SLIDING ROARS
County hope Billy leveller is turning point
Stuart Kettlewell admits Ross County’s late salvage job in flood conditions could turn the tide in their Premiership survival fight – if they capitalise on it.
The Staggies fought to the death in monsoon rains to cancel out Stevie May’s first-half opener and, in the 94th minute, saw Billy Mckay slide in to snatch a massive equaliser.
It was sheer stubborn grit from County and a show of defiance co-boss Kettlewell feels will boost the Dingwall team’s survival chances.
He said: “We feel it shows massive character and it shows how much the players care – that they want to get something out of the game.
“We didn’t see that in the first half, to be honest. We changed our shape and it was far better in the second half, without ever being pretty. It was never going to be with the overhead conditions.
“In the second half I felt we were the dominant team and could have created one or two more chances.
“But fortunately we got our rewards in the final moments.
“It gives us a lot of hope, that good feeling of a last-minute goal.
“The big thing for us now is that we make this a big point.
“We’ve said that to the guys we must make sure this is something we look back on as a valuable point.”
Saints might have sewn up the win in the first half but the fightback was everything the home side deserved for scrapping all the way to the death, with Mckay netting his ninth goal of the season.
County made six changes from their disappointing 3- 0 beating by Hibs in
Edinburgh during the week, with Don Cowie restored to the line- up for a 37th-birthday appearance.
Saints made four changes from the side that had grasped a last- gasp victory at home to Motherwell, with May and Chris Kane back in to spearhead the attack, while Callum Hendry dropped to the bench.
The Perth men – carrying the confidence of a three-game winning streak – attacked first.
Drey Wright powered a low ball across the home penalty area that was hacked clear by Marcus Fraser.
But County settled and, within 10 minutes, a Josh Mullin strike from the extreme right startled keeper Zander Clark – he reacted late but did enough to palm it away.
Oli Shaw then controlled the ball gracefully on the turn and rattled in an instant 20-yard attempt that Clark had to dive to push away.
Saints rallied again, with May and
David Wotherspoon having attempts blocked before Wright lofted a rebound over the bar.
Wotherspoon’s threat as provider saw him cut back on to his left foot on the right flank and flight a fine cross to the back of the box after 21 minutes.
Scott Tanser outleapt Fraser but keeper Ross Laidlaw caught the header comfortably.
May’s fine pass set up Wotherspoon for a chance in 28 minutes but he cut it a whisker wide of the right post.
But the away team’s moment came five minutes later.
After more possession in the home third, May played a perfect one-two with Kane, with the latter weighting a fine ball behind the defence.
May simply strode on and hit a right-foot shot hard into the left corner of the County net for his sixth goal of the season.
Saints kept pressing for a second goal before the break and had County creaking at times. But in the second half the visitors were far less of a threat as County got an upper hand.
Mckay fired an 18-yard attempt just wide but slackness from the Staggies gave sub Jason Holt a sight of goal inside the penalty area before he was swiftly shut down.
The home side created a spate of corners in terrible conditions as the clock ticked down.
At one Clark spilled the ball from an Iain Vigurs cross and Jason Kerr, in panic, rattled an attempted clearance against his keeper before the danger was snuffed out.
Inside five added minutes, Wright f ired over the bar after chaotic desperate defending in the County box with the same Saints man striking wide soon after.
Then Mullin’s cross from the right skidded across the St Johnstone box in the 94th minute for Mckay to slide in through the mud to level.