MANAGER Stuart Kettlewell described Ross County’s performance at Queen of the South as ‘off the charts’ as they were in seventh heaven at Dumfries.

The Staggies stampeded their way to a 7-1 victory at Palmerston Park as they remain top of League One on goal difference.

They are on 28 points and ahead of Hamilton Academical on goal difference having a better difference of 12 goals.

Ross County are averaging almost four goals a game in League One, having found the net 38 times in their first 10 matches.

They have scored 15 of those against Queen of the South, which included their 8-0 battering of the Doonhammers in Dingwall last month.

Three of the goals came within the first nine minutes of the match and Kettlewell praised his team for their ruthlessness.

He said: “The performance level is incredible to get ourselves five goals up in the fashion we did it.

“The most pleasing fact is we are scoring from different situations and we are creating chances from different situations.

“Their goalkeeper made three or four unbelievable saves, hit the woodwork, missed one v ones and we are fashioning chances from all over the place.

“A thoroughly merited victory is stating the obvious, but what gets you is the level of the performance.

“I felt the level of performance and dominance was off the charts from the players.

“Three goals up in the first nine minutes shows the intent on how to start games of football.”

Kettlewell said there was some injury concerns from the match at Dumfries this afternoon. But after a hectic week of three matches, which included a 5-0 league win at Montrose and a 2-1 victory over Forfar Athletic in the KDM Evolution Trophy, Kettlewell is looking forward to having a whole week to build up to their next match against Airdrieonians in Dingwall next Saturday.

He said: “We will always tackle whatever is in front of us. Ross Docherty is feeling his calf and Richard Chin had cramp.

“We managed to get Luke McCarvel back today and Lewis Reid was on the bench with a couple back home.

“This week is not a bad one for us. It is so important we are getting detail about the game a week away from today and attack in the same fashion we have done.”