No rust in Steelmen

Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell does not expect the l ong lay-off endured by today ’s Premiership opponents Motherwell to play into the Staggies’ hands.

T h e S t e e l m e n h av e n o t p l ay e d s i n c e g o i n g d o w n 5 -1 to Rangers on S e p t e m b e r 2 7, w i t h t h e i r last two scheduled league matches against Kilmarnock and St Mirren c a l l e d o ff d u e t o t h e i r opponents being unable to field a team because of coronavirus.

Stephen Robinson’s men were also not par t of the Betfred Cup group stage, having qualified for Europe after finishing third last season.

D e s p i t e We l l ’s l a c k o f action, Kettlewell is preparing for the L anarkshire side to be at their strongest at Fir Park today.

Ke tt l e w e l l s a i d : “I ’m always a wee bit reluctant to comment on it. If they’d played l oads of games, people would ask if they’re going to be fatigued.

“I f t h e y h av e n’ t p l a y e d many games does it mean they are fresh?

“I know how Stephen Robinson prepares his teams and how fit they are.

“I’m expecting Motherwell to be fresh and raring to go.

“T he y will have been working hard in that period o f t i m e . I a l w ay s p r e p a r e for facing the best version of a team.”

County made a winning start to the season against Well in August, with Ross Stewart’s penalty securing a 1- 0 t r i u m p h a t V i c t o r i a Park.

T h e S t a g g i e s h av e a l s o won at Fir Park in each of the two previous campaigns, winning 2-1 in the Scottish Cup in January 2019 during their time in the Championship, before triumphing by the same scoreline in a league outing last September.

K e tt l e w e l l b e l i e v e s t h e Steelmen pose a different threat this term, adding: “We’ve got a pretty decent r e c o r d o v e r Mo t h e r w e l l , certainly since I’ ve been involved as manager.

“They are a wee bit d i ff e r e n t f r o m w h a t w e faced in the first game of the season.

“We w e r e u s e d to Mo t h e r w e l l p l a y i n g t h a t 4-3-3 all the time and they were very well-versed in it.

“There’s been a tweak to their system and they are using a back three, wingbacks and a front pairing as it stands.

“I still think we’re going up against one of the top teams in the country.”

C o u n ty w i l l b e w i t h o u t defender Connor Randall who became the Staggies’ third player to be sent off in the opening 11 games in l a s t w e e k e n d ’s 0 - 0 d r a w with Hibernian, following dismissals for Carl Tremarco and Iain Vigurs earlier in the campaign.

Kettlewell is not concerned about the record, adding: “Is discipline becoming an issue? Definitely not.

“I want my team to be a reflection of me and how I was as a player, how I am as a person. I’m a combative person and was the same as a player – and I picked up more yellow and red cards than most.

“I’m not encouraging it, b u t I w o u l d s t i l l l i ke my team to be compe titive. I d o n’ t w a n t u s t o j u s t r o l l over and get our belly tickled.”