, the play-off final was a brilliant day. The aftermath of the match was fantastic.
“The feeling after it was a
positive one for the whole club. It brought everyone together and it was like winning a cup final.
“But we want to be as far away from it all as possible this season.”
Randall has been at County for four years and is desperate to extend the Staggies’ sequence of playing 11 of the past 12 seasons in the top flight.
Ahead of today’s trip to Kilmarnock he said: “It is definitely the most settled I’ve been in my career.
“It bodes well when you’re settled off the pitch, and it is a fantastic club to be at.
“It definitely adds to my determination to help us stay up. All the lads feel the same – everyone will be giving their all to keep the club where we believe it belongs.
“Saturday will be a tough game. Killie have shown what a good side they are. It is difficult on their pitch as well.
“But we believe we’re a match for any team on our day, and if we perform to our best level we can come away with three points.”