The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Petrie says his side should have put up a better showing
Montrose are hit for six at home by ruthless Ross County
MONTROSE 0 ROSS COUNTY 6
Montrose manager Stewart Petrie was not looking for excuses as his side were thrashed 6-0 at home by Ross County.
Petrie said: “To lose six goals at home is not good enough.
“It was hard for the boys to play two Premier League sides back-to-back in the space of four days, but we should still have done better.
“Our decision-making was certainly not up to standard, but we will get better.
“Our squad is thin at the moment and it will not get any better for the remaining Betfred matches.
“We will be judged against the teams from our own league, but we should still have put up a better show.”
Ross County made the early running and on nine minutes a header from Kenny Van Der Weg was well saved by Jordan Millar.
When the sides met at the same stage of the competition last season, Montrose only lost 1-0 to a late penalty, but they fell behind on 15 minutes when Thomas Mikkelsen headed home a Ryan Dow cross.
On 27 minutes, Mikkelsen went down when challenged by Sean Dillon and the referee pointed to the spot.
Craig Curran made no mistake from 12 yards.
The roof fell in on Montrose and four minutes later, Michael Gardyne fired home a low shot after a sweeping move.
Montrose tried to settle and Terry Masson drove over.
Then in stoppage-time at the break, the home defence failed to clear a Gardyne free-kick and Curran scored via the crossbar.
Kerr Hay hit the sidenetting for Montrose, but on 55 minutes they gave the ball away and Dow passed for Mikkelsen to score.
County sent on Alex Schalk for twogoal Curran and on 59 minutes the substitute made it six after another clinical move.
The Premier side took their foot off the gas a little, but might have added to their tally in the closing stages.
On 86 minutes, a Mikkelsen header forced a great save from Millar, then three minutes later, a drive from Gardyne again saw him dive to push the ball away.
Teams
Montrose: Millar, Steeves, Dillon, Watson, Webster, Masson, Wallace, Fotheringham (Callaghan 62), Willox (Johnston 46), Templeman (Fraser 62), Hay. Unused subs: Thomson, Fleming.
Ross County: McCarey, van der Weg, Davies (Fraser 60), Naismith, Kelly, Gardyne, Chow (Routis 66), Lindsay, Dow, Curran (Schalk 56), Mikkelsen. Unussed subs: Fox, Dykes, Morrison, Kellior-Dunn.
Attendance: 421 Referee: Alan Newlands (Scotland).