Mackay denies County changes disrespected cup as Lions march on

ROSS COUNTY manager Malky Mackay defended the wholesale changes he made for the defeat at Livingston and insists he did not disrespect the Scottish Cup.

County started the game showing some six alterations from the team who beat Motherwell in midweek and those who came in acquitted themselves well, despite going down to a 16thminute Ayo Obileye penalty.

However, after the game Mackay felt compelled to explain his team selection, revealing the 12 outfield players who featured were the only ones available.

Mackay still named nine subs — including two goalkeepers — but admits it was simply for show.

The manager, whose team return to Premiership action against Dundee United on Wednesday, said: ‘To be absolutely clear, the team was no disrespect to the cup or Livingston.

‘What we played was what we had left. Six of the nine on the bench were not fit to come on the pitch. We had two outfield players left, who were Jordan White and Harry Paton.

‘We took some heavy hits on Tuesday against Motherwell and we also had a suspension.

‘We had 14 we could play, so I filled the bench to make it look as if it was viable.

‘It was no excuse because we were beaten fair and square. We will give them another four or five days to see if they are available for the middle of the week. But there are certainly a few who won’t be available for that either.’

Little happened during a bland start to the game but in the 13th minute both sets of players and fans stopped for a minute’s applause to mark the tragic passing of local boy Devin Gordon.

Within three minutes of the action resuming, the home side went ahead from the penalty spot.

Bruce Anderson got goalside of Declan Drysdale to meet a Jack Fitzwater ball and the defender fell into the back of the striker.

Referee Bobby Madden awarded a penalty and Obileye was the epitome of cool as he swept a shot in down the middle.

County responded well and came close to equalising when Ben Paton’s deflected drive wrong-footed Lions goalkeeper Max Stryjek but the effort drifted just past the post.

Stryjek then had to be alert to race to the side of his box to smother an Alex Samuel shot from a tight angle.

County forced the issue in the second half and piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

A great chance came and went in the 49th minute when Samuel — who was free inside the sixyard box — headed a Jake Vokins cross wide.

Spittal then had a low drive repelled by Stryjek before Dominic Samuel’s diving header also missed the target.

Joel Nouble came off the bench to make his Lions debut and should have given Livingston a two-goal cushion nine minutes from time but his low drive was kept out by Ross Laidlaw.

Livi boss David Martindale said: ‘It’s cup football — the objective is to make sure you’re in the hat for the next round.

‘I think Ross County dominated large spells of possession in the second half but I thought we had the better chances.

‘We defended our box really well in the second half, Max had a save and the only other one was the header.

‘I was reading a stat and that’s 22 clean sheets from 55 games.

‘At a club our size, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, I think that’s pretty phenomenal, pretty phenomenal that you’ve got a goalkeeper that’s doing that.’