McIntyre points to County's lack of belief against Aberdeen

Jim McIntyre became manager of Ross County at the beginning of September

Jim McIntyre felt his Ross County players lacked conviction in their 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen, which keeps them at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

"I don't think we did enough to score a goal," the manager told BBC Scotland.

"I think that was the most disappointing thing for me. We haven't created anything. Tonight we didn't show enough belief in the final third.

"We restricted Aberdeen but we've got to do the other side of it as well and I've not had to say that often."

Aberdeen were worthy winners in the wet conditions in Dingwall, despite the narrow scoreline, yet the Staggies could have snatched an equaliser when substitute Liam Boyce, on for Michael Gardyne, blazed over the bar after Aberdeen keeper Scott Brown had parried a Graham Carey dipping shot into his path.

"If you wanted a chance to fall to anybody it would be Boycey," said McIntyre.

"He's probably our most natural finisher at the club. He was just on the park and maybe he was caught out by the pace (of the ball) off the surface.

"It went a-begging. That would have given us a shot in the arm but we didn't do enough to win the game tonight."

McIntyre and assistant Billy Dodds took over at Victoria Park on 9 September following the sacking of Derek Adams.

Since then, the team have lost five of their eight matches, including a League Cup game against Hibs.

However, the five points that has them pegged at the bottom of the table have all been gathered in the new duo's time in Dingwall.

A win over the Dons would have lifted them off the foot of the Premiership but they remain only two points behind Motherwell and three adrift of 10th-placed St Mirren.

Aberdeen's winner was scored by County defender Paul Quinn in 56 minutes when he diverted Shay Logan's cross past his own goalkeeper, Mark Brown.

"It's a ball into a great area and Paul Quinn's got to try and deal with it and, unfortunately for him, with the skiddy surface, it's deflected into the net," explained McIntyre.

"It was preventable, but these things happen."

Defender Darren Barr struggled on for the last few minutes of the match after twisting his left knee and the manager is hopeful there is no lasting damage to the player as he looks to guide the team up the table.

He said: "We'll assess that in the next couple of days. We had made the three subs and, typical Darren Barr, he didn't want to come off, but he was very limited in his movement.

"We've got a run of games coming up and we need to make an impact and pick up points. We've got to make sure that we bounce back."