Ferguson delighted County have regained battling spirit

A WEEK ago, Steven Ferguson was bemoaning Ross County’s inability to get close to Celtic in even the foul count.

Beaten 6-0 at Parkhead, the Highlanders had delivered what the co-manager described as a ‘passive’ performance and, for an hour of yesterday’s match at Easter Road, they looked similarly anaemic.

Yet after falling 2-0 behind and altering the shape to accommodate substitute Brian Graham as a second striker alongside Billy Mckay, the Highlanders sharpened their teeth.

By the time Joe Chalmers’ drilled shot hit the net in the 90th-minute, Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell were celebrating the return of the fighting spirit that got the team promoted last season.

‘It would have been very easy for our players to down tools and feel sorry for themselves after going two goals down,’ said Ferguson.

‘At that stage, we were very clear that the next goal would be the important one.

‘If Hibs got it, game over. But if we could get it, that might put them under pressure.

‘In the circumstances, it feels more like three points than a draw and the players deserve a lot of credit.

‘Everybody else has a perception of last weekend’s score. Nobody expected us to beat Celtic but, for us, the disappointment was how passive we were.

‘They even beat us on fouls — and that should never happen!’

Graham made a huge impact against Hibs, curling home County’s first goal and giving the visitors a platform to mount the series of attacks that included a headed chance that should have brought him a second.

‘Big Brian had a fantastic impact on the game. He will come on and do that for you. He always finds the space to get those chances,’ added Ferguson.

‘If you wanted anybody to be on the end of the cross, it would have been Brian.

‘But we will credit him for the one goal he did score and the overall impact he made.’

And yet, the day’s defining moment fell to Chalmers, who lashed home the equaliser with seconds remaining of the regulation 90 minutes.

‘We felt we would get a chance but it’s not just about that — it’s about taking that chance,’ added Ferguson.

He will now start to prepare his team for the midweek visit of Rangers.

He said: ‘We always tell the players they need to shoot more.

‘We’re always looking for the wee reverse pass, the touch, so to see Joe step onto it and hit it like that was great. Maybe they will listen to us now!’