County stopper says he’ll miss noisy faithful
Aberdeen fans are among the noisiest in the Premiership.
But Ross County keeper Ross Laidlaw would rather see the Red Army out in force in Dingwall today than perform to the sounds of silence.
Instead of the usual 2,000 or so Dons fans roaring their team on, the only voices that will be heard at the Global Energy Stadium will be those of the players.
But Laidlaw doesn’t think that gives the Staggies any significant advantage.
He said: “It’s far from ideal, not having any fans at game because players feed off the atmosphere generated by a big crowd. But we’ll just have to live with the situation for as long as it lasts.”
The travel-weary Aberdeen players head for the Highlands on the back of two defeats in the space of five days and a punishing midweek trip to Lisbon.
But former Raith Rovers, Hibs and Dundee United player Laidlaw doesn’t think that will necessarily be a deciding factor.
He stressed: “Aberdeen had a really good start to the season and, as we all know, Lisbon is a hard place to go to and get a result.
“And while they will have been disappointed by the Motherwell result, prior to that they were showing good form and will be desperate to turn things around.
“The fact is they are a top side and it won’t be an easy game with them looking to bounce back with a win.
“But our confidence was boosted last week winning away at St Johnstone and, hopefully we can take that into this match.”
The Staggies ended a five-match winless run at Mcdiarmid Park courtesy of a superb free-kick goal from skipper Iain Vigurs.
But they would have been forced to settle for a share of the points had it not been for Laidlaw’s magnificent last- gasp save to deny Murray Davidson an equaliser.
It was effectively Saints’ only shot on target and testimony to Laidlaw’s powers of concentration.
But he played down his vital contribution, insisting: “It was just a good save. But because it was in the last minute it was talked about more.
“Had I made same sort of save during the game people wouldn’t have made so much of it.
“I was just glad that I was in the right place at the right time to pull it off and keep a clean sheet, which is always satisfying, but the win was the most important thing.
“I hadn’t had that much to do previously other than deal with a few crosses because the lads in front of me had played so well, but you have to stay alert to be ready to deal with that one chance that the opposition might get.”