Staggies need Fergie time for late winner
With Queens in front through Stephen Dobbie’s 82nd-minute goal, Jags midfielder Blair Spittal was denied a spot-kick when he was sent sprawling by Michael Doyle deep in stoppage time.
The decision left Caldwell perplexed and the Thistle boss said: “Everyone in the ground thought it was a penalty.
“The ref said there had been County co-boss Steven Ferguson breathed a sigh of relief after Keith Watson’s last-gasp winner kept the title heat on Ayr United.
It looked as if it would be a day of frustration as County battered the Wasps who defended for their lives.
But Watson came to the rescue when he headed home with seconds to go and Ferguson knows how important it was to close contact but not enough. I didn’t know you had to have a specific amount of contact. I’ve just found that out today.”
Caldwell’s side bossed the first half and came close on a couple of occasions.
Chris Erskine forced a save from home keeper Alan Martin and Kris Doolan let off a couple of shots before his rebound was scrambled off the line.
Queens struggled to test
Alloa .................... 0 Ross County....... 1
to two points behind Ian McCall’s Honest Men.
He said: “They’re huge points for us.
“It looked like just being a point so to come away with three is super-pleasing – there’s a bit of relief in that keeper Jamie Sneddon, with a Gary Harkins shot sailing past in 25 minutes and top scorer Dobbie firing beyond the far post 14 minutes later.
The second half was a dire affair and summed up when Queens striker Lyndon Dykes blundered on the hour. Teed up by Andy Stirling, Dykes tried to f ind Dobbie instead of shooting from 15 yards – to the fury of the home support.
Moments later Dykes nodded wide with Sneddon rooted.
At the other end, a header by Sean McGinty was cleared off one. Sometimes you have to credit the opposition and the way they threw their bodies on the line and their goalkeeper had a couple of fantastic saves.
“But to get the last-minute goal is always nice.”
Jamie Lindsay passed up two great first-half chances, first shooting straight at Neil Parry then firing over the crossbar.
Billy Mckay then missed the line by Jordan Marshall.
With eight minutes left on the clock, Dobbie raced into the box, drew the keeper from his line and slotted low into the bottom left-hand corner before injuring his hamstring while celebrating.
Then came the late drama – and even Queens manager Gary Naysmith admitted Doyle’s foul was a penalty.
He said: “We’re due good fortune after missing out on a few things recently. But credit to my team for their defensive display. It got us the win.” two good opportunities while Parry denied Josh Mullin three times.
But with almost the last kick of the game Mullin swung a ball in to the back post and Watson was there to power a header down and seal the three points.
Wasps boss Jim Goodwin said: “I have no arguments with the end result – Ross County were the better team on the day.”