Ross County moved into the highest half of the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 victory over St Mirren due to a Forty ninth-minute penalty from Joe Hongbo.
Ross County moved into the highest half of the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 victory over St Mirren due to a Forty ninth-minute penalty from Joe Hongbo.
They had been pressured to work onerous to get the three factors by a buddy group that struggled to the tip however lacked the standard in entrance of objective to return on commonplace phrases.
County racked up three consecutive league wins for the primary time this season, and as outcomes superior elsewhere, they’ve leapfrogged Motherwell and Dundee United into the highest six – one other first for the membership this season.
Stephen Robinson made two modifications to his squad, bringing in goalkeeper Dean Lessis and striker Alex Greve, nevertheless it was the unchanged Stags who began the sport brighter.
Hungbo was a relentless risk on the appropriate wing at first, as his motion led to a number of openings that got here to nothing.
St Mirren led the sport however after the primary half pretty evenly, it was the householders who took the lead with a penalty kick.
Simply minutes into the second half, Hongbo was introduced down inside St Mirren by Alex Djojic, earlier than the loaned Watford man took the result in rating his second penalty in as many matches.
Moments later, there was one other blow to the Buddies as Conor McCarthy was pressured to hit him and Robinson elected to make an offensive change by sending Eamonn Brophy in his place.
Brophy got here near seeing the objective for the primary time from immediately inside the realm, sending his effort excessive and large, earlier than fellow substitute Curtis Mayne examined Ross Laidlaw’s reactions in his close to publish.
The guests tried to take care of stress and began to have extra ball and territory however, like their first-half hosts, weren’t in a position to hassle Laidlaw excessively.
Unsuccessful within the preliminary urgent spell, Saint Mirren appeared to lose his composure, taking part in a lot of lengthy balls ahead that handed straight to Laidlaw and left Maine and Brophy annoyed.
A photograph of Maine throwing his arms within the air summed up a day with mates as County held onto their result in declare the three factors.
Makes Mackay a case for protection
Ross County Administrator Malky Mackay:
“I am comfortable to get a clear sheet once more, my 4 defensive gamers had been nice as we speak.
“The group actually threw every thing at us within the final 15-20 minutes and it’s a nice credit score to the central defender and the full-back that they saved calm and calm and saved taking part in in a means that makes us rise moderately excessive on the sector.
“This provides us the chance to go and counterattack. Each wings labored onerous and carried the ball 50 yards on separate events, eliminating the benches.
“It is as a result of they’re keen and match to do it – that is what this group obtained again in at 2am after Wednesday’s recreation.
“It’s totally a lot appreciated by our workers for serving to the gamers get well and put together, so we had been totally ready to discourage at 3pm as we speak.”
Robinson: I’ve no complaints
Motherwell Director Stephen Robinson:
“I’ve seen it once more, and I can see why I am giving it that,” Robinson admitted.
“Is his leg drooping? I am unsure. Judging is way nearer than I used to be to creating the choice.
“We are able to discuss penalties not awarded for balls and purple playing cards however we won’t really feel sorry for ourselves. We simply must hold going.
“There will likely be a a lot better efficiency than that. I’ve a bunch of boys giving every thing, it did not occur to us as we speak and it did not occur final week.
“We have solely had three follow periods, one indoors when the snow was right here. It’s totally onerous to place any stamp on it in the mean time however over time I’ll change that.”
What then?
Ross County travels to Celtic on Saturday 19 March (3 p.m.), whereas visiting St Mirren’s Dundee on Wednesday (7.45 p.m.).
