A selection headache for Cup replay
Ross County’s management team of Stuart Kettlewell and Steve Ferguson have given themselves a selection headache for Tuesday’s Scottish Cup fifth-round replay away to local rivals Inverness.
But it’s the kind Ferguson is pleased to have, as the Staggies chase success on three fronts.
The Championship favourites booked their place in the Irn-Bru Challenge Cup Final with a 2-1 home win over League One side East Fife on Friday night, despite making seven changes.
And Fergie insisted: “We need a strong group of players, not just individuals, for the run coming up and some of the young boys stepped up to the plate.
“East Fife made us defend a heck of a lot more than we would have liked in the second half after we had looked comfortable at two-up, and they deserve credit for that.
“But I still saw enough positives. This result won’t have done us any harm ahead of the replay.”
New boy Danny Armstrong – signed during last month’s transfer window – is one of those challenging for a starting spot after scoring straight from a corner kick on his debut.
The Staggies looked to be cruising when Declan McManus added a second, but a late first-half counter from Anton Dowds kept the Fifers in the hunt.
Not that Armstrong was surprised, pointing out: “They had already beaten two Championship sides to reach the last four so they weren’t going to come all this way and not give it their best shot.
“It was less comfortable than it should have been, but, hopefully I’ve done myself a bit of good scoring in my first match.
“I’ve heard a few different versions of my goal, including that the ball hit off someone.
“But my corner was straight down the middle and I’m claiming the goal all day long.”
Ferguson said of the 21-year-old ex-Wolves, Dunfermline and Raith winger: “Armstrong has got good delivery.
“That’s one of his strengths and a reason we brought him here, because he’s a dead-ball specialist.”