STAGGIES TURN IT UP TO ELEVEN
But co-boss Stevie insists huge lead is no guarantee ROSSCOUNTY..2 FALKIRK ......... 1
ROSS COUNTY co-manager Steven Ferguson last night insisted they are taking nothing for granted despite surging 11 points clear in the Championship title race.
The wise money is now on County succeeding in their quest for league silverware and a rapid top-flight return after seeing off Falkirk for a sixth win in a row.
There was a late penalty scare for the home side but they were comfortable winners in their game in hand thanks to early headers from Brian Graham and Keith Watson creating a two-goal margin.
The Staggies could stretch their gap to 14 points before nearest challengers Dundee United kick another ball, with Friday night’s televised Highland derby now the focus.
But when asked how big an advantage they have at this stage in the campaign, Ferguson said: “Not big enough! Stuart (Kettlewell) and I are very clear on taking it one game at a time.
“Falkirk was a wonderful opportunity but being 11 points clear will bring a bit of pressure now as we’re so close to what we want.
“While it is good, we’re taking nothing for granted. We have to focus on the next game which is Inverness, another tough one.”
It was Falkirk’s first defeat in 2019, ending their eight-game unbeaten run and leaving them three points above bottom place.
After only 12 minutes, Josh Mullin’s pin-point delivery from the right found Graham pouncing at the front post to loop a six-yard header over Bairns keeper Harry Burgoyne.
The home side doubled the lead after 22 minutes. Mullin’s corner was half-cleared back into his path on the right and his fine cross saw defender Watson net with a superb 12-yard header.
The Bairns put in a power of work towards half-time but only had a Paul Paton strike lofted over the bar to show for it.
Ian McShane’s free-kick from just outside the area ruffled the top of County’s net after the break.
It all looked comfortable for County until, five minutes from time, young Tom Grivosti saw red for man-handling Zak Rudden in the box and McShane swept in the penalty. Falkirk gaffer Ray McKinnon felt his side were caught cold after miserable delays on the trip through.
He said: “The first 20 minutes killed us. We were late off the bus and maybe caught cold because of that.
“We tried our best to get back into it and were a bit unfortunate not to take something.”
ROSS COUNTY – Fox, Fraser, Watson, Grivosti, Van der Weg, Spence, Lindsay, Mullin (Boyle 86), Cowie (Semple 90), Gardyne (McManus 70), Graham. Not used: Munro, Paton, Armstrong, MacBeath.
FALKIRK – Burgoyne, McGhee, McKenna, Edjenguele, Dixon, Paton, Osman, Petravicius (Rudden 58,), McShane, Maclean (Waddington 75), Jarvis (Todorov 69). Not used: Mitchell, Kidd, Robson, Brough.
Referee: Steven Kirkland.