The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Kettlewell’s group therapy
Staggies: County intent on being the A-team as they look to win the section
Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell has urged the Staggies to finish off the job of qualifying for the second round of the Betfred League Cup as Group A winners.
County have started their cup campaign with home victories over Elgin City and Dundee United, with away games against Arbroath and Alloa Athletic to come.
Although the Staggies do not play this weekend they have already put themselves in a strong position, with a three-point lead over second-placed Alloa and a five-point gap separating them from fellow Championship side United.
Kettlewell is pleased with the start but hopes his men can keep up their good work.
He said: “We’re not going to shy away from it. We set out to win the group and get ourselves into the next round of the cup.
“We’ve managed to pick up six points, three goals and none conceded. From our point of view, things are progressing well.
“It is just important we build on that with that extra little bit at the sharp end of the pitch where we start to create and take one or two more chances.
“We now have an eightday break between matches which gives us the chance to work some more with the players.
“With it being a short pre-season, that will be beneficial. We’ll go away and prepare for our next fixture which will be a tough one away to Arbroath.
“We’re looking forward to it but also to this wee period of time where we can make sure everyone is back fit and in contention
“We need that extra little bit at the sharp end of the pitch”
for next Wednesday’s game.”
Kettlewell is confident the Staggies’ attacking players will find their sharpness in front of goal, with former Aberdeen attacker Declan McManus twice denied by Arabs goalkeeper Matej Rakovan prior to Jamie Lindsay’s late winner on Tuesday.
Kettlewell added: “Declan was beating himself up slightly.
“He had two great chances, off his own work to be fair, through pure endeavour.
“He was sitting in the dressing room saying he should have squared the ball, but those little bits are the sharp-of-mind elements and we’re confident that will come with matches.
“It is a good start for us and we feel that winning breeds confidence, no matter who the opposition is. On Tuesday night, it was a very good win for us.” Hibernian escaped embarrassment in the Faroe Islands to advance in the Europa League with a 6-4 win over NSI Runavik.
The Edinburgh side were all but sure of their place in the second round of qualifying after a 6-1 win at Easter Road in the first leg last week but were made to work by the part-timers before clinching a remarkable 12-5 aggregate win.
Klaemint Olsen finished the game with a hat-trick against a woeful Hibs backline and helped put the hosts two goals up inside the opening five minutes to give Neil Lennon’s side a scare.
John McGinn scored on his return to the team amid speculation of a potential move to Celtic, while David Gray, Lewis Stevenson, Efe Ambrose and Stevie Mallan (two) were also on target to make sure of their progression, but it was a night to forget for Hibs.
It was a sign of things to come as Ambrose sliced into his own net after 40 seconds under no pressure, and Klaemint Olsen made it two just four minutes later against a shell-shocked Hibs defence.
The Hibees responded positively, though, with McGinn particularly influential as Neil Lennon’s men went on to repeat their six-goal haul from the first leg and secure passage into the second qualifying round.