Yogi ‘We’re in the entertainment business’

John Hughes spoke to us yesterday morning to reflect on Ross County’s fantastic 4-1 win against Aberdeen at the Global Energy Stadium on Saturday.

A brace from Oli Shaw and goals from Charlie Lakin and Jermaine Hylton lifted the Staggies off the bottom of the league, but Yogi affirmed that his side are not getting carried away:

“With Aberdeen at home it was up to us to have a right go. We’re in the entertainment business. When you’re in the entertainment business you have to entertain and have a right go… that’s the way I want to coach football!

“We enjoyed the result on Saturday and Sunday, but it was back to work on Monday. We are where we are for a reason, so you don’t get too far in front of yourself. There’s still plenty hard work in front of us.

“I mentioned the word consistency after the game, it’s not so much consistency of results I’m looking for, it’s consistency of performance. I’ve seen boys do some wonderful stuff on the training pitch; they’re now starting to take that onto the field of play. But it’s about doing it week in, week out, that’s what I’m after. It’s the consistency of performance that will bring results and that’s what we are looking for!”

Despite the crucial victory and comprehensive result, Yogi was still very modest about the County performance:

“In football there is fine margins. Even on Saturday, although the result was convincing, there was a bit of disappointment in losing the goal just before half time. It was a whole different team-talk, but then again, we showed a bit of character to go and win the second half… and I’m really delighted about that!

“Tactically I felt we were very, very good on Saturday, we implemented it (the game-plan) to a T. We got off to a right good start with the early goal… All credit to Aberdeen, at 2-1 they came right back into the game. It was the second half that we changed the shape a little bit and we still went on to win the second half.

“As I say, we are where we are for a reason. We enjoyed it (Saturday), but we are still looking for that consistency in performance, which I hope can bring results.

“What we’re talking about is keeping clean sheets, with everyone working for each other and keeping a real good solid shape and then letting everyone know they’ve been in a game.”

Hughes also reiterated that he is only focussed on his own team, with the relegation battle in the Scottish Premiership becoming increasingly tighter each week:

“I think it’ll go right down to the wire (the relegation battle). Honestly, I don’t even get caught up in all of that, I come in, concentrate on my team and that’s the only thing I can influence. I cannot influence anything else.

“My main focus has been on my team. My team, my players, making them better individually, try get the gold dust on them. Telling them exactly what I expect, the messages are clear and then let them get on with it and let them express themselves.

“It’s about taking it from the training pitch and implementing it on a Saturday where you have the freedom to go and play football. Over the last few weeks, we have only been beat once in the last 4, I can see the momentum coming.”