The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
SPL: Colin aims to put things right after gloom of Highland derby loss
Downbut not disheartened Ross County forward Colin McMenaminis determined to play his part in helping the Staggies bounce back after a disappointingHighland derby defeat by Caley Thistle in Inverness.
Two down at half-time after Inverness went ahead through Ross Draper and Andrew Shinnie. Iain Vigurs gave County a glimmer of hope with a superb freekick after the break but Aaron Doran earned the Caley Jags a 3-1 win with a late volley.
County fell to a third consecutive top flight defeat and McMenamin was upset with the Staggies’ display.
But he firmly believes the Dingwall club will find form soon with a home game against Hibs on October 20 offering the chance for redemption.
He said: “I am bitterly disappointed to lose the game but even more disappointed by the way we played in the first half.
“Caley Thistle came quickly out of the traps and we should have as well.
“The players held their hands up in the changing room, we made a couple of mistakes and that happens. We are not going to dwell
“We can't dwell on it, we have to look forward”
on individual mistakes, we will just work hard in training and try to fix it.
“It is hard to take as we don't have a game for two weeks and we would rather get it out our system sooner rather than later.
“We can't dwell on it, we have to look forward to the next game now.
“Wedon'tseemtogetting the break of the ball in the box at the moment. A couple of balls ricocheted around the box and did not drop for us.
“We can't use that as an excuse though, we can't complain as we have had breaks in the past.
“We just have to work hard in training, get organised and see where it can take us.”
The former Livingston, Dundee and Queen of the South attacker reserved praise for the 2,000 strong Staggies support at the Caledonian Stadium.
He said: “Being a derby game the fans are going to turn out in numbers, they were still singing at the end which is all credit to them. I just wish we could have given them more to sing about because it was good enough.
“There is no point in making excuses. We lost the game and we can't blame anybody other than ourselves.” Caley Thistle winger Aaron Doran reckons his Highland derby clincher is the best goal of his career to date and has vowed to become more of a forward threat this season.
The 21-year-old netted with a stunning 20-yard volley to seal a 3-1 win for Inverness in the first ever SPL meeting between the Caley JagsandRossCounty at the Caledonian Stadium last Friday night.
In a thrilling game, Ross Draper and Andrew Shinnie had the home side ahead in the first half. Iain Vigurs pulled one back for the Staggies with a sublime free kick before Doran's last minute goal.
It was the Irishman's first in 11 games this term and although Inverness are the SPL's leading goalscorers with 18 goals, Doran thinks he must improve in front of goal.
He said: “To play against Ross County and score a goal like thatwas amazing - it is probably the best ofmy career. It is probably the cleanest strike I have ever hit. There is an element of luck, the ball just came down and I hit it sweetly and it went into the bottom corner.
“It meant a lot to score in a Highland derby in front of the home fans.
“I don't seem to score many one on ones, I score from outside the box.
“In the first half I had a good chance, I had a lot of time on the ball and I probably should have scored.
“Hopefully I can start scoring a few more goals now.”
Doran looked back on a night to remember for all Caley Thistle fans.
He added: “It was an unbelievable feeling to win the first Highland derby - what a game it was and what an atmosphere.”