Brittain’s got talent to sink sorry Saints
‘ County looked like a team transformed’
ROSS COUNTY finally got their season up and running with an inspired display against a dire Saints side at Global Energy Stadium.
County looked like a team transformed from the one which has struggled so badly in their opening three matches of the season – and who found themselves only off the foot of the table thanks to the points deduction inflicted upon the financially-stricken Hearts.
Right from the kick-off the home side took the initiative and, after Stuart Kettlewell scored a beauty of a goal in the eighth minute, Derek Adam’s side never looked back.
Richard Brittain then added a couple more either side of the interval as County imposed their superiority on the match.
County rung the changes again in search of a winning formula, with Mihael Kovacevic returning to the back four along with Brian McLean and Grant Munro, Kettlewell making a return to the engine room and Kevin Luckassen making his first start after being injured against Celtic in the opening match of the season.
Saints were unchanged from the team which claimed their first point of the season against Kilmarnock last weekend, with David Va n Zanten having to settle for a place on the bench after recovering from a thigh injury. County fans could not have been too confident of their side’s chances going into this match after insipid displays against Partick Thistle and St Johnstone. But it was a team completely transformed yesterday, with excellent performances in all areas of the pitch.
County captain Brittain was particularly inspiring in the middle of the park, and it seemed to rub off on others around him as Saints found themselves put to the sword.
After a terrific spell of early pressure, Kettlewell broke forward and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.
Saints never really troubled County keeper Mark Brown, and it came as no surprise when the home side went 2-0 up mid-way through the first half from the penalty spot. Ben Gordon was fouled by Jim Goodwin deep inside the box and Brittain scored at the second attempt after Saints keeper David Cornell managed to parry his initial effort. Saints huffed and puffed but never really looked like getting back in the match.
It was all ove r as a contest in the 56th minute when Brittain rammed an angled ball into the far corner of the net following a shor t cor ner- kick from Graham Ca re y – a move undoubtedly lifted from the training ground.
It was no more than this rejuvenated County team deserved as they finally got their season up and running.
The nearest Saints came to grabbing a goal back was a Danny Grainger free-kick which was kept out by a flying save from the under-worked Brown.