The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
County ease out of danger zone
Ross County had been hinting at a big result all week and they certainly delivered with a deserved 2-0 victory at Dundee United to move out of the relegation zone.
Goals from Jordan White and Alex Iacovitti in the first half pushed them one point above Kilmarnock, who lost 2-0 at Motherwell. Basement side Hamilton stayed within three points after winning 2-1 at St Mirren.
This was lined up to be a massive mission for the visitors.
United, who booted Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup last Sunday with a 3-0 rout, are gearing up for next Saturday’s semi-final showdown with Hibs for the right to play St Johnstone or St Mirren in the final.
Having rung the changes in their only defeat in six at Kilmarnock, home manager Micky Mellon might have been tempted to rest a few key men with a rise to seventh place the only Premiership target in their first season back up from the Premiership.
However, he resisted that temptation and it was the same 11 who destroyed the Dons who were geared up for County.
Staggies manager John Hughes made three changes from their last game, which was a 3-1 home loss to St Mirren on April 21.
In came Coll Donaldson, Blair Spittal and Sean Kelly, with Keith Watson, Ross Draper and Billy Mckay dropping to the bench.
United won all three meetings between these sides this term, with Hughes only in charge for the 2-0 defeat at Dingwall in February.
However, over a long managerial career, Hughes has not got a better success rate against any other opponent than Dundee United and has scored wins against them 11 times in total while bossing at Falkirk, Hibs, Inverness and Raith Rovers.
These stats stack up well for Hughes, but come 3pm on Saturday, it’s all about what this current Ross County group could deliver under his leadership.
County have only won twice at Tannadice, the last time in a Championship tussle when a Billy Mckay hat-trick and goals for Sean Kelly and Josh Mullin helped rack up a 5-1 scoreline in September 2018.
These days though the Tangerines are bubbling over with confidence as they went into this contest on the back of having five clean sheets from seven outings.
County would bite your hand off for clean sheets right now, having arrived in Dundee with the worst goals against column in the division.
Leaking 64 goals over 35 fixtures before this one tells its own alarming story.
Keeping the door shut was the goal for County, who stressed last week that defending is the job for all, not just the back line.
United were asking the early questions but the Dingwall outfit were soon finding time in the United half, probing for a way in.
Jordan Tillson drew a diving save from goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet from a wide right angle, but they failed to cash in from the corner then Kelly flashed an effort into the side-netting.
County got their noses in front on 24 minutes when Gardyne spun the ball out to Spittal and Jordan White was perfectly placed to power a header past Mehmet into the net.
Iacovitti doubled that scoreline for County just a few minutes later when he connected with a White assist from a Spittal corner.
This story could not be unfolding any better, but there was plenty of work to be done.
Nicky Clark should have done better with a freekick won from an Iain Vigurs foul, but it flew over the crossbar as half-time approached.
Mellon turned to his bench to freshen it up in the second half, but County were more than holding their own.
Sub Regan Charles-Cook almost added a third goal but failed to finish a follow-up after Sean Kelly’s effort was tipped on to the post by Mehmet then the keeper kept out a long-ranger from White.
With the Scottish Cup semi-finals taking centre stage this coming weekend, County have to wait until Wednesday, May 12 before their penultimate game of the term, against Hamilton. That’s four days before they finish away to Motherwell.
This is going to be tense for the Staggies supporters with the aim of securing top-flight safety going right to the wire.
DUNDEE UNITED (4-3-3) – Mehmet 6, Smith 6, Reynolds 6 (Smith 65), McNulty 6 (Appere 58), Clark 6, Edwards 6, Robson 6, Butcher 6, Harkes 5 (Chalmer 58), Shankland 5 (Pawlett 58), Fuchs 5 (Hoti 72). Subs not used - Doohan, Sporle, Connolly, Bolton.
ROSS COUNTY (4-4-2) – Laidlaw 6, Hjelde 6, Gardyne 7, Vigurs 6, Iacovitti 6, Kelly 6, Spittal 7 (Charles-Cook 76), Tillson 6, Naismith 6, Donaldson 6, White 7. Subs not used - Hilton, Draper, Shaw, McKay, Hylton, Watson, Lakin, Paton.
Referee – Kevin Clancy 6.
Man of the match – Blair Spittal.