Staggies’ textbook victory over a lacklustre Dundee
THEY travelled south expecting an opening day test.
Instead, Ross County claimed a textbook win over disjointed Dundee.
Goals either side of halftime from Jamie Lindsay and Christopher Routis secured a deserved three points for the Staggies, despite a late Dark Blues surge.
It was County’s first season opening victory in seven years.
For delighted Dingwall boss Ji m Mc In t y re, its significance was clear.
“I was really pleased with how we played, especially in the first half,” he said.
“We probably should have got more for our efforts.
“But we passed the ball well and handled most things that Dundee threw at us.
“Somebody told me we haven’t won on the opening day in several years, so I’m delighted.
“It’s a really tough place to come, so it’s a great start for us and we look forward to Wednesday now.”
Having lost star striker Liam Boyce this summer, how County will cope has been a hot topic.
But McIntyre reckons his side have proved they remain a hot attacking prospect.
“Obviously, Boycey is a huge miss,” said the Staggies boss. “But we’ve got Billy McKay still to come back, we had Craig Curran out today, and Thomas Mikkelsen will get better and better with the
more minutes he has on the pitch.
“Then we’ ve got Alex Schalk, so we’ve got four really good strikers there, and it’s up to them to fill the void.
“We’ve got really good options.”
County may have won the day, but Dundee almost got their campaign off to a flyer with two minutes on the clock.
First, Scott Allan saw a shot blocked by Andrew Davies, before Scott Fox got down well to save Mark O’Hara’s well-placed effort.
The always lively Michael Gardyne carved out a glorious chance after half an hour, pouncing on the home side’s ponderous defending to hit the by-line and square across the face of the gaping goal.
Unfortunately, neither Alex Schalk nor Jason Naismith could capitalise from close range.
County took a deserved lead when Celtic loanee Jamie Lindsay volleyed home from 20 yards.
The Staggies kept their momentum into the second half and extended their lead when the criminally unmarked Christopher Routis rose to head Kelly’s corner kick past the helpless Scott Bain.
Dundee’s problems last season under Paul Hartley stemmed from a lack of presence, chiefly in defence and midfield. Against County, it was a similar story.
Jack Hendry gave the home side hope by heading home Scott Allan’s 86th minute corner, but it was too little too late.
For Neil McCann, who faces a striking dilemma for Wednesday’s League Cup Dundee derby after losing Moussa to injury, it was a deeply frustrating start – and one he will not allow to set the tone for the campaign ahead.
Neil McCann said after the game :“I’ m really disappointed. I thought we let Ross County dominate us and we’ve lost two goals from set-pieces.”