Staggies go for survival

Boss Kettlewell hails goal-getter Mckay as

ROSS County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell paid tribute to Billy Mckay after he delivered the goods with his late equaliser against St Johnstone on Saturday.

The Staggies had toiled for much of the afternoon in torrid Dingwall conditions, with Stevie May’s goal appearing to give the visitors all three points.

But it was thanks to Mckay, doing what he has done throughout his career in Scotland, producing a penalty-box finish that County emerged from the game with a point.

Mckay has now scored three in 10 days after going three months without a goal, a contribution even more valuable given leading scorer Ross Stewart remains out with a hamstring injury.

Kettlewell said: “Billy stays between the frame of the goal. He’s made a career out of it.

“You look at the statistics of the goals he’s scored in the Premiership and it’s obvious why – he gets into t he correct positions and has the composure to finish them off.

“It was good from Josh Mullin. He had several crosses into the box from our right-hand side and fortunately it came up trumps for us.”

The result was made all the more i mportant considering Hearts also grabbed a draw against Hamilton, after they had been 2-0 down to 10 men at home.

A win for Accies and defeat to County would have cut the gap to 11th place to just three points.

Kettlewell added: “We’re all searching for a 90-minute performance.

“There’s going to be twists and turns with so much to play for.

“But we have to have a better level of performance in the first half to give us a platform to win the game, as opposed to just salvaging a point.”