Ross County V Dundee at Victoria Park : Match Preview

27 February 2015 19:01
Ross County V Dundee - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Quinn hails County character

Ross County defender Paul Quinn has insisted the character of the players and staff at the Dingwall club was never in question during their run of poor form.

County went 12 games without a win - dating back over three months - but have witnessed an upturn in form, with successive wins over fellow strugglers Motherwell and Partick lifting them off the foot of the table.

Many pundits and fans did not give County much chance of survival during their winless streak, but Quinn reiterated that those involved with the club never let the run affect their mentality of retaining Scottish Premiership status.

He said: "I don't think the character can be questioned in this place. Whatever happens in the rest of the season I will continue saying that character will not be be questioned.

"The performances can be questioned, decisions on the pitch can be questioned but our character has been the same throughout the season."

New recruits Craig Curran and Raffaele De Vita have played an integral part in reviving the club's fortunes since being drafted into the side by manager Jim McIntyre in the January transfer window. The pair netted debut goals, against Dundee and Motherwell respectively, and continued their rich vein of form by both scoring in the 3-1 win over Thistle.

Quinn has hailed the execution in the final third and is looking for another victory in Saturday's home game against Dundee.

Victory for County would give them three successive wins for the first time in more than two years.

Quinn added: "The two wide men (De Vita and Michael Gardyne) are getting in higher positions to create chances and they've done that. The two up front (Curran and Liam Boyce) are a handful for anybody. The execution in the final third has been a massive plus point for us.

"I'd be looking to get the three wins in a row and looking to go and extend that. We can go and win on Saturday and kick-start the rest of our season."

Ross County midfielder Ruben Palazuelos will miss out with a groin strain.

Richard Brittain (hamstring), Ben Frempah (ankle), Rocco Quinn (hip) and Darren Barr (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Dundee will be missing a host of key players. Defender Kostadin Gadzhalov (leg), Paul Heffernan (hamstring), Iain Davidson (ankle) and Luka Tankulic (ankle) are all out, while there is more bad news for manager Paul Hartley after he learned skipper Gary Irvine will miss the next four weeks with his knee problem.

But midfielder Simon Ferry returns to the squad after shaking off ankle trouble.

Hartley insists his side will not underestimate Ross County when they head north to Dingwall.

The Dark Blues hope to extend their eight-game unbeaten run in the league after picking up considerably since their 6-2 defeat at the hands of city rivals Dundee United at Tannadice back on New Year's Day.

They face Jim McIntyre's Staggies, who are fighting relegation but have managed to get themselves off the foot of the table, and Hartley insists they will be taking nothing for granted in the Highlands.

Hartley said: "It is going to be very tough. There are two ways about it as there are no easy games in this division.

"When you look at County, you can see the difference they have made over the last few weeks after bringing a few players in, which has made them stronger.

"I think this is a really hard game for us. It's a challenge we will have to be ready for from the word go.

"I'm sure we will be as the boys have trained well all week, as they always do.

"We know we will have to be at our best to win and three points is what we're going there for."


Source: PA