Claiming a place in the Top 6

by Adam Binnie

Take yourself back to 23 October 2021, the Staggies were winless in the cinch Premiership. We had failed to win a match in our opening 10 league fixtures.

Sat at the plummet of the league, perhaps you thought we were in for another season of relegation-related anxiety? Perhaps you thought that the heroics of Fir Park last May would need to be repeated again to keep our club at the top table in Scottish football.

Yet, we didn’t need a miracle, we didn’t need results to go our way, and we didn’t need a touch of luck.

After weeks of promising performances but no results, you could have looked at County in 2 ways: was this a team of nearly-men who would fail to find their final polish? Or was this a side ready just days away from bursting into excellence? We are pleased to say it was the latter.

4 days later, we took to the Dens Park field to claim our first cinch Premiership win. 5-0. From that moment, everything changed.

10 wins, 7 draws and 6 defeats later, Malky Mackay’s winless Ross County had transformed into a top-half cinch Premiership club.

In the 84^th minute of our away fixture to Aberdeen, the ball struck the arm of Jonny Hayes in the penalty area. Penalty to County. You are often told as a football fan to never fall in love with a loan player, for things will end in inevitable disappoint. But for Joseph Hungbo, we can all admit that our hearts have been stolen. The Watford-loanee stepped up to the spot and sent Joe Lewis the wrong way, sending the Staggies into the top six in the process.

You have revered in the many goals of Regan Charles-Cook. You have been dazzled by the inventive footwork of Joseph Hungbo. You have watched on in anticipation at every Blair Spittal set-piece. You have thanked the higher spirits for Jordan White’s hold-up play. You have cheered every thumping headed clearance from Jack Baldwin or Alex Iacovitti. You have been watching something special.

5 matches remain and the possibility of the club’s highest ever league finish is absolutely on the cards. Perhaps pre-season may be played on the continent, with the possibility of European football offering itself to the Scotland’s top 4 clubs.

No matter the outcome, you have a Ross County team to be proud of.

Oh to be a Staggie.

What a team. What a season. What is next?