Josh Mullin admits his “bromance” snap with Billy Mckay made him laugh.
But the Ross County winger also feels the image that created a stir on social media summed up just how serious the Staggies’ Premiership survival chances are.
The pair were caught in a passionate embrace by photographers, amid the outpouring of emotion and wild celebrations greeting striker Mckay’s dramatic 94th-minute equaliser against St Johnstone.
The gutsy fightback in rain-lashed conditions amounted to a show of defiance by the Dingwall players after recent criticisms.
Mullin – Mckay’s provider for the vital goal – was just happy to see the players’ passion for the cause captured in a positive light.
Mullin said: “It was a great moment. It could be a massive point coming towards the end of the season. With Hearts and Hamilton drawing, they didn’t gain ground on us. We got the 94th-minute equaliser and it is now about taking that momentum into the Aberdeen game on Saturday.
“I know one of the photographers who was at the game and he sent me a picture. I had a wee laugh. I think it is a great picture, to be fair, because it shows what this club is all about.
“It showed just how much it meant to get that 94th-minute equaliser. Maybe sometimes fans think players down tools too easily but as a player nobody ever wants to lose a game of football.
“It just isn’t the case, no matter what level you’re playing at. That picture, for me, speaks a thousand words. You can see the delight on mine and Billy’s faces and that wasn’t even with a winner, just an equaliser!
“Doing it with 10 men just goes to show the character we’ve got in the changing room and the faith the managers have in us. They wanted to keep the attacking players high up the pitch and we got our rewards for it.”
Mullin believes Mckay, on current form, could play a huge part in dragging County free of danger in the top flight.
He added: “Everybody knows Billy Mckay scores goals and he has three in three games just now. His confidence is definitely coming back and we see that in training as well. If Billy is firing on all cylinders, it will be great for Ross County.”
Mullin wants County to take that St Johnstone spirit to Pittodrie this weekend, adding: “Aberdeen will be tough. We’ve played them twice and both times we’ve conceded three goals, so we need to rectify that.
“We realise where we are in the league and we need to roll our sleeves up. We’ll hopefully have a spring in our steps, but we got a great result against Livingston and then let ourselves down against Hibs, so it is about trying to take that momentum we gathered in the latter stages on Saturday, when I thought we were excellent.”