Watt proves to be a leveller but Mackay loves Staggies’ fight

Malky Mackay revealed his pride in Ross County’s performance despite seeing Tony Watt wipe out the hosts’ hard-earned lead in Dingwall.

The Staggies manager felt his players showed courage in pushing for a winner against a Dundee United side he rates as potential top-six material.

The draw left recovering County and United still locked together at the foot of the table with Kilmarnock.

County’s first league goal in a first half this season, from a superbly controlled Ross Callachan finish, promised much for the hosts, but Watt’s fine reply just after the hour meant no movement at the bottom of the Premiership.

A win for either would have taken them ninth in the table.

County’s powerful finish to the Dingwall clash filled Mackay with optimism for challenges ahead.

He said: “I thought we were terrific in the first half – we really came out of the blocks fast. We were good value for our one-goal lead and I’m just disappointed we didn’t get further ahead by half-time.

“In the second half we had 15 or 20 minutes where we had to make sure we defended properly. They got back into it again with the equaliser.

“I was delighted they had the courage to really push in that last 10 minutes.

“This is a marker to our players that, in this little mini-league we’re in, we’re as good as anyone.

“United are a good team. I look at the players they’ve brought in and the squad they’ve got.

“For us to play like we did in the first half gives me pride in my own group.”

The first half proved a war of attrition, befitting the bottom-ofthe-table billing.

County left-back Ben Purrington did well with a well-timed saving tackle to prevent Jamie McGrath striking from the left side of the box.

There was better from United after 33 minutes as Kieran Freeman’s cross had Tony Watt leaping and straining his neck to connect with his head before the attempt flew just over.

The home breakthrough came six minutes before half-time – County’s first goal in the league before half-time this season. Owura Edwards played a pass down the left and United’s Freeman tried to shepherd the ball out of the park.

Purrington’s perseverance paid off as he used his strength to wriggle back on the ball and then cut a low ball back to near the penalty spot.

Callachan met it first time and did well to place a superb finish under the crossbar.

United’s Glenn Middleton tried to retaliate with a surging run from deep ending in a block by home keeper Ross Laidlaw, who denied Watt soon after.

United manager Liam Fox made a double change at the break with Gilles Djoum and Archie Meekison replacing Jamie McGrath and Craig Sibbald.

The leveller came a minute after the hour. Middleton seemed to have lost control of the ball under Jack Baldwin’s attentions, but wrenched back possession and whipped a low ball across.

It held enough pace that the waiting Watt simply had to control his finish and direct it past Laidlaw from 12 yards.

United’s Levitt was then desperately unlucky after collecting the ball fully 30 yards out and unleashing a fantastic attempt that smacked off the home crossbar to safety.

County finished on top but Callum Johnson couldn’t quite meet a Yan Dhanda free-kick at the death.