Dive jibes are real sickener, says Van Veen
HE HAD refused to be floored by a flu bug before journeying to Dingwall and firing Motherwell closer to European qualification. Kevin van Veen was never likely to accept the rap for hitting the deck too easily once he got there.
The big Dutchman shook off the remnants of a nasty illness, answering the call to make the journey north and take his place on the bench with four other team-mates also stricken by sickness.
After coming on at 0-0 with 64 minutes played, he was strong enough to use his physique to rattle Ross County’s rock-solid defence and win a hotly disputed spot-kick.
County’s Alex Iacovitti told manager Malky Mackay after the game he was innocent and had kicked the ball against Van Veen in the challenge.
But the 30-year-old former Scunthorpe striker insisted: ‘I can tell you it was 100 per cent a penalty. Connor Shields crossed the ball and their defenders were aggressive and eager to win everything.
‘I am in the box, I nicked it in front of the defender and he clattered my calf. I couldn’t even stand up if I wanted to because he put me to the floor.
‘I went down, got the penalty and put it away. For me, I didn’t dive or search for anything. My intention was to get a touch and shoot but I was brought down. I can’t stand up if somebody kicks my leg away.’
The winning goal leapfrogged Motherwell above County and into fifth place in the three-way chase for Europa Conference League places.
Van Veen was drafted back into the travelling party despite being under the weather, with Callum Slattery, Bevis Mugabi, Sean Goss and Liam Kelly also ill.
It could prove a huge intervention, with the Fir Park side two points above the Dingwall team with two games to play, albeit with Hearts and Celtic in wait.
County must look for results against Rangers away and then Dundee United at home if they are to overturn the deficit.
Van Veen (right) said: ‘I wasn’t available all week because I was very ill. I didn’t train at all.
‘I only got selected today because of all the other illnesses. I still had some of the effects but I was able to play a part and we saw what happened.’
Motherwell’s approach was to sit back, soak it up and try to hit on the counter.
With Jake Vokins a threat on the left and Blair Spittal sparking County’s best attacks from midfield and deadball situations, Austrian midfielder David Cancola sent one attempt dipping just over the bar from 25 yard shots.
Spittal also set up Regan Charles-Cook just inside the Motherwell penalty area, but the Premiership top scorer was wild with his first-time attempt.
Twelve minutes before the break, Motherwell produced their first serious threat.
Ricki Lamie’s through pass from deep sent Joe Efford tearing through on the left and his strike had to be pushed for a corner by the outcoming Ross Laidlaw.
Liam Kelly pulled off a marvellous one-handed reflex save over the bar after Keith Watson’s low ball from the right to the edge of the area was lashed under the bar by Spittal.
It was a fantastic stop just after Graham Alexander blooded Van Veen from the bench. The Dutchman wasn’t long in making an impact.
A diagonal ball played in low from the right saw Van Veen attempt to spin around Iacovitti, who was adjudged to have caught him on the turn.
Referee David Munro, ignoring home protests, pointed to the spot and Van Veen sent Laidlaw the wrong way from 12 yards after 68 minutes.
County responded with heavy pressure but the unbalanced Hungbo knocked a chance wide of the righthand post from eight yards.
Kelly also pulled off another terrific stop from Hungbo.
The goal of a historic first foray into Europe is now out of County’s hands, but defender Jack Baldwin isn’t ready to throw in the towel.
He said: ‘It’s been a while since we had this feeling and we are gutted.
‘It puts us in a tougher position, but we’ve still got two massive games left and it’s far from over.’
Baldwin stressed fellow centre-half Iacovitti felt aggrieved at the decisive penalty award. He added: ‘Speaking to big Alex, he’s adamant that he cleared the ball. But Van Veen’s an experienced striker, to say the least, and in these scenarios he is always going to try his best to get something.’ ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Laidlaw 7; Randall 6 (Watson 55), Baldwin 7, Iacovitti 6, Vokins 7 (Wright 87); Cancola 7 (D Samuel 75), Tillson 6 (Hungbo 46); Spittal 7, Callachan 7, Charles-Cook 6; White 6. Subs not used: Munro, Sims, Burroughs, Drysdale, B Paton. Booked: Tillson. MOTHERWELL (3-4-3): Kelly 7; Donnelly 6, Ojala 6 (Slattery 64), Lamie 7; O’Donnell 6, O’Hara 6, Goss 6, Carroll 6; Shields 7 (Cornelius 84), Tierney 5 (Shaw 72), Efford 6 (Van Veen 64). Subs not used: Connelly, Campbell, Mahon. Booked: Ojala, Goss, Van Veen. Man of the match: Liam Kelly. Referee: Attendance:
I nicked in front of the defender and he clattered my calf. I couldn’t stand even if I wanted to