Ross County midfielder Martin Woods warned his team-mates must cut out the ill-discipline after fellow midfielder Tim Chow’s early red card left his side with it all to do in Saturday’s 4-0 loss against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Chow’s red card was the Staggies’ third in their last five games, with the Englishman dismissed on 21 minutes for a reckless challenge on Dons midfielder Jonny Hayes, who had opened the scoring for Derek McInnes’ side just 60 seconds previously.
Further goals from Shay Logan, Niall McGinn and Jayden Stockley rounded off the scoring for Aberdeen and Woods said the dismissal of Chow, who was making his first start for the club, left the Staggies in trouble.
Woods said: “We can’t keep getting men sent off. That’s three now this season and it gives us a lot to do.
“We’ve got a great determination but in games like that it makes it near impossible with the gameplan going out the window so early on. It made the day a very long one, especially when we didn’t take the chances we got to change the game.
“We aimed to press them high but as soon as we went down to 10 men that was right out the window. It completely swung the game as sitting in doesn’t really suit us in games, so we struggled after that but we stuck at it and worked really hard.
“If the red card had come late in the game it would have been fine but the fact it came so early on when we had 70 minutes left to play against a team that like bringing men into the middle of the pitch, with brilliant interchange and movement, made it difficult.
“I know it sounds ridiculous but on another day I think we could have pressed them high and got something, which we’ve done in the past. It’s really disappointing, it feels like an opportunity lost.”
Despite his frustration, Woods aimed no criticism at Chow for the challenge, adding: “Tim’s a young boy and I’m sure he’ll learn from this. He’s a great lad and a great professional.
“He’s taken it hard, apologising to the players. It can happen to anyone, he just needs to use his head a bit more.”