Things can only get better for happy Malky
Malky Mackay is convinced recovering Ross County will only get better as his summer imports get to grips with the frenzy of Scottish football.
After a huge comeback victory for the Staggies hoisted them off the foot of the table, the Dingwall club’s manager pointed to the rip-roaring pace of the Premiership in mitigation for his team’s poor start.
Mackay said: “What I’ve got is guys that are starting to get to know each other really well, but are starting to get to grips with the league and understand how I want us to play.
“It was terrific to get those points on the board.
“I’m delighted they had the calmness of mind, with two minutes to go, to go up into the top left-hand corner and keep the ball up there.
“That’s them understanding that we need to calm pressure, against a team desperate to get back into it a bit.”
Claiming only their third win of the Premiership campaign, County trailed 2-1 at half-time but Jordan Tillson and George Harmon struck to give them a victory they fully deserved.
County now sit three points above bottom side Dundee United ahead of a midweek trip to Hibs and Saturday’s Celtic Park examination.
St Mirren, coming off a 3-0 beating await to Hibs, had come north eyeing the opportunity to leapfrog the Easter Road outfit with a win to move joint third alongside Aberdeen. Instead, they remain fifth.
The Staggies made a bright start. Inside three minutes, Yan Dhanda picked up the ball in the middle of the park and released Owura Edwards on the right.
Edwards swung in a teasing cross that curled towards Jordy Hiwula at the edge of the sixyard box, only for Alex Gogic to make a clearing header.
Seven minutes later, the hosts grasped the lead from a corner kick.
Left-back George Harmon’s delivery from the left was knocked out of the danger area, but Loturi killed the high ball with ease and then swerved a lovely ball into the six-yard box where Jordan White strode in to score from a few yards.
County looked comfortably in control, but a spot of brilliance within three minutes had the Buddies back on level terms.
Jack Baldwin was guilty of a clumsy foul on away skipper Jonah Ayunga 22 yards out on the left. Ryan Strain stepped up and scorched a wonderfully struck dead ball finish high past the flailing Ross Laidlaw.
Vice-captain Baldwin hobbled off after 26 minutes, replaced by club captain Keith Watson.
Just when a half-time deadlock seemed likely, Saints struck a second in first-half stoppage time.
From Ethan Erhahon’s corner, Jordan Tillson tried to clear with his head but Mark O’Hara nodded it back goalward, striking the underside of the bar.
The ball bounced down over the line. While Ayunga made sure, it was O’Hara’s goal.
But the Staggies piled on the pressure in the second half and it paid off.
The hosts’ moment came in the 56th minute when Edwards’ cross from the right bounced perfectly into space for Tillson.
From the edge of the area, the midfielder thumped a fine left-foot finish low past Trevor Carson to the keeper’s left.
There was more joy for County almost on the hour mark. Edwards delivered a pinpoint cross for Harmon to finish from six yards with a controlled header.
County remained in control for a good spell, working hard to prevent St Mirren finding a way back.
With six minutes left, home keeper Laidlaw made a crucial block as Saints’ substitute Alex Grieve wriggled in on the left side of the penalty area.