Ross County can secure a seeded place in the KDM Evolution Trophy and potentially top their league phase with a win over Forfar Athletic tomorrow night. Manager Stuart Kettlewell has identified the seeding as a key seasonal marker for his in-form side.
Kettlewell said the team's primary target was to be seeded from their League Cup group. "Our target, very simply, was to be seeded from our League Cup group," he told reporters. A victory at home to Forfar would realistically guarantee that status and allow Kettlewell to tell his players they have reached another significant goal. It would also keep them in contention for first place, should Clydebank drop points.
Manager's targets and challenge
Kettlewell believes setting and hitting these targets helps the squad believe anything is achievable. He acknowledged that Forfar Athletic have had a mixed start to their League Two campaign but described the match as a good challenge he is looking forward to. The aim is to keep winning games and maintain the positive momentum the team has built. Ross County sit first in League One on 25 points from nine games, a position underlined by a 2-1 win over the same Forfar side just days ago.
He added that while the recent win over Forfar is a positive, it counts for nothing in this new fixture and his team must be professional and start strongly.
Building on strong form
The Staggies are on a five-game winning run, a sequence that includes a record-breaking 14-0 victory over Hearts B. They have scored 31 goals while conceding only five this season. That formidable form provides a solid platform for the final league phase fixture. The manager said the team set out to win plenty of games and score as many goals as possible, an objective they have clearly met.
Defender George Harmon also stressed the need for focus, noting that Forfar will be motivated to respond after the recent defeat.
Looking ahead
With seeding and league position on the line, the focus is squarely on delivering another performance. After this cup fixture, attention turns back to the league and a trip to face Queen of the South on Saturday. Kettlewell confirmed he has a full squad to choose from, with no new injury concerns following the weekend's match.
The full schedule is available on our fixtures page. Ross County host Forfar Athletic tomorrow night with a clear incentive to win.
The original report is at Ross-shire Journal
