Charles-cooks up a storm as Staggies eye a top-six finish
ROSS COUNTY 3
Charles-cook (35, 53) Hungbo (66) ST JOHNSTONE 1 Hendry (24)
Don Cowie insists Ross County haven’t given up hope of retaining Regan Charles-cook beyond the end of the season, as they hone their sights on the top six.
But the Staggies assistant manager knows the club’s talisman and Premiership top scorer will deserve all he gets if he secures a big move this summer.
Charles-cook, out of contract in June, thrilled the home faithful with more trademark magic and a deadly double as County stormed back from 1-0 down to win 3-1.
It was a hugely significant win for the Dingwall team who climbed seven points above the play-off zone and only four from the top six.
Home form has been superb for Malky Mackay’s side, with only one defeat – against Celtic – in the last nine in the league at Victoria Park.
Cowie, hailing 13-goal CharlesCook, said: “Regan’s goals are obviously great, but it’s what he adds to us as a team.
“He works ever so hard for a wide player, as they can be renowned for sometimes switching off defensively.
“It’s not something he does and we are delighted with the goals he is producing, and for Joseph Hungbo to get on the act as well.
“His future is still a live issue, because he’s playing for Ross County.
“He’s on fire, he’s top goalscorer in the whole league which is not often that’s the case.
“It will come down to Regan in terms of where he wants to go.
“We would love him to stay. I love working with him, he’s a breath of fresh air.
“He comes in every day and he’s smiling and happy. Even last year when he wasn’t playing he was still the same person.
“Anything he gets, he deserves. We just hope he keeps doing what he’s doing until the end of the season.”
As for the congested middle of the Premiership table, Cowie stressed: “It’s a massive three points. It allows us to join that group that are fighting for the top-six.”
For Saints, this was a worrying relapse into relegation form after encouragement drawn from performances against Hearts and Aberdeen
It proved a scrappy start in a blustery breeze, with a distinct lack creativity from either side.
Saints, though, looked marginally the more menacing outfit and grasped a 24th minute lead with a superb headed finish from Callum
Hendry. The big striker outleapt a couple of home defenders to connect to Thomas Sang’s rightsided cross brilliantly in the middle of the penalty box and find the top of the net.
County’s first serious attempt, 35 minutes in, brought a sudden change in fortunes.
Amid good build-up play, Harry Paton met Jacob Butterfield in a crunching 50-50 challenge.
As the ball squirmed into space outside the away “D”, Regan CharlesCook picked his spot with a lovely, curling finish beyond Elliot Parish’s reach and inside the right hand post.
Momentum was immediately with the hosts into the second period and their second demoralised Saints in the 53rd minute.
A long Jack Baldwin throw was allowed to bounce in the Saints penalty area and spun to the far side.
Charles-cook wrapped his left leg around it and sent a looping finish over the scrambling Parish for number 13 of the season.
The Staggies remained very much the team in the ascendancy and the third was well-deserved after 66 minutes.
Skipper Watson sent in a high ball to White who knocked it into the path of Hungbo.
The Watford loanee was lethal with a sweet, first time strike from the edge of the box.
County remained comfortably in control to grasp a huge three points.