Stuart Kettlewell frustrated by ‘naive’ Ross County after Partick Thistle collapse

Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell blasted his side’s poor decision making in their 3-1 defeat to Partick Thistle.

The Staggies made a dream start after breaking the deadlock inside 82 seconds through Jamie Lindsay.

But the visitors suffered a collapse with goals from Alex Samuel, Robbie Crawford and Ben McPherson putting the Maryhill Jags 3-1 up at the interval.

The result leaves the Staggies one point above bottom of the table Airdrie having played one game more.

They face the Diamonds at the Global Energy Stadium next Saturday in a match that could have a major impact in the battle to avoid relegation.

Kettlewell said: “It’s the age-old story of the season that our poor choices and decision making has cost us dearly.

“It disappoints me when you see so much experience, which a lot of people have alluded to, and guys who have certainly performed at a far better level than what we’re showing at this moment in time.

“When you make those poor choices, we’re not a team that responds well to it.

“I wish I could bottle something up and give it to the players that we show a reaction and a hunger.

“When it goes to 1-1, we’re still well in the game, but the goal we conceded seemed to plant a real thought of negativity in us — from there it becomes a real uphill struggle.

“I still reiterate the fact that I believe we’ve got enough to get ourselves out of trouble — but not on the basis of what we start to do after we score that first goal.

“When Partick Thistle got their equaliser, that frailty and naivety starts to fester from within our group.

“If players are going to make such poor choices throughout games and that’s going to snowball and spook us — that’s going to be a problem.

“The game against Airdrie next week, we could become really emotional about it but the clear message from me is that our decision making and response to adversity has to be better.”

[Source: Press and Journal]