The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Beware the Easter rising
● Ferguson staying focused on Staggies but still wary of Hibs backlash
Ross County comanager Steven Ferguson insists the Staggies have been too focused on addressing their own issues to pay any heed to Hibernian’s struggles ahead of tomorrow’s Premiership encounter in Edinburgh.
County make the trip to Easter Road to face an 11th-placed Hibs side that has failed to win any of its last eight league matches – ramping up the pressure on manager Paul Heckingbottom.
On the back of County’s chastening 6-0 loss to Celtic at Parkhead last weekend, Ferguson has warned the Staggies players against the danger of reading too much into the Edinburgh club’s recent form.
Ferguson said: “That’s what the statistics will tell you, but we don’t look too much into other people’s problems – we have enough of our own.
“We understand Hibs definitely haven’t had the start they would have wanted, but we still recognise them as one of the biggest clubs in the country, with some of the best players in the country.
“We need to make sure we don’t underestimate it.
“It isn’t part of our thinking and I don’t think it can be.
“People look for whatever advantage they can get, but stats and form guides can look any way you like sometimes.
“We’re looking at Hibs as a team desperate to beat us.
“With the size of their club and their expectations, they’ll be expected to beat us at home. .
“We need to make sure we take pride in upsetting the apple cart by making that not happen.”
A minor positive from last weekend’s defeat by the Hoops was the second-half introduction of midfielder
Lewis Spence, who had been sidelined since dislocating his shoulder towards the end of last season.
Spence joined from Dundee midway through County’s Championshipwinning campaign last term and Ferguson has challenged the 23-year-old to make the most of his second chance in the top flight.
Ferguson added: “Lewis has been working really hard, he’s a combative midfielder who covers the ground well and retains possession well.
“He has played games in the Premiership before, so we knew signing him for the Championship he would be capable of playing a league up if we got there.
“It was certainly a lot easier to come on and play when the damage is already done, as opposed to dealing with that pressure at the start of the game.
“But the signs were that Lewis was really hungry, over his injury and fit.
“That was pleasing for
Stuart Kettlewell and I. He needs to keep doing it to make sure he starts games and doesn’t just come off the bench.”
Ferguson confirmed they are awaiting authorisation from Chelsea to bring on-loan goalkeeper Nathan Baxter back to Dingwall as he nears recovery from a dislocated shoulder.