Kilmarnock boss Tommy Wright has told John Hughes to stop whinging about referees and focus on his team.
The Staggies manager launched a furious blast at officials as he backed his Hamilton counterpart Brian Rice in his assertion that so-called smaller clubs don't get decisions.
County travel to Ayrshire on Saturday to face Killie in a relegation six-pointer and Wright ramped up the tension as he dismissed his rival's comments.
He said: "I don't really listen to John too much because he probably talks too much.
"Our focus has been on ourselves. Maybe he should focus on his team.
"It's maybe referees that have caused Ross County to be where they are. I think he is maybe trying to influence referees. But we will concentrate on our own team."
Killie currently sit 11th in the table, one point behind Saturday's opponents, but are coming in off the back of eight goals in their last two games.
Wright said: "I have seen a progression since I came in, I have seen a level of performance get better and better.
"In the last two games we have finished teams off and been ruthless, so I have seen a marked improvement and we have to continue that run.
"Kyle (Lafferty) has given us a real focal point up there and players have responded.
"He brings people into play, he is a finisher, so that has been a big help for us, and the other players have fed off that."
