Attack will cure freak draw flaw
County boss Jim targets more goals after stalemate shock
Jim McIntyre is vowing never to compromise Ross County’s attacking instincts – despite drawing in the league for the first time since taking charge.
County’s Liam Boyce lashed in the opener just after the hour with his sixth goal of the season.
Scott McDonald played a big part in Motherwell ’s revival, winning a penalty for Louis Moult to tuck away before drawing the hefty challenge that led to Jay McEveley’s second booking.
The draw was the f irst in the league at home for County since March 2014 but McIntyre said they only had themselves to blame and said the 30-month statistic was only a ref lection of County’s desire.
He said: “We’re an attacking team when you look at the chances we missed here. We also hit the bar and had a goal disallowed.
“That’s the way we’ll continue to play. It’s the entertainment business we’re in and we want to do that. “I don’t think we gave them too much in the first half, I’ve got to be honest, but it was far more like it in the second half.
“The sending off was the pivotal moment. It was a booking so we just have to take that on the chin, but I felt we were dominant in that period.
“We got back to the team I know we are today because against Hamilton we didn’t create much.”
Charitably, you could call this match a slow-burner.
There was plenty of endeavour and intent but little in the way of finesse for the first 30 minutes. County showed slightly more craft with signs of Boyce and Alex Schalk linking well.
The first worry for either defence came for the hosts in 19 minutes with Chris Cadden threatening but there was no taker for his sidefoot across the face of goal.
It was full-blooded stuff, with both Keith Lasley and McEveley entering the referee’s book for mistimed challenges midway through the first period.
County were on top and Martin Woods’ corner found Christopher Routis but he volleyed wide. Just after the half-hour, Michael Gardyne was cynically taken out by Richard Tait but Well dealt with the free kick.
The best attempt of the first half came from Gardyne after 37 minutes when he fired a shot off the top of the bar.
Early in the second half, Boyce might have scored but the Northern Irishman headed Jonathan Franks’ cross over.
County’s opener came in the 61st minute when McEveley’s cross from the left was laid across by Schalk to Boyce, who tucked it away from 15 yards.
The hosts might have been home and dry after 65 minutes had Schalk’s disallowed goal stood. The Dutchman pounced after another Boyce attempt was parried but was ruled offside.
And two minutes later Motherwell turned the game on its head. Craig Clay played McDonald in and he was tripped by keeper Scott Fox’s outstretched arm. Sub Moult then stuck away the penalty.
County’s woes heightened when McEveley got a second yellow for a foul on McDonald but even then, they missed a glorious chance when sub Kenny Van der Weg’s cross was sliced wide by Boyce.