Honest Martindale admits it was hard on hosts with late, late strike
ROSS COUNTY 2 Clarke (7), Callachan (67, pen) LIVINGSTON 3 Anderson (31), Bailey (43), Parkes (90+5)
David Martindale admits Ross County had every reason to feel hard done by after crashing to another home defeat.
The Livingston boss expressed sympathy for under-pressure Staggies’ manager Malky Mackay after County went a 10th Premiership game without a win.
Tom Parkes’ header – five minutes into stoppage time – settled a frenetic contest in Dingwall.
Martindale’s honest assessment was that his team got out of jail in the first half, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t thrilled with his team’s reaction.
He said: “That’s two very pleasing away wins.
“It is hard picking up points on the road in the Premiership, especially at a club the size of Livingston.
“I’m delighted, but I think Ross County and Malky Mackay can feel a little bit hard done by today.
“To be honest, they deserved more out of the game and should feel very hard done by coming away from that game with no points.
“That’s how it was – and I’ve been on the wrong end of that myself multiple times.
“From what I’ve seen there is more than enough in that Ross County team to start picking up points very soon.
“Fair play to the boys. I thought they were brilliant – and what a great way it was to win it.”
County took a seventh minute lead when Regan Charles-cook cut inside from the left and fed Ross Callachan who, with two Livi players closing in, laid the ball off to Harry Clarke 25 yards out.
The on-loan Arsenal defender’s controlled precision strike with his right foot nestled beautifully into the keeper’s right-hand corner of the net.
County looked in the mood to increase the lead.
Joseph Hungbo was proving a menace for the visitors with his running and trickery and delighted the fans with a couple of flashes of movement.
After 19 minutes, Jordan White played the on-loan Watford winger behind the away rearguard, but his right-foot strike flashed powerfully just wide of the left-hand post.
The Dingwall hosts then had a dream chance to double the lead after a tremendous piece of skill from Regan Charles-cook in cutting into the penalty area along the by-line.
Ayo Obileye brought Charles-cook crashing to earth, but White’s penalty kick was saved down low to keeper Max Stryjek’s left.
County would pay dearly for that missed penalty with a doublewhammy before the break.
Livi’s first attempt on target came in 31 minutes, with Bruce Anderson gleefully grabbing the leveller with a header close in from Sean Kelly’s cross.
Two minutes before the break, the improving Lions had a second attempt on target – and their second goal.
It was a stunner with Odin Bailey, taking the ball onto his left foot from the right side of the area, executing a sublime curling finish high past the home keeper and into the top corner of the net.
The home leveller did come after 67 minutes with the second penalty award of the day – this time with Sean Kelly bringing Hungbo tumbling on the right side of the box.
Callachan took responsibility after White’s earlier miss, but was a little fortunate to see his kick only just squirm through Stryjek’s grasp.
County pressured in six minutes’ stoppage time, but then came the body blow.
Livingston won a freekick deep and centrally and Forrest’s delivery found sub Parkes towering above everyone in the crowded box to loop a wonderful header high past Maynard-brewer.