The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Staggies look for finish to crush Killie
Malky Mackay hopes Ross County can finally find a clinical edge in today’s crucial Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock.
The Staggies go into the match bottom of the table with their opponents – along with Dundee United and Motherwell – three points ahead.
County are out to atone for their Scottish Cup exit to Hamilton Accies, who are at the foot of the Championship.
Mackay knows his side must improve on a poor recent goalscoring run which has seen them find the net just once in their last six games.
He has bolstered his attacking options with the additions of Josh Stones and Eamonn Brophy.
Mackay said: “I genuinely don’t think we’re far away with what we’re doing.
“We’re close with every team we’re facing and it just needs someone to step up and actually stick the ball in the net.
“It just needs a wee spark in that final third and if you get two wins suddenly you’re not the team holding up everyone else that’s under pressure.”
He added: “There’s plenty of football to play, and there’s plenty of belief in (the players).
“Clearly Hamilton was a disappointment but we should have been out of sight in the first 15 minutes.
“That’s the frustrating thing, it could have been 3–0 in the first 15 minutes and the game would have been dead.
“No disrespect to Hamilton, I’m just talking about us, and we needed that spark to go and put the ball in the net to make it a different game.”
Mackay says his players are eager to show a spirited response following their recent struggles.
He added: “We’re back into the league action against a team that’s very close to us.
“We need to make sure we pick up points against a team that’s around us.
“It’s great being back home again.
“We know what Kilmarnock will entail and it will be a really tough encounter for both sides – a war of attrition.
“We will go into it knowing exactly what’s coming and we’re looking forward to it.”
The visit of Killie marks the first instalment of a quickfire home double header, with Hibernian making the trip north on Tuesday.
Mackay revealed discussions were held about switching the Hibs match to February 11, with both sides out of the Scottish Cup fifth round.
The Staggies boss says the Edinburgh outfit were keen to play the game on its original date.
He added: “There was a conversation between ourselves and Hibs after we both went out of the cup as to whether we would move the game to a Saturday.
“It wouldn’t have been so rapid between games and we put that to them, but it appears they want the game immediately.
“That’s fine because that’s what it was going to be anyway.”
Highly-rated midfielder Adam Mackinnon will return on loan to League 1 side Montrose from Ross County for the next stage of his development.
The impressive 19-yearold spent the first half of the season with Stewart Petrie’s side before being recalled last month by Mackay.
Forward Matthew Wright and Mackinnon, who are both from Lewis, have flourished on loan at the Angus club earlier this season having both previously been on loan in the Highland League with Brora Rangers. Wright, 20, is on loan to another League 1 promotion pusher, second-placed Falkirk, and the friends will be rivals rather than team-mates. Montrose, in sixth, sit two points and two places outside the play-offs.
Mackay has been impressed by the pair and Mackinnon, with 13 Montrose starts in 18 appearances, will be keen to add to his two goals. The manager felt Montrose was the right move right now for Mackinnon.
Mackay said: “It is vital for Adam’s development that he continues to play games and he did well earlier in the season at Montrose, so we wanted to ensure he went back to an environment that was maximising his potential.
“Stewart Petrie and his team have really made Adam feel part of the club and that is always important.”
Earlier this month, Mackay nodded to the standard of League 1 and what it has offered the County starlets this term.
He said: “We have thrown players like Adam and Matty into a league where they are playing the likes of Falkirk and Dunfermline and they have done great.”