STAGGIES GO FOR DOUBLE
Man United star seeing double with County boss PREMIERSHIP
DAVID DE GEA tweeted out a pic of Stuart Kettlewell just as the new sole boss showed that Ross County were in safe hands.
The Staggies ‘united’ to see off Motherwell and got their campaign off to winning ways in Dingwall last night.
Manchester United and Spain goalie De Gea, during the live Sky Sports action, took to Twitter to post a picture of the County head coach with an embarrassed emoji face, no doubt due to their similarities with the slick back haircuts shaved high at the sides and the designer facial stubble.
But it was last season’s player of the year and joint-top scorer Ross Stewart who ensured that the Staggies were in No.1 on the night. The in-demand striker, who netted 11 goals last season, opened his account with a firsthalf penalty to ensure Kettlewell’s sole rein got off to winning ways.
Kettlewell stepped up in the summer after co-boss Steven Ferguson had took a job in the Dingwall side’s hierarchy.
It was to prove a case of two penalties as Motherwell had a chance to get a share of the spoils but Liam Donnelly blazed his effort wide from 12 yards.
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson had been linked with the vacant manager’s job at Bournemouth before this game but that would have been the highlight of another otherwise depressing day.
He will now regroup and try to guide his team to another best of the rest finish but last night they were second-best on their opening bow.
Kettlewell gave starts to new arrivals Connor Randall and Alex Iacovitti while 18-year-old Josh Reid was given his debut after impressing during pre-season.
Robinson, meanwhile, gave bows to Rickie Lamie and Nathan McGinley with Jake Hastie, Chris Long and Mark O’Hara also in.
The players took a knee before
kick-off and then as the match kicked off the PA system began to pipe in the fake crowd noises that were all rather bizarre.
It might be okay in PES or FIFA but in a live match the effects weren’t in sync with the action and it felt strange.
It’s a new experience and everyone is learning although the lifeless surroundings at the Global Energy Stadium didn’t seem to impact the home side too much, although it was Motherwell who had the first effort after Chris Long curled a free-kick over.
After that, it was the hosts who took control.
Harry Paton was particularly impressive and a real ball of energy in the middle of the park.
He created the first chance for Lee Erwin but his effort deflected off a defender for a corner. County captain Iain Vigurs then curled in a ball that saw Erwin force Trevor Carson in to a fine stop.
Soon after, Randall’s cross from the right was flicked on by Erwin to Stewart at the back post but his thumping shot was tipped on to the woodwork by Carson.
County made their superiority count when Declan Gallagher brought down Paton as he burst past him in the box in 24 minutes.
The Scotland international also picked up a yellow card, despite his pleas that he had won the ball.
Stewart stepped up and sent Carson the wrong way.
Motherwell had been pretty toothless up to that stage but were millimetres away from instantly levelling.
O’Hara sent Long clear and he beat Laidlaw from a tight angle at his near post but his effort came back off a post.
Well boss Robinson was unhappy with his side’s first-half performance and brought on Callum Lang for O’Hara, allowing David Turnbull to go into his natural position in the centre, after the break.
But the Steelmen couldn’t find any of the fluency or spark that saw them defy the odds to finish in third place last season.
The visitors had a couple of shots from distance but struggled to find a cutting edge.
Lang, on-loan Wigan, should have levelled it just after the hour. Fellow sub Sherwin Seedorf picked him out and he powered a header at goal but it was straight at Ross Laidlaw, who made a good block. The Highlanders had the worst goals against column in the Premiership last season and that was something Kettlewell was looking to improve. He would have feared the worst when Coll Donaldson barged sub Jordan White in the back and ref Nick Walsh pointed to the spot again. Donnelly stepped up and despite posting an impressive goal return last season he fired his penalty wide of Laidlaw’s right-hand post.