[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at Global Energy Stadium
Motherwell turned in one of their most disappointing league showing of the season so far, losing 3-0 to Ross County in Dingwall.
Motherwell started brightly, but it was County who opened the scoring midway through the first half through Craig Curran.
It stayed that way until the 70th minute when Tony Dingwall danced through the ‘Well defence to secure the points.
To add insult to injury, Liam Boyce scored a 92nd minute penalty after Keiran Kennedy tripped the Northern Irishman just inside the box.
Without Wes Fletcher, Joe Chalmers, Stevie Hammell, Keith Lasley and Stephen McManus, Mark McGhee was forced to reshuffle his pack. With no recognised left back in the squad, Marvin Johnson filled in. Chalmers, who picked up a knock in training and Stephen McManus both dropped out from the last match with Inverness, Louis Laing and Jake Taylor were both given the nod.
The visitors were the first to threaten when Taylor’s teasing ball from the left had Ricky Foster in trouble, but with no takers, the former Rangers made headed out for a corner.
Then, eight minutes later, Motherwell had a half-heated claim for a penalty when Ainsworth’s low cross was headed for Moult but the striker collided with Marcus Fraser and both hit the deck.
Moult wanted a penalty, but referee Crawford Allan was having none of it.
However, with their first real attack of the game, the Highlanders took the lead, and Mark McGhee will be tearing his hair out at how softly his side conceded.
Both Laing and Kennedy had chances to clear their lines in the middle of the park, and again seconds later when a fired cross was only half dealt with. However, when the ball was eventually worked out to Martin Woods and he picked out Curren who hooked an excellent shot high into the net.
The visitors tried to respond and a Marvin Johnson cross into the box found Moult, but his header was too weak to bother Gary Woods in the County goal.
However, the former Leyton Orient stopper had to look smart shortly after, tipping a fearsome Ainsworth strike around the post for a corner.
County came close to a second goal in the last minute of the half when a cross from Jonathan Franks was just missed by Boyce.
The Fir Parkers started the second half on the front foot and Moult fired straight at Woods with a left footed shot, before almost connecting with a low, teasing Pearson cross from the right, but it was a yard or two too far in front and the chance was gone.
At the other end, Dingwall cut in from the right and fired a long-range shot, which flew high and wide.
‘Well’s best chance of the half came in the 65th minute when, after bursting down the flank, Johnson picked out substitute Theo Robinson in the box but his attempt was well saved by Woods.
But County got the goal that all but secured the win after 69 minute. Boyce kept the ball in play and Martin Woods passed it on for Dingwall, who jinked into the box and rounded Connor Ripley to slot the ball into the empty net.
Motherwell tried in vein to get back into things. Louis Laing’s 30-yard shot went just over and after bursting clear on goal, Liam Grimshaw could only fire straight at Woods who saved again.
To rub salt into the wounds, County added a third in the second minute of stoppage time when Kieran Kennedy took down Boyce in the box. The Northern Irish International took the kick himself and blasted the ball straight down the middle past Ripley to end a miserable day at a frozen Global Energy Stadium.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Global Energy Stadium
Full time, Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell
91′ | 3-0
Goal – Boyce goes down in the box and wins a penalty, which he fires straight down the middle.
Three minutes added on.
89′ | 2-0
Great chance as Grimshaw gets into the box but shoots straight at Woods. County clear the rebound.
84′ | 2-0
Ross County sub, Franks off for Murdoch.
78′ | 2-0
Laing goes for a run and tries his luck from 30 yards which flies inches wide of the top corner.
73′ | 2-0
Ross County sub, Curran off for Schalk.
69′ | 2-0
Goal – Dingwall jinks through the centre of the defence then past Ripley and slots into the empty net. 2-0 to County
64′ | 1-0
Johnson sprints past Irvine and cuts it back to Robinson but a County defender gets a touch on his shot and Woods gathers.
61′ | 1-0
A second Motherwell change, Chris Cadden is on for Ainsworth.
59′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Taylor off for Robinson
56′ | 1-0
Great ball in by Pearson which is begging to be slammed into the net but Moult can’t quite get there. Great chance!
52′ | 1-0
Pearson booked for a late challenge on Fraser.
51′ | 1-0
Good build-up play ends with Moult firing straight at Woods with his left foot from just outside the box.
County get the second half underway…
HT: Ross County 1 – 0 Motherwell #RCFCvMFC
44′ | 1-0
Franks gets past Johnson but his front post delivery is gathered well by Ripley.
32′ | 1-0
Ainsworth drives forward and gets a low, powerful shot away which Woods tips around the post.
26′ | 1-0
Law enters the ref’s book for a foul on Dingwall near the corner flag.
21′ | 1-0
Goal – Curran opens the scoring with a flying volley from inside the box. 1-0 to County.
20′ | 0-0
Linesman’s flag goes up straight away as Davies heads in Franks free-kick. Looked the correct decision.
17′ | 0-0
McDonald and Ainsworth combine on a counter and the latter’s ball is inches away from Moult. Good play!
9′ | 0-0
….Johnson works a short corner but his delivery is overhit and goes out for a goalkick.
9′ | 0-0
Taylor swings in a nice ball to the backpost which Foster takes no chances with and heads out for a corner….
6′ | 0-0
Home fans up in arms as Law goes in heavy on Dingwall. No card shown by the ref…
McDonald and Pearson get the action underway. COYW!!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
“I can’t argue, they deserved to win,” he told BBC Scotland. “I thought we were disappointing in all areas of the field and the game.
“They just had more energy, they were more aggressive. They were better in every area.
“We’ve had a situation where we’ve lost Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell; we’re playing without a lot of experience we could have in the team.
“We’re playing with Marvin Johnson at left back. We’ve been forced into these things, that wasn’t a choice, it was all we could really do.
“Hopefully, we’ll get through this period when we’ll have these boys back where we can work out a better, more complete shape and we can get back to getting decent results.
Ross County manager Jim McIntyre:
“We thoroughly deserved the three points today,” he enthused. “It was so important that we got back to winning ways especially here in Dingwall.
“The league is bunched up and it was a very important result for us.
“I was delighted with our goals and for Liam Boyce to get back on the goal trail. He made it himself with fantastic strength to get the penalty. He’s been doing a great shift for the team and I think it’s important that you recognise that sometimes it’s not always goals they bring to the team.
“It’s also that work rate. He uses his body so well also and that’s key to being a front player.
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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