Well put dismal start behind them to take points
MOTHERWELL 2 Tait (53), Moult (73) ROSS COUNTY 0
MOTHERWELL secured their first league victory of the season and they earned plaudits from boss Stephen Robinson after they managed to turn around a dismal first- half display into controlling the game.
Robinson said: “That was our poorest performance in a first-half since I came to the club. Some of my players forgot they had to try to win their battles. We changed our mentality at half- time and that’s why we won.”
Robinson was delighted Louis Moult scored but is well aware that could only increase the chances of the striker being sold before the end of this transfer window.
The Englishman has one year left on his contract and Robinson said: “We have our valuation for Louis and as far as I’m concerned no club has met that. If a club does meet that valuation then obviously it will give the board something to think about.”
The first half lacked goalmouth action. Scott Fox was a spectator and, at the other end, Russell Griffiths pulled off two decent stops to deny Christopher Routis and Michael Gardyne.
Jim McIntyre would have been disappointed not to have had a lead after their dominance. Gardyne caused all sorts of problems for rightback Richard Tait and during the break Robinson moved the right- back to the opposite side of the defence.
Motherwell knew they were fortunate to be level after the opening 45 minutes. Robinson made two changes – Ryan Bowman for Craig Tanner and Allan Campbell for Alex Fisher. He deserves credit for the change of personnel and shape.
Yo un g Campbell played ever so well in the middle of the park. Bowman made a difference. There was now m o re o f a f l ow a n d
purpose to Motherwell’s play. Tait popped up with the opening goal in the 53rd minute when his sweeping shot from 14 yards whizzed past Fox and into the keeper’s bottom right hand corner of the net.
The opportunity came about after Andrew Davies made a mess of a routine clearance.
The Highlanders had a great opportunity to level the score moments later when Alex Schalk was clean through but he blasted over the crossbar.
But it wasn’t long before Well took control of the game again and the points were wrapped up in the 73rd when Moult scored from the spot.
County were reduced to 10 men when Kenny van der Weg was given a straight red card after he brought down the indemand striker.
Moult kept his cool and stroked the ball past Fox to give his side a precious victory.
McIntyre said: “The first half is as good as we’ve played for a long time. Some of our stuff was fantastic. We dominated the game but you’ve got to take your chances and we were wasteful in front of goal.”