Staggies owe point to heroic Fox in the box
Steven Ferguson described ex-celt Scott Fox as the best goalkeeper in the Championship after saving Ross County’s skins in the Highland derby.
The Staggies’ shotstopper made a dramatic full-stretch dive to save Aaron Doran’s early thunderbolt, before pulling off a brilliant double save from Doran and Jordan White.
The Dingwall stalemate knocked Caley Thistle off top spot and saw the hosts slide down to fourth in the table.
But before a near sell-out crowd, the quality on show in the ferocious contest underlined both sides’ title credentials.
County finished strongly, with the best home chance coming late on as Michael Gardyne fired over the bar.
But co-manager Ferguson admitted the players had “lessons to learn” from a poor first-half showing.
He said: “We were off it a little bit in the first half, but we grew into the game.
“In the last 10 or 15 minutes, we were the team in the ascendancy, but we had to rely on our goalkeeper.
“For football in the north, the noise and the crowd, it was a great spectacle. Fair play to Inverness, they’re a very good side and we feel we have a very good side.
“We recognise there are lessons to be learned, but every player left everything they had out there.
“Scott Fox was excellent. We believe we have the best goalkeeper in the league.” Ferguson acknowledged it had been a big call to start with former Caley Thistle midfielder Iain Vigurs on the bench along with winger Josh Mullin. After a
17-month wait for a derby, this was a first trip back for unchanged Caley Thistle since a Liam Boyce-inspired 4-0 Premiership defeat here all but sealed their relegation.
But a visiting team featuring only two survivors from that April 2017 hammering quickly took a grip in the first half amid a 100mph start.
With nine minutes gone, County were spared by a full-stretch fingertip save from keeper Fox to thwart Doran’s rising strike. From a corner, home defender
Liam Fontaine stabbed wide in a great position square on goal five minutes later, but it was Caley Thistle who looked increasingly dangerous.
Doran’s low strike was blocked by Fox and the County keeper had to get back on his feet sharply to deny Jordan White on the rebound.
As the first period settled, John Robertson’s side remained in charge.
A Liam Polworth free-kick was punched over the bar by Fox, while White stuck a diving header wide and also shot
past the post as pressure mounted. County, though, opened the second half with greater urgency.
A quick Brian Graham free-kick found Jamie Lindsay slipping a short pass inside to Billy Mckay, but the ex-caley Thistle striker shot straight into Ridgers’ arms. County made a double switch, with Vigurs and winger Josh Mullin injecting more menace and creativity into the home ranks in the closing quarter of the game. A long Mullin cross from deep right almost found Brian Graham sneaking in for a back-post header, only for the big striker to lose footing at the vital moment.
County’s last substitute Declan Mcmanus drove in on goal and drew a strong block from Ridgers with eight minutes left, before Mckay flashed an effort wide.
County’s best chance of the half came late on as Billy Mckay dummied a Kelly pass into the path of Gardyne. The winger’s dig rose just over.
Caley Thistle sub Daniel Mackay then made a vital clearance on the line from Mullin’s cross with Gardyne in close attendance.
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson said: “We are disappointed due to the chances we created. The fact the home goalkeeper is walking off the pitch with the man-of-the-match award tells you everything.”