Strugglers have to find more creativity

Don Cowie’s Staggies fell to another defeat after their long trip to Ayrshire.

The 1-0 loss to Killie means Ross County have won just two of their last 18 games. Saturday’s match felt like there was a real lack of creativity.

It was a bold call to start three strikers, but Eamonn Brophy was having to make play off the wide areas, while Jordan White dropped deep to help a midfield two and didn’t look overly comfortable.

Before going 1-0 down, we didn’t really create anything and focused on being tight at the back.

Most of the chances we did create came from longer passes or our wing-backs getting forward.

As soon as Yan Dhanda came off the bench, our style changed completely – in a positive manner.

We utilised a more passing style, and it meant we were getting forward with much more efficiency.

Whether he had a knock before kick-off is unclear, or if the reasons for leaving him out of the starting 11 were purely tactical, his value should not be understated.

If we want to clamber out of this 11th place play-off hole, then Dhanda has to play every minute he is available for.

He is simply a class above some of our other players, and can create scoring opportunities out of nothing – and pop up with moments of magic others can’t.

Not only is his general play key, but his delivery from setpieces makes him crucial to our chances, right up until the final whistle when trying to find a way back into matches.

The only team County have beaten this season without Dhanda in the team is bottom-placed Livingston.