Staggies jump to second as Higgy’s guilty of a bad Kall
Ross County leapt back into second place in the table after a moment of madness from Kallum Higginbotham put the Highlanders in the driving seat.
The Dunfermline attacker saw red when he floored Stelios Demetriou with an elbow after County’s opener to leave his team in trouble after just 15 minutes.
The Staggies struggled to turn superiority into comfortable control but won thanks to Billy Mckay’s 12th goal of season and Jamie Lindsay’s fifth.
An unfortunate Ross Draper own goal was all Dunfermline had to show for sturdy resistance while a man down, with Al lan Johnston’s side slumping to a fourth league defeat in six matches.
County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell, while delighted with a return to winning ways after two draws and a defeat at home to Dundee United, said: “Against 10 men, you hope to dominate, be free-flowing and create plenty of chances.
“We felt it was a little bit tentative from us. We would have liked to have seen us in greater control.
“By that I don’t mean Dunfermline were banging down the door constantly but it became a little bit ragged for us.
“But ultimately it was three points we required today. That takes us above Dundee United and just two points behind Ayr.
“But the longer-term focus is to go and piece together a winning run.”
County’s ninth- minute opener came from Don Cowie’s chipped corner from the right, met firmly on the volley by Josh Mullin near the edge of the area.
Mckay’s alert head-f lick diverted the ball high past the Pars keeper into the net.
A moment of stupidity off