Ross County F.C. 1 – 0 Dundee F.C.
Why are all the Dundee supporters dressed alike?
Where shall we start?
First victory in the Scottish Premier League? Check.
Third clean sheet in four SPL matches? Check.
38 straight matches without a defeat? Check.
Currently in fourth place (Europa League!) in the SPL? Check.
Alright, back to reality…
All four clubs playing in tomorrow’s SPL matches could leapfrog County, but since only two of the clubs can win, County will finish the weekend in no worse than 6th place- and that’s still in the top half of the table. That being said, all of the results so far this year point to County finishing somewhere between 4th and 6th place when all is said and done. The task is fairly simple (which should not be confused with “easy”): They need to beat the weaker sides (like Dundee), do no worse than sharing the honors with the clubs above and below them, and keep it close (goal differential) with the top clubs. So far, County has actually done better than that- drawing last years 3rd place club and almost beating the champions.
As for today’s match, the decisive goal came in the 72nd minute when Mark Corcoran was taken down in the area and captain Richard Brittain step up to successfully dispatch the penalty kick for his second goal of the season. Dundee supporters will naturally agree, but the “neutral” media referee Steven McLean well positioned to make the call and decisive in making it. Here are the highlights-
If the highlights make it appear that County had the better chances and dominated possession it’s because they did (to the tune of about 60%). It’s also pretty clear that after spending most of last year coming off the bench, Mark “Coco” Corcoran is making himself very useful playing down the lefthand side.
One question for Dundee supporters: Your club were gifted promotion this year, where are you?! If the photo above doesn’t show it, the highlights certainly do- Dens Park was only about 40% (4905 out of 12085).
In other Ross County F.C. news of note today, manager Derek Adams told the press after the match that he is planning on adding another player or two to the squad before the transfer window closes.
Finally, while Ross County were earning enjoying their first win as an SPL side, rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. were getting pumped 4-2 at home by Celtic. Only a brace from Ross Draper in the final ten minutes of the match allowed them to escape with some sort of dignity.
Next up: First Division Raith Rovers F.C. in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday.
‘mon the County!!
