Red Lichties ready for league campaign

Battling display against Ross County was ideal tonic after midweek thrashing at Easter Road

ARBROATH 0 ROSS COUNTY 0 (ROSS COUNTY WIN 5-4 ON PENS)

Arbroath captain Ricky Little believes the Red Lichties can take a lot of confidence from their performance against Premier League Ross County despite missing out on a bonus point after losing the penalty shoot-out.

Goalkeeper David Hutton had an outstanding game for the Gayfield men on a day when every player wearing the maroon shirt put in an excellent shift.

The midweek 6-1 thrashing by Hibernian was well and truly exorcised from the memory and Little is now relishing getting down to league business next weekend.

He said: “The important thing for us was to put in a good performance after the Hibs result. We didn’t perform at Easter Road so the Ross County game was an opportunity for us to put that right before the league starts next week and I think we did that.”

“It’s a bit of a lottery when it goes to penalties and I am disappointed with my own one as I didn’t hit it well. It would have been good to have got the bonus point, and we are disappointed not to, but it was more important that we performed well.”

The Lichties almost shocked County in the third minute when Danny Denholm’s effort clipped the post before going behind, but shortly afterwards the Staggies ripped through the home defence and Little had to show a sharp turn of pace to get back to clear a goalbound Ryan Dow effort which was heading over the line.

Although County enjoyed the bulk of possession in the opening period, Arbroath carved out chances. Ryan McCord volleyed narrowly wide and a low shot from Denholm forced Scott Fox to save.

Hutton made his first telling contribution on the stroke of half time, blocking a Tim Chow header and shortly after the interval the keeper again came to the rescue to thwart Craig Curran and Jordan Naismith.

Arbroath were never out of the reckoning, however, and had a strong penalty claim turned down when Omar Kader’s cross seemed to be blocked by the arm of a County defender.

The Dingwall men made a late attempt to secure victory only to see an inspired Hutton frustrate substitute Thomas Mikkelsen twice within as many minutes near the end.

Little said: “Hutts was brilliant. He was sharp off his line, came and took crosses confidently and his second save from Mikkelsen was incredible.”

With neither side being able to break the deadlock it went to penalties. Steven Doris missed with the first kick but Jamie Henry, Bobby Linn, Ryan McCord and Blair Yule all netted to keep Arbroath level.

Fox then became County’s hero by saving from Little and David Gold to secure his side a place in the next round.

Hutts was brilliant. He was sharpoffhis line, came and took crosses confidently and his second save from Mikkelsen was incredible. RICKY LITTLE

Picture: SNS. The Arbroath players after losing out in the penalty shoot-out.