Ross County vs Queen of South preview - Staggies without Kettlewell

Posted Saturday, March 19, 2011 by PA

Ross County entertain Queen of the South in a dress rehearsal for next month's re-arranged ALBA Challenge Cup Final with Stuart Kettlewell missing through suspension.

However, Steven Craig is ready to resume his striking role at the club after injury leaving only the long-term injured Darren McCormack unavailable to manager Jimmy Calderwood.

The Dingwall men are undefeated in seven games, but they have only picked up one win during that time and first-team coach Stuart Balmer says it is time to start collecting three points and not one.

Balmer said: "Draws are better than defeats but they are not moving us up the table quickly enough so we need to start achieving wins and putting some points on board."

Queen of the South travel have Rocco Quinn out injured and Allan Johnston facing a fitness battle even to get a place on the substitutes' bench.

Dumfries manager Kenny Brannigan has told his players that a good performance in this game will earn a starting jersey for the ALBA Challenge Cup Final in April.

The Palmerston Park boss said: "The carrot for my players to do well in this game is to start in a major Final."

A win over Morton in midweek ended a six game run without a three-point haul being picked up and Brannigan added: "I saw signs against Dundee last Saturday that things were falling into place and we improved again against Morton so we are looking forward to this game."