First league win getting closer, insists Mackay
MALKY MACKAY senses that his revamped Ross County team is edging every closer to breaking their Premiership duck.
Mackay, whose side were held 2-2 by Hearts for their third draw of the league campaign, said: ‘We were playing against the team of the moment, who have a fabulous squad of players and are flying in the league.
‘They came here today with an interesting change of formation from the one that has been serving them well, but I felt we coped with that quite well. It was a very good game and we’ve, again, gone toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league.
‘We’ve had Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts now over the last few weeks and we’ve created good chances against them all, with good patterns of play.
‘I was delighted with the way we scored both goals — they were excellent — and we could have nicked it at the end. I would hope a win isn’t far away. We’ve had a real run against the top clubs, but we’re in games right to the end.
‘I’m seeing signs and, if we keep playing like that, we’ll be fine.
‘It is the start of something new. We’ve had 12 players in and 16 out, with everybody getting to know each other and debuts every week.
‘But what they’re giving me is organisation, commitment, determination, fitness and they’re keeping going to the end.
‘Hearts were throwing everything at us yet we still go up the park and arguably should score in the last minute.’
Counterpart Robbie Neilson was pleased with his side’s display, saying: ‘I thought we actually played really well in periods and moved it well. We got into some really good areas and probably should have scored more goals.
‘We lost two scrappy goals in the first half but I was pleased we managed to fight back and get back to 2-2 and we were the team in the ascendancy to go and try to win it.’
Neilson also plans to appeal Ben Woodburn’s caution for allegedly diving.
He said: ‘I think it was water on the brain from the referee.
‘If he’s going to book someone for diving, it has to be absolutely blatant.
‘There can’t be any grey area. It soils someone’s reputation to say they are diving.
‘We will be appealing it and I’d like to think the referee will look at it and change his decision.’