Ross County must emulate the class of 2015’s heroics in order to preserve their top-flight status.
Three years ago, the Staggies were six points adrift at the foot of the table with 14 games remaining before an outstanding run of 10 victories from that sequence kept them up.
Following yesterday’s 2-1 defeat by Rangers, Owen Coyle’s men now find themselves in the same position, and he must hope his side can dig themselves out of trouble as Jim McIntyre’s side did. A big turnaround is needed following a miserable streak of no wins from 12 in all competitions.
County struggled to get to grips with the Ibrox men in a thoroughly one-sided first half with goalkeeper Aaron McCarey at fault for Daniel Candeias’ opener. The Irishman redeemed himself with a string of fine saves which kept his side in the game until Jason Cummings killed them off seven minutes from time, with David Ngog pulling one back from the spot.
Partick’s victory over St Johnstone the previous day extended the deficit before a ball was kicked and County needed to respond.
Coyle made a reshuffle with three changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Motherwell midweek. Harry Souttar, whose debut own goal opened the scoring at Fir Park, was in from the start to replace the injured Andrew Davies, while Coyle also shook up his forward line with Billy Mckay and Inih Effiong making way for Craig Curran and Davis Keillor-Dunn. Rangers came into the match looking to regain second place above Aberdeen and tested the hosts in the opening minutes when Aaron McCarey’s poor kick-out was received by Candeias but his shot was straight at the Irishman.
For the third successive match Coyle was forced to make an unforeseen change within the opening 10 minutes after Christopher Routis landed awkwardly on his shoulder with the midfielder replaced by Tim Chow.
The Gers began to cause the hosts more problems with McCarey coming to the Staggies’ rescue to save from Jamie Murphy, whose follow-up shot was hacked off the line by Kenny van der Weg.
It seemed only a matter of time before Graeme Murty’s side took the lead and the breakthrough arrived only a minute later. Candeias was not closed down as he shaped up his 25-yard shot, although McCarey should have done better as the ball squirmed through his grasp into the bottom-right corner.
With the Staggies so bereft of confidence, how would they react to such an early setback? The early signs were not good with van der Weg giving the ball away cheaply to Morelos who pulled his effort wide from the edge of the box before McCarey was forced into action to make fine saves from a Sean Goss shot and Murphy’s header.
County enjoyed a better start to the second half, registering their first effort on target when Michael Gardyne’s tame shot was gathered by Wes Foderingham with Jim O’Brien and van der Weg seeing efforts blocked, while at the other end another fine McCarey save kept out Josh Windass’ shot.
A sense of deja vu would have hit Souttar on 58 minutes when he got his head on Candeias’ cross before watching on in relief as it crept past the post.
Coyle introduced Ngog in place of Curran in a bid to inject freshness to the Staggies’ attack. County made an appeal for a penalty on 71 minutes when Ross Draper’s header looked to have struck the hand of David Bates but referee Steven McLean ignored the claims.
Draper contributed to Rangers’ second goal, giving away the ball in the middle of the park in the move that led to Cummings’ strike and a pitch invasion by some Rangers fans.
Ngog netted on his home debut from the penalty spot, tucking home from 12 yards after his cutback struck the hand of Russell Martin.
But that proved to be too little, too late for the hosts as the Staggies’ dire run continues.