“We competed really well, we could have scored four or five” was the evaluation from Ross County boss Malky Mackay post match.
Of course, Mackay is correct to an extent, County could have netted on more than two occasions. However, the major issues are defensive calamities, not a lack of goals.
The tie which resulted in last minute defeat was the perfect encapsulation of Ross County’s season so far.
Mackay’s men had 64% possession and over double the number of shots Livingston had.
Joseph Hungbo and Regan Charles-Cook terrorised the Livingston defense, and were the most threatening players on the park.
The home team completely dominated, but once again individual errors and feeble defending cost the Staggies. The visitors Livingston had just three shots on target all game, and a shoddy inability to defend the box allowed them to score with all three.
On average, Ross County are conceding 2.2 goals per game. Malky Mackay has the highest concession rate of any Ross County manager in the Premiership. A worrying statistic, but one that could explain why the search for a victory is still ongoing.
Malky is adamant that he’s the man to turn it round, but pressure is inevitably mounting on the County boss.
Without a win in ten games, he has overseen County’s worst ever start to a top flight campaign. With some fans suggesting he should already be out the door, many believe he should be given the Dundee game, which would allow him to have faced all the teams in the division.
Malky Mackay has been touted as a long term project, so the chances are that he will be given plenty more time to turn the tides with the County support.
But things must change fast. Just ten games in Ross County sit at the foot of the table, four points adrift from Dundee, who face Staggies on Wednesday.
The game is huge for County, with a risk of falling seven points adrift from the pack. A win would do the world of good for County, and could perhaps give Malky Mackay a platform to turn his fortunes around.