Stu: Erwin is the man we can Count on to get goals and power us up table
Stuart Kettlewell is adamant Lee Erwin is ready to show his Premiership class af ter f loor ing old club in the final seconds.
The 25-year-old ex-Motherwell and Leeds frontman grabbed his first Ross County goal two minutes into stoppage time after a thrill-a-minute contest in Dingwall.
Erwin, injured for two months after joining County from a troubled spell with Iranians Tractor, is finally up to speed – and grasped back-to-back wins for the resurgent Staggies after springing from the bench.
For the winner, a Killie corner wasn’t dealt with convincingly but eventually headed away by Dario Del
Fabro. Erwin made a powerful connection from 18 yards that cracked off the bar and bounced on the line before he followed in for the clinching touch from 12 yards.
County co- manager Kettlewell said: “It was a big moment for Lee. We know his quality and what he can bring to this league and it has just been a case of getting him up to match sharpness.
“The original strike is unbelievable
– he’s holding off two defenders at the time when he strikes it.
“It was just that striker’s instinct to get himself in the forward movement and it’s a composed finish. It is massive for his confidence. He has missed a lot of football but you can see his out-and-out quality.”
It was enthralling stuff but that moment of inspiration eluded both sides in front of a rapt Dingwall crowd until the death.
After four minutes Alan Power’s delivery from the left fizzed across the box to the far post where Del Fabro only just failed to connect.
County’s Michael Gardyne went down injured clutching his right ankle and had to be replaced by Billy Mckay after only eight minutes.
Ross Stewart then moved out wide right and it was his cross after 26 minutes that might have created the opener with Brian Graham closing in, only for Del Fabro to make a vital clearing touch.
Kilmarnock looked to strike rapidly on the break and two minutes later, Chris Burke’s bal l forward had Eamonn Brophy wheeling away on the right.
As Brophy strode into the box,