Joseph Hongbo’s early penalty was the distinction as Ross County’s return to the Scottish Premier League continued with a 1-0 win over Motherwell at Honest Park.
The 22-year-old quietly transformed from the penalty spot after Jake Carroll fouled Kane Ramsey, though the one query was whether or not the contact occurred inside or exterior the penalty space.
The defeat left Honest Park and not using a league win since Boxing Day, whereas County secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the primary time this season.
Regardless of a powerful second-half efficiency of their 2-2 draw with Rangers at Ibrox, Motherwell coach Graham Alexander opted to make 4 modifications, with striker Kevin van Veen coming back from damage and Sondry Solholm Johansen, Sean Goss and Conor Shields all coming into the facet.
Ross County boss Mackay’s house owners have chosen a extra steady squad, with the signing of Ramsey in January instead of Keith Watson as the one change from his spectacular 3-1 win over St Johnston on the weekend.
Ross County’s Joseph Hongbo scored from the penalty spot
County began because it completed on Saturday, and within the fifteenth minute took the primary high quality piece of the match.
Ramsey confirmed a powerful shift in velocity to blast away from Motherwell’s Carroll, who might solely carry him straight on the road as he regarded to guide within the space, with referee John Peyton signaling the spot.
Hungbo made no mistake with the penalty kick, sending Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly the flawed option to put the far facet forward.
Motherwell appeared to reply, as Woolery fired and noticed Mark O’Hara’s left-footed try fended off by Alex Iakoviti from the interrupt.
However they struggled to create something clearly outlined regardless of dominating the proceedings, with Woolley’s spectacular drives being the one actual highlights of the disappointing opening interval.
Joseph Hongbo of Ross County challenges Jake Carroll of Motherwell
They need to have been stage inside a minute into the second half as Van Veen drove the ball throughout the six-yard field however Shields was solely capable of flip the ball off the publish with the objective at his mercy.
It took till the sixty fifth minute of Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlow’s entry, as he got here out to make a sensible save after Van Veen Woolery’s shot was fired on the break.
Van Veen was the following to return near Motherwell, however he could not assist however forged a vertical look away from Jake Carroll’s free kick.
Substitute Jordan Roberts virtually saved some extent for the hosts, however Laidlaw saved it with a header in damage time as County acknowledged the outcome.
What then?
Each groups will return to the Scottish Premier League on Saturday 5 March at 3pm the place they are going to face Motherwell Dundee and Ross County in opposition to St Mirren.
