JAMIEDURENT

It is the season that has never really got going but ultimately could be a huge success. Ross County have staggered and stumbled at times through this Premiership campaign, their first back in the top flight. It has sometimes been a struggle to keep their heads above water.

But avoid relegation without too much fuss, then you have to consider it job-done for the Dingwall side.

The Staggies have had the well-documented barren run of form in which they won just two league games between September and February. But they have never slipped into the bottom two during that time.

You can point to Hearts and Hamilton Accies having poorer seasons and greater issues to deal with, which would be a valid point. One thing you can credit County with is they are not a club that generates too many negative headlines, which helps when matters on the park are not going to plan.

Their defensive record has been rightly highlighted as a source of their problems.

A tally of 54 goals against is the league’s worst and the lack of a consistent back four could be a contributing factor.

Marcus Fraser has featured in 23 of their 27 league games but you have no one else on 20 league games.

Keith Watson, Liam Fontaine and Sean Kelly have been semi-regulars, while Coll Donaldson arrived in January and has been plugged in but is now facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious facial injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with St Johnstone.

Richard Foster, in his second stint at County, has flitted between both full-back positions and more advanced midfield roles.

County have conceded three or more goals on 10 occasions in the league this season. When goals go in, they go in bunches. They have to be more resolute in the run-in, particularly in the split when teams will be cutting each other’s throats.

The next three games for the Staggies see them travel to Aberdeen and Motherwell before facing Rangers in Dingwall. Three of the top four sides against a team that has only just won their sixth game of the season at the start of this month.

But County’s final three games before the split see Hamilton and St Mirren travel north either side of a trip to Tynecastle. Through every cloud is a silver lining.

For the record, I don’t see County going down. I think the bottom two clubs will come from those who currently sit between 10th and 12th – St Mirren, Hamilton and Hearts. Compared to their previous season in the Premiership, County will be heading into the final run of games in a much healthier position.

But the defensive issues need to be addressed. Keep the goals out and it will soon become easier to get points on the board.

“I don’t see County going down but defensive issues need addressed”