Give County credit, says Naysmith

expectations placed on them at the start of the season.

“They are where they should be, right on Ayr’s shoulder, with the squad they have.

“That is a compliment as there can be a difference between where you should be and where you actually end up being.

“Their players and management deserve credit for putting in a title challenge. They may have the biggest budget on paper, but the Championship is all about winning games on the pitch.”

Naysmith added: “Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell are relatively new to management, but they know what Ross County is all about and they are doing what they can to get them back to where they feel they should be.

“However, we will look to put a dent in their hopes for a week at least.”

The Dumfries side miss injured 29-goal Stephen Dobbie but Naysmith is determined to show they can cope. He explained: “It is a challenge to show we can cope without Stephen.

“Any team would miss him, but we have versatility in the squad and while there is not a like-for-like replacement available, we have options to consider.” Danny Devine wants the sweet taste of victory on his return to Firhill this afternoon after admitting his time at Partick Thistle ended on a “sour note”.

The Dunfermline defender was one of 14 players released by the Jags in the summer in the wake of relegation from the Premiership.

Devine made 34 appearances for Thistle last term but was dropped for the secondleg of the play-off final and looked on helplessly as Livingston won to take their place in the top-flight.

The 26-year-old is surprised to see his old team propping up the Championship but reckons the burden of expectation is weighing heavily on the Maryhill outfit.

And the former Inverness Caley Thistle stopper is determined to ensure the Pars up the pressure on Gary Caldwell’s side – and boost their own campaign – with a victory.

He said: “It will be strange going back to Firhill. I left there on a bit of a sour note but it will be good to go back and see some old faces.

“But I’m totally focused on the job in hand and going there and picking up all three points.

“It’s definitely not where Thistle would expect to be in the league. As a club, as fans as well, they will be expecting, like ourselves, to be up around the top end of the table fighting for promotion back to the top flight.

“I know a couple of boys still there and I know they’re bitterly disappointed and hurting.

“But I think that makes them dangerous, also, so we need to be on top form. We need to make sure we do our jobs.”