‘Football gods’ smiling on Staggies

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John Hughes felt the “football gods” were smiling on Ross County as goals from veteran midfielders Iain Vigurs and Michael Gardyne sealed his side’s Scottish Premiership status in a 2-1 win at Motherwell.

County were heading for the play-offs at the halfway stage of yesterday’s final matches, with Sam Foley’s early goal giving Motherwell a 1-0 lead over County and Kilmarnock 2-0 up at Hamilton.

But Vigurs, who has played close to 250 times for the club over two spells, equalised with a brilliant curling finish to put Killie back into 11th.

And record goalscorer and appearance-holder Gardyne slotted home in the 66th minute.

Hughes took over the helm four days before Christmas with the Staggies rock bottom.

But big wins over Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibernian kept them in with a chance and they won their last three games to consign Killie to a two-legged clash with Dundee.

Hughes said: “Since I came in, we’ve had a fantastic response. Not every week, which has been my frustration. There have been highs and lows, but I have always said that you are beating Celtic and Aberdeen and doing it for a reason, to keep us in the Premiership.

“In the last three games, to do what we did, especially today, was a big test of character.

“Especially after going a goal down. We stood up to it and it was two wonderful goals.

“It just shows you how the football gods play it out. You are talking about two stalwarts of the club in Vigurs and Gardyne.

“The football gods must have been looking down on us and I am grateful.”