Victory at Tannadice ‘thoroughly deserved’

Ross County manager John Hughes hailed his battling side for upsetting the odds to secure a superb 2-0 victory at Tannadice yesterday to climb out of the danger zone.

First half goals from Jordan White and Alex Iacovitti earned the under-pressure Staggies full points against their hosts, who face Hibs in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Less than a week after Micky Mellon’s team blew Aberdeen away 3-0 in the cup quarters, County got the win they needed to move above Kilmarnock into 10th spot after Killie lost 2-0 at Motherwell.

Hamilton’s 2-1 victory at St Mirren means Accies are only three points adrift of County and these relegation rivals meet in their next fixture, on Wednesday, May 12.

It was a bold and assured display from the Dingwall team against the same starting 11 for United had quite rightly been given plaudits for their performance at Pittodrie.

Delighted boss Hughes said: “We thoroughly deserved the victory. They did everything I asked of them – and kept a clean sheet.

“I don’t think United had a shot on goal, so we were solid. It helped when we got our goals.

“In the second half, we didn’t have to go chasing it. It was about keeping our solid shape, seeing the game out and being professional. We have good senior pros on the pitch who can do that.”

Hughes added: “It’s going to go right down to the wire, but it’s in our hands. I am not interested in what’s going on elsewhere.

“We have had big results since I’ve come in that have given us a chance of staying in this league.

“There has been frustration in terms of inconsistency of performances but we have given ourselves a chance.”