Championship
ross County 2 dunfermline 1
Ross County leapfrogged Dundee United back into second place after triumphing against 10-man Pars – following a moment of madness from Kallum Higginbotham.
But County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell still feels they have it all to prove after whittling down Ayr’s lead to two points.
The Staggies struggled to turn superiority into comfortable control of the match but won through with Billy Mckay’s 12th goal of season and Jamie Lindsay’s fifth.
An unfortunate Ross Draper own goal was all Dunfermline had to show for sturdy resistance a man down.
Kettlewell, while delighted with a return to winning ways after two draws and a defeat at home to United, said: “Against 10 men, you hope to dominate, be free-flowing and create plenty of chances.
“We felt it was a little bit tentative from us. We would like to have seen us in greater control.
“But ultimately, it was three points we required today. That takes us above Dundee United.
“But the longer-term focus is to go and piece together a winning run.”
County’s ninth minute opener came from Don Cowie’s chipped corner from the right which was met firmly on the volley by Josh Mullin and Mckay’s alert head-flick diverted the ball high past the Pars keeper into the roof of the net.
A moment of stupidity after 14 minutes saw Higginbotham, off the ball, given a straight red card for elbowing County’s Stelios Demetriou in the face.
County looked safe in 60 minutes when a Cowie corner flew to the back of the penalty area and was knocked back across by substitute Brian Graham for Lindsay to sink a calm
match stats
58
5 6
11 3
11 0
0 Possession
Shots on target Shots off target
Corners Offside
Fouls Cautions
Sending- of fs 62
6 2 2 1 12 0
Netted his 12th goal of the season, but also a huge contribution dropping deep and linking play.
STAR MAN: BILLY MCKAY.
1 side-foot finish into the bottom corner.
That should have been the hosts home and dry but, remarkably, Dunfermline drew blood after 74 minutes.
Faisal El Bahktaoui’s dig was parried by keeper Fox but smacked off the legs of Ross Draper and into the net.
Pars boss Allan Johnston said: “I haven’t seen the sending off, but by all accounts it was a red card. It looks like Higgy has let himself down and obviously the fans and the team as well.”