There’s only two Ross Countys
Mckay: Club have enough good players to field a second XI in top flight
ROSS COUNTY were the team many tipped to do down this season but Billy Mckay reckons the Staggies have two starting XIs that could hold their own in the top flight.
The frontman nabbed the winner at Hamilton to make it a perfect start to the season for the Highlanders, kicking off with two wins out out two in the Premiership for the first time in their history.
County sunk Motherwell on day one and then repeated the trick at New Douglas Park. And while there is a long way to go, they are already making a mockery of the raft of predictions slating them for the drop.
Stuart Kettlewell has assembled a strong starting line up but poacher Mckay believes it’s the strength in depth up north that will be key to survival this season.
The Northern Ireland ace said: “Maybe we have surprised some people but I don’t think we have surprised ourselves. We know the quality we have got in the dressing room.
“We have always had that mentality that everybody is against us. We are going to keep that and keep pushing ourselves in house to prove a lot of people wrong.
“It keeps us on our toes when we look at the bench. The squad here is brilliant – I think we could field two 11s here if I’m honest.
“The lads who have got the jersey now have been doing great, but we know that any slip up and we can lose our place in the team.
“I think that’s what’s driving us on. The boys coming off the bench have made an impact on the game.
“It’s great for us as a team and hopefully it can push us on if everyone can contribute this season.”
Mckay was delighted to get back to doing what he does best. The 31-year-old has rattled 114 goals in Scotland in his spells with Inverness, Dundee United and now Ross County.
When Accies keeper Ryan Fulton got in a tangle from Iain Vigurs’ cross and the ball dropped loose, he was the last man that Brian Rice would have wanted loitering around the box. Sure enough, Mckay slammed the ball into the net to make the breakthrough with just 15 minutes left and Hamilton didn’t have the firepower to find a way back.
Mckay said: “The ball ricocheted around. Coll Donaldson had a shot and I had a shot but it came back to me.
“I managed to get good contact on it and thankfully it went in.
“I’m delighted to get off the mark now, and I’m looking to try and get as many goals as I can this season. It’s a great start.”
County were good value for their win. There wasn’t much between the sides but the Highlanders were a step ahead, bossing possession and creating the better chances.
Fulton brilliantly blocked Lee Erwin from close range in the first half, Ross Stewart hit the post in the second and Mckay had one hooked off the line before he eventually made the difference.
Accies were always in it, and Smith youngsters Callum and Lewis looked the part.
But they were reduced to half chances and the Staggies defence held firm whenever asked the
question.The solid start to the season at the back hasn’t gone unnoticed by hitman Mckay.
Ross County were leaky last term but they have opened up with back-to-back clean sheets which augurs well for the campaign.
Mckay said: “That’s two 1-0 wins now – some people say that’s the best result in football.
“I would rather a three or four nil, but we were happy to take that back to Dingwall.
“A lot of things were said about our defensive record last season, so it’s great to start with two clean sheets.
“Overall in the game I think we had the better chances. It felt like one of those days when it wasn’t going to go in.
“But thankfully we got the goal and hung in at the end like we did against Motherwell last Monday night.”
Mckay sees a chance to lay the foundations for a successful campaign, with maximum points in the bank and Kilmarnock and Dundee United heading to the Highlands in the next week.
He said: “It’s great to get six points out of six, you can’t ask for any better.
“We’ve got two home games now, so we will definitely be looking to take some points from those games as well. We are delighted with this result but we are going to focus on Wednesday now and go again.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us. Home form has been good for us last season, so it’s something we want to continue.
“Our away form wasn’t the best last season but now hopefully we can boost that after another victory against Hamilton.”