DEADLY MCKAY THE DIFFERENCE FOR FERGUSON
CO-MANAGER Steven Ferguson last night hailed the finishing power of Billy Mckay for securing Ross County’s most significant win of the season.
Among the Premiership’s poorest travellers this season, County had managed only one away victory at Motherwell back in September.
At that stage, they were still carrying the momentum of a newly-promoted team but have endured tougher times since, slipping ever closer to the relegation zone.
This win might just be enough to propel them to safer ground.
‘That’s probably our biggest win of the season,’ said Ferguson. ‘We’ve had a bit of a monkey on our back in terms of the away form, so to go out and right that wrong was big for us.
‘They were two great finishes from Billy, and different styles too — one with his head, one with his foot. I’ve said in the past, if we feed Billy Mckay, the law of averages says he’ll take his chances.’
Mckay has come into form at a good time, striking five times as County have taken seven points from their last four fixtures.
Immediately substituted in favour of holding midfielder Ross Draper in the wake of his fine left-foot winner, the Northern Ireland cap admitted he had no complaints about being denied the chance to clinch a late hat-trick by the management team of Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell.
‘Big Drapes came on to see out the game and I’ve no qualms about that,’ smiled Mckay. ‘It was good management to get him on to shore up the game.
‘I enjoyed the goals, although I’m surprised the header went it. I just tried to get as much on it as I can. The later one is a great ball by Don (Cowie).
‘It was well documented that our away form hasn’t been the best. It’s a great late win. We scored late last week as well — these are important points.’
Victory gives County breathing space but the overriding aim is survival. Mckay added: ‘We’re not trying to look too far ahead. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. You can’t look at the table and see you’re 10 points clear. That’s when standards start to slip.’