Goalden Graham fires County past Steelmen
Cup triumphs often throw up an unlikely hero.
Ross County knocked out last season’s Scottish Cup finalists by finding success with a front pairing that looked much better on the pitch than it did on paper.
Declan Mcmanus is better known as a central striker but became the wing-wonder who created two goals for Brian Graham.
It was the first time the big forward had hit the net since the end of October.
The Staggies’ attackers clicked in fine style to produce more of a cup surprise than a shock.
A team at the top of the Championship beating the side who are ninth in the Premiership is always on the cards.
The main doubt about County’s chances came from them being thrashed 4-0 by Queen of the South last weekend.
Mcmanus, who didn’t feature in that game, believes playing in the cup was just the tonic they needed.
He said: “We have done well until a wee recent blip, but this installs the confidence back in us.
“To come here and create chances like we did shows we’re a good team and we have Premiership quality.
“We knew we’d have to ride the storm at times against a physical team. When they did get a foothold in the game, we defended well.
“We then went up the park and created a lot of chances.
“If wasn’t for the big goalie pulling off a great save, I would have scored as well.”
The former Aberdeen and Dunfermline man was delighted to see Graham finish off his lead-up play in fine style.
He went on: “That’s big Brian all over.
“People probably don’t know me playing in the wide position, I’ve always been a striker, but I knew I just had to get it into the area because that’s where Brian thrives.”
Neither keeper had to break sweat before the break, with only a few crosses and a couple of tame shots to deal with.
Realising they were up against a rather lacklustre Motherwell outfit helped County reproduce the form that took them to the top of the Championship.
The Dingwall men pushed further up the field from the re-start and Graham, who’d looked a little isolated in the first 45 minutes, came up with two quick goals.
Mcmanus’ first cross from the right was headed home by the 31-year-old, the second saw the former Dundee United man slam it home in emphatic style.
There were flurries of attacking endeavour from the home side, but they left it far too late.
Hastie got a consolation goal in added-on time when he nodded in a Frear cross.
There wasn’t time left to stop the 134 travelling fans heading back north in fine fettle. Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell said: “The season had been going very well but a sense of negativity had crept in after the last two results.
“We proved a point here. Our players showed what we are all about.
“It has been a bit stop-start for Brian Graham, being suspended and an injury before that.
“But the two centre-halves will know they were in a game against him and he produced two great finishes.
“The service from Declan Mcmanus was excellent.
“He is one of the hardest working professionals I have seen and it is nice to see him getting his rewards.” showed superb trickery on the wing to create the goals that saw County seal a memorable cup victory.