Kilmarnock would appear to have spent the international break in stasis.

They have been reawoken to the need to redress their form in the SPFL Premiership but also the sound of discontent among a fanbase which is still revolting. That is the word that may have come to the mind of Michael Johnston, too, as the chairman prepares for another afternoon spent in the ire of fans.

His club host Ross County tomorrow but a sense of discord has already made its home at Rugby Park; fans frustrated by the stewardship of Johnston having hardly been appeased by his remarks about a shake-up in the boardroom which would potentially make room for two supporters' representatives. There has been little to quieten their tempers on the pitch either, since the Ayrshire side have yet to win a competitive match this season.

Such form has agitated supporters further but it has also allowed Allan Johnston to incubate his players against the off-field trauma. "We've got enough on our plate with trying to sort out the football," said the Kilmarnock manager. "The [off-field disharmony] probably has been worse than expected but I think that is also down to results. They haven't been good enough either, so that wouldn't help and will have put a bit of pressure on everyone."

It is a far from comfortable existence for County either, since the success of the club last season - and in striding to promotion from the first division a year earlier - has raised expectations of the Highland club. Derek Adams has considered them to be unreasonable given the criticism given to his side following a slow start to this campaign.

"There has to be some realism," said the County manager. "[A club like this] can't be at the top of the table. We caused ourselves our own problem from the point of view that people now expect Ross County to be in an area of the table where we really shouldn't be.

"But we got there by playing well and being able to pick up points. You could say we climbed a mountain last season but we have to climb mountains every day at this club."