Debut strike is fine Finnish
Niskanen piles on County misery
Flying Finn Ilmari Niskanen fired Dundee United to a crucial win with his first goal for the club.
The 23- year- old winger cracked home a powerful drive in the 31st minute to leave County still desperately seeking their first win of the Premiership season.
But Malky Mackay’s men only have themselves to blame after blowing a string of second-half chances and the County chief said: “In the second half we changed it a little and we were excel lent and created an incredible amount of chances.
“We had three point-blank headers, a goal disallowed, we hit the post and their keeper made saves.
“To have 55 per cent of possession in the second half here and create the number of chances we did I’m disappointed.
“I think we could have come away with not just a point but all three, especially after that second-half performance.”
But United were able to do what County couldn’t – take one of their chances.
They started brightly and Scott McMann’s fierce cross from the left flashed across the
DUNDEE UTD....................1 ROSS COUNTY...................0
face of the County goal with no takers.
Then Ian Harkes pounced on a mistake in the 14th minute to set up Niskanen but his fierce, diagonal shot was well saved by Ash Maynard-Brewer.
Captain for the day Benji Siegrist kept out Blair Spittal’s effort as County hit back.
But United were soon on the front foot and only a last-ditch tackle by Harry Clarke denied McMann when he found himself in front of goal.
Niskanen finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when he found himself in a similar position in the box to his earlier chance and this time his fierce shot flew in at the near post.
Nicky Clark looked set to double the lead soon after, but he shot tamely at MaynardBrewer.
The keeper came to his side’s rescue once more in the 39th minute, turning away a long-range Jeando Fuchs drive for a corner.
Just before half-time, County had an opportunity of their own with Spittal sending a 25-yard curling shot just wide.
That was a taste of things to come, though, as County eventually stepped up a gear following a slow start to the second period.
They went close in the 58th minute when on-loan Watford winger Joseph Hungbo crashed an angled shot off the outside of Siegrist’s post.
The Staggies should have equalised seven minutes later when Spittal fired a corner in from the left but Clarke sent his powerful header over.
Sub Jordan White had a similar opportunity shortly after but he headed straight at Siegrist.
County did finally have the ball in the back of the net in the 81st minute but sub Dominic Samuel’s effort was ruled out for offside. They continued to push but failed to find a leveller.
But assistant boss Liam Fox admits United’s failure to kill sides off is turning him grey.
All four of their Premiership wins this season have been by the same score and Fox said: “I’m delighted with another three points. We were made to work extremely hard for them in the second half when County threw everything at us.
“Any win is a good win and it’s a good habit to get into but we’re also aware that there’s still a lot of work to be done and improvements to be made.
“Winning 1- 0 isn’t good for the nerves, though – I’ll have a few grey hairs soon!”