Lewis Strapp insists Ross County’s players are not afraid to keep each other in check to ensure standards remain sky high in Dingwall.

It has been a phenomenal start to the campaign for the Staggies, who have scored a plethora of goals on their way to topping the League One table.

That was evident once again last weekend as County backed up their 8-0 home victory over Queen of the South with a 7-1 triumph down in Dumfries.

Even after a performance like that, though, Strapp revealed players were “having a go” at each other to make sure no complacency crept into the dressing room leading to a drop in standards.

“Our desire comes from within ourselves, and the manager built this team to be like that,” Strapp said.

“After the game last Saturday the boys were having a go at each other, and that’s was it has to be to try and drive these standards.

“As much as we are winning convincingly, we are still wanting more, and I think we can get more out of games.

“The club is pushing for that, and that’s what the changing room should be like. It’s a good feeling to be a part of that, knowing you can’t let your standards drop.”

This season’s fortunes are a far cry from last year, when Ross County were battling to avoid a second successive relegation.

A particularly sour memory for Staggies fans was the last time they met this weekend’s opponents, Airdrieonians, in Dingwall.

Then, the Diamonds ran out 4-0 winners – with Strapp on the scoresheet, before switching sides in the summer.

“A lot of people come up here and find it easy to become motivated playing Ross County,” Strapp reasoned.

“Last season at Airdrie, we knew it was a big game and what it meant and we were probably a bit shocked to go in a half-time three goals up.

“It’s a long way and you might think coming up on the bus it will dishearten you a little bit, but for teams coming up here to play on a right good pitch against a right hard team to beat, Ross County have a target on their back.

“That’s why this season we want to start games really quicky and we’ve been good at that, maybe putting games to bed a wee bit early and hopefully we can keep doing that.

“We’ve definitely got a target on our back again this year because of how well we’re doing in the league.”