Tale of two penalties as County claim the three points in Dingwall

ROSS Stewart kept his cool as Ross County opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Motherwell in a tale of two penalties.

Stewart converted from the spot in the 24th minute after Motherwell’s new club captain Declan Gallagher conceded the penalty with a risky challenge at a loose ball.

The defender claimed he won the ball as he dived in on Harry Paton but referee Nick Walsh deemed it a reckless tackle and booked the Scotland player.

County turned off their low-key crowd noise as Stewart lined up the spot-kick and the striker sent Trevor Carson the wrong way.

After the break, Well sub Sherwin Seedorf set up Callum Lang for a free header but the on-loan Wigan forward saw his close-range effort clawed away by Ross Laidlaw.

The same move set up

Motherwell’s penalty as Coll Donaldson was penalised for a tug on substitute Jordan White after Lang headed the ball across the face of goal.

Liam Donnelly, Motherwell’s joint top goalscorer last season with 11, sent Laidlaw the wrong way but fired his penalty wide of the post.

White threatened from several crosses and Seedorf had a shot deflected over but Motherwell’s chances ran out when Lang was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for chopping down Michael Gardyne to halt a counter-attack.

County boss Stuart Kettlewell felt his side were worthy of the points.

He said: “We deserved to win the game. We now have to build on it.

“Motherwell are a good team – third in the country and they are better than last year. It’s a decent scalp but we now move on to Hamilton.”

Ross Stewart grabbed the winner from the spot.