Tony Docherty’s Quest for Away Victory with Ross County

Will Tony Docherty secure his first away league victory of the season for Ross County?

**Scottish Championship: Queen’s Park vs. Ross County**
**Where:** City Stadium, Glasgow
**When:** Friday, 21 November
**Kick-off:** 19:45 GMT

**Coverage:** Available on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app.

Unlike his struggling team, Tony Docherty did not miss the mark with his candid assessment following last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Greenock Morton.

“It was an unacceptable level of performance,” Docherty stated. “I have always defended the players, but I cannot defend that.”

The Ross County manager was forthright in his criticism after the loss, which left his team at the second-bottom position in the league table, firmly in the relegation play-off zone. Despite the Staggies’ strikers being ranked sixth for goals scored in the Championship, their defense has been a significant concern, having conceded 26 goals in just 15 matches.

This defeat marked Morton’s first away league win against County in nearly 25 years. The gravity of County’s situation is palpable, as they find themselves struggling when expectations were high following their relegation from the Premiership last season. Rather than contending for the title, they are currently entangled in the relegation battle.

Docherty, who took over the managerial role from Don Cowie in August, is in urgent need of a response from his underperforming squad to have any hopes of breaking into the promotion playoff spots. Although their current form raises doubts, a sudden string of victories could drastically alter the team’s trajectory. The January transfer window also looms, and with chairman Roy McGregor’s past willingness to invest, changes may be on the horizon.

Conversely, the narrative surrounding Queen’s Park has shifted towards potential decline. Their benefactor, Lord Haughey, is set to withdraw financial support by summer, raising concerns about their ability to remain in Scotland’s second tier. Currently, they sit just one point above County in the standings.

Their recent performances have been mixed, narrowly losing 4-3 to league leaders St Johnstone last weekend after a 2-1 victory over Raith Rovers the week prior, which resulted in the dismissal of Raith’s manager, Barry Robson. However, Queen’s Park has managed only one win in their past nine matches, including a previous victory against County in September.

While the atmosphere at Lesser Hampden, or the City Stadium, will be more subdued than the dramatic events at Hampden on Tuesday, the stakes remain high for both teams. Each is acutely aware that a change in fortunes is essential to avoid the looming threat of relegation.