Lads proved they’re bug time players
Kev & pals climb off sick beds to win
ROSS COUNTY ................................ MOTHERWELL ................................ Proud Graham Alexander praised Kevin van Veen and the rest of his ill stars for dragging themselves off their sick beds and flooring Ross County.
The Steelmen had seen a sickness bug sweep through their squad and some of their team weren’t even able to train before yesterday’s trip to Dingwall. Heroes van Veen, who netted the winning penalty, and ’ keeper Kelly were amongst them as they starred to help dig out a big win. Motherwell jumped two points above County in fifth in the fight for Europa Conference League places. Alexander said: “It has been a tough week. Callum Slattery, Kevin van Veen, Bevis Mugabi, Sean Goss and Liam Kelly have all been ill this week. “A couple have only trained a couple of days and others haven’ t trained at all. With a big game we knew we would need that at some point and we were glad they put t hems e l v e s forward for the team.
“They a ll wanted to be here with the boys to help us get the result.”
There are now three points between fourth and sixth and Alexander knows it could go to the wire. He said: “It is going to go to the last game. It was the same with the top six going into the last seconds. It could happen again but we will just give it our best shot.”
Liam Donnelly, Joe Efford and Stephen O’Donnell all came into Motherwell’s threadbare starting XI.
County started with purpose. A Regan Charles-Cook shot deflected wide and then Jake Vokins’ strike was straight at Kelly.
David Cancola curled a shot over before Charles-Cook lacked composure when he did likewise.
Motherwell finally came alive when Efford used his pace and strength but Ross Laidlaw tipped his shot behind. Connor Shields looped his header over in the last chance of note in the first half.
Malky Mackay sent on Joseph Hungbo for Jordan Tillson. Jack Baldwin cleared to stop Lamie putting Well ahead. Kelly then made an even better stop to tip Blair Spittal’s shot over.
Motherwell were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute when Iacovitti challenged van Veen. He picked himself up and sent Laidlaw the wrong way. Mackay sent on Dominic Samuel and then Matthew Wright in search of a goal. The visitors pretty much put up two solid wal ls of claret and amber and Kelly got down to make a brilliant late save from Hungbo.