 |
|
|
|
|
|
e-mail Lorsports
Return to the Main IndexReturn to Lorsports' Home Page
Dennis Wyness scored in 89 and 90 minutes in a dramatic finish to the North derby as Caley Thistle grabbed valuable share of the points in a match they looked destined to lose at the Caledonian Stadium yesterday.
Ross County were coasting at 3-1 - until ex-Don Wyness struck twice to earn the hosts an unexpected draw.
Wyness earned the man-of-the-match award after clipping the ball into the net from close range with only a minute to go and then repeating the trick when he fastened on to a rebound after Barry Robson's header had cannoned back off the post.
County created only three clear chances in the first period and clinically converted them all.
Paul Sheerin had given Caley a 12th-minute lead with a powerful drive, but Owen Coyle then grabbed County's first with a low shot and then superb headers from Steve Ferguson and Brian Irvine put County 3-1 ahead.
County manager Neale Cooper was clearly shocked after watching his side pegged back. He said: "I thought we had the win in the bag but you've got to keep going for the whole 90 minutes and we tired in the last quarter of an hour.
"Mark McCormick has been in his bed with 'flu all week and he is going right back there after feeling unwell again in the dressing-room after the game. Caley Thistle's late comeback was hard to take but there was a lot of good things out there from ourselves. I thought Karim Boukraa was brilliant and McCormick did well to get out of his bed and play.
"Nicky Walker pulled out after picking up a calf injury but I thought that young Gary Hamilton did very well when he came into the side at the last minute.
"We really missed someone out there to keep the ball in the middle of the park and slow the game down but it was pleasing to get three goals, especially against Caley Thistle, as we have been failing to find the target regularly all season."
Caley Thistle manager Steve Paterson was relieved to take a share. He said: "Dennis Wyness has now started to do what we expect of him by scoring 10 goals in the last nine games. His movement is tremendous and he has very quick feet and certainly looked like a Premier League player today. I felt we were not going to come back after we went 3-1 down but we are a 90-minutes team and never gave up and you couldn't have had more of a dramatic finish to any match.
"I think we dominated the first half but it is all about putting the ball in the net and, although County had only three clear-cut chances, they scored them all.
"The game only went on because of the tremendous work from our groundsman Tommy Cumming and director of football Graham Bennett who pulled out all the stops to clear the pitch."
Return to the Page Index
Ross County are watching closely the contract situation of former striker Neil Tarrant as his career at Aston Villa looks set to end.
County manager Neale Cooper has already tried to bring the player back to Dingwall on loan this season, but was given no encouragement from Villa.
However, Tarrant's contract with the English Premiership club expires at the end of the season and he has yet to be offered a new deal.
Despite the failed loan attempts, Cooper has not ruled out a move to bring the striker in on a permanent basis at the end of the current campaign.
He is surprised that Tarrant has failed to make an impact in the English top flight. Cooper said: "It's no secret that we tried to get Neil on loan this season, but Aston Villa were unwilling to lend him back to us.
"For some reason he hasn't been given a chance at Aston Villa, but we will certainly be monitoring the situation at the end of the season."
County have also signed Hibs attacking midfielder Scott Bannerman on loan. The 21-year-old has failed to make the expected breakthrough at Easter Road this season.
Return to the Page Index
Ross County manager Neale Cooper is desperate to see his team back in action tonight.
The Dingwall men are set to meet Morton in a rearranged First Division game – provided Cappielow survives a 10am inspection today.
Cooper said last night: "We need to get back playing as we've fallen three games behind everyone else in the division. Our pitch has been frostbound for weeks. We're certainly looking to add another three important points to our tally.
"We're all desperate to get going again after our weekend game against Alloa was called off. Although we took the lads on a seven-mile run after that postponement and have been able to do work indoors, there's no substitute for a competitive game of football.
"My assistant, Gordon Chisholm, watched Morton in their 3-0 home defeat against Airdrie last weekend and they and their fans certainly showed a lot of passion throughout the game. I've no doubt Morton will be just as passionate if the game goes ahead.
"We would like this game to get the green light because, if it doesn't, it looks likely we will have to play them in back-to-back fixtures in March, on a Saturday and then in midweek, which is never ideal."
Midfielder Frank Escalon has recovered from a calf strain and is added to the squad for the trip to Greenock.
Striker Alex Bone is now free from suspension and is available again for selection, but defender Eddie Cunnington is suspended.
If the game is postponed, Cooper may well head for Peterhead's Balmoor Stadium to take in Scottish Cup opponents Buckie Thistle's Aberdeenshire Shield final with Cove Rangers.
Return to the Page Index
Ross County are considering the possibility of a weekend friendly if Saturday's game at Livingston falls victim to the weather.
County are due to meet the First Division leaders at Almondvale but already the game is in doubt due to frosty conditions in West Lothian which forced Livingston to cancel a reserve fixture against Falkirk on Tuesday night.
Ross County will be seeking an early decision on the fate of Saturday's match and assistant manager Gordon Chisholm said: "All we can do is prepare as if there is a game on Saturday. It is not ideal to be training indoors but at the moment we have to assume that the match is on, even though the forecast isn't looking good."
He added: "We will be speaking to Livingston to see how conditions are and would obviously be looking for an early decision on the match."
Ross County's last competitive action came in the Highland derby in Inverness on January 2, since then the club has been forced to postpone home matches against Falkirk and Alloa.
Victoria Park remains frostbound but the County squad and management team are eager to get back on to the pitch.
The club is contemplating a friendly fixture if Saturday's match at Livingston is postponed and Chisholm added: "If the match is called off then we would be looking to arrange a friendly – but the difficulty is finding anyone with a pitch that is playable."
Return to the Page Index
Buckie Thistle goalkeeper Michael Rae hopes his team can grab some Tennents Scottish Cup glory against Ross County at Dingwall today to reward the Press and Journal Highland League club's fans.
A 1,000-strong Thistle travelling army is expected to create a special atmosphere at County's Victoria Park.
Former Rangers and County youth team player Rae, whose father, Michael, also played in goal for County, said last night: "I just can't wait for the game and, although a lot of my pals will be cheering on County, some of them will be joining the big Buckie support.
"We certainly have a chance to progress, especially if we can hold out until half-time which would set County's nerves jangling. We know they will come at us right from the kick-off but we will be prepared for that and we have players who can hurt County if given the chance.
"Brian Thomson can score from almost anywhere on the park and Craig Stewart is equally capable of scoring spectacular long-range goals as he did in the last round against Fraserburgh with a stunning strike.
"In midfield, Levi Stephen is capable of splitting any defence with pin-point passes and we are always well organised at the back. If we defend well, County will have to work really hard to prise us open. If we can get a goal early on, you never know what could happen."
Buckie Thistle manager Alan Scott echoed his keeper's thoughts when he said: "You never know what's around the corner in football. We are going to what is our cup final with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"You could say that County are a banker bet to win but you could also have said that about English non-league side Dagenham & Redbridge, who went as no-hopers to Premier League Charlton Athletic and came away with a 1-1 draw.
"I'm sure Michael Rae will play out of his skin against his local team and the rest of the lads will take great confidence from that. We don't intend to sit back and let County come at us from the kick-off – we only know one way to play and that is to attack."
County manager Neale Cooper yesterday put his side on a cup alert.
Cooper is confident his team has prepared thoroughly and professionally for the tie but is also aware that Buckie represent a difficult cup obstacle for County to overcome.
Cooper said: "I watched Buckie in the Aberdeenshire Shield final against Cove Rangers at Peterhead's Balmoor Stadium last week and I was impressed by their twin strikers, Brian Thomson and Craig Stewart.
"We know how dangerous Thomson can be from his days with Caley Thistle and Stewart, although not the most mobile of front men, has good, quick feet and a powerful shot so they will have to be closely watched. In addition, Scott Anderson and Alan McPherson are accomplished defenders. I've known midfielder Levi Stephen for years, and the former Rangers man is very capable of creating things if given the chance.
"However, we had a good workout in a closed-doors game at Dundee United during the week and, although we went down 3-0, we certainly benefited from getting a game under our belts."
He added: "We're raring to go after not having had a competitive game since the 3-3 draw against Caley Thistle in Inverness on January 2. It should be memorable afternoon for what is really a local derby."
Return to the Page Index
Ross County manager Neale Cooper admits he was willing his First Division side to be drawn against Rangers in the Scottish Cup.
The County boss listened to the fourth round draw on the radio and was delighted when he heard that the current holders would be making the long trip north to Dingwall.
Cooper spent two years at Ibrox in the late 1980s and was widely tipped to become one of the best in the country - but the former Aberdeen defender was plagued by injury during his second term at the club.
Now he admits he can't wait to come up against his old side and reckons playing against Dick Advocaat's multi-million pound signings will be a great test for his own players.
"The longer the draw went on, I realised that Rangers still hadn't come out," said Cooper.
"I was listening on the radio and I was pleased when we got drawn at home, then there was a pause on the radio and I knew that something funny was going on and it must be one of the bigger teams.
"When they said it was Rangers I thought that was fantastic.
"I spent a couple of years at Ibrox, playing mostly during my first year there because I had a few injuries during the second year.
"I have a lot of good memories from being at the club and it is great to be playing a team of such fantastic calibre."
Ross County overcame Highland League side Buckie Thistle on Saturday to book a place in the next round of the competition - despite barely playing a game since the beginning of December as a result of bad weather conditions.
And Cooper admits he can't believes his luck now they have drawn one of the Old Firm.
He added: "I'm obviously delighted with the draw. I've been at the club for about four years now and you always hope to get a game like this.
"It's a massive test for the players and they are going to have to be playing out of their skins.
"We haven't played for weeks at home and did really well against Buckie Thistle last week.
"We just wanted to try to get through to the next round and to get a draw like this is great."
Return to the Page Index
Ross County's Tennents Scottish Cup jackpot turned into a bonanza yesterday.
Sky TV has confirmed the Dingwall club's fourth-round date with holders Rangers at Victoria Park will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 18, with a 6.05pm kick-off.
The tie's switch avoids a direct clash with First Division rivals Caley Thistle's all-ticket date with Kilmarnock, which will be played in Inverness the day before, with a 3pm kick-off.
Caley Thistle got a £100,000 financial fillip last season when Sky's cameras covered the fourth-round home clash with Aberdeen – a thriller in front of 6,200 fans who saw Cato Guntveit's late equaliser earn the Dons a replay. Aberdeen beat Caley Jags 1-0 at Pittodrie.
Now County's coffers will get a guaranteed six-figure cash boost on top of their share of the gate receipts generated by a 5,500 all-ticket capacity crowd, a windfall which chief executive Alastair Kennedy yesterday described as a godsend.
He said: "After a six-week spell where the weather has forced many of our home games off, we are hurting financially due to the lack of revenue coming in through the turnstiles at home games. Drawing Rangers in the first place was a dream come true for a club like Ross County and our fans because it's the biggest game in our history as a Scottish League club. Sky TV's decision to cover the game against Rangers is a godsend from a financial point of view."
Rangers manager Dick Advocaat said: "I'm a little surprised that Sky, which has the choice of any game it wants, has decided to screen our game live when you consider that St Johnstone or Dunfermline – both SPL teams – will be taking on Celtic. But Ross County are a First Division team and it will be a very tight pitch, so we know what to expect and will have to show we are the better team."
County manager Neale Cooper, facing the biggest game of his managerial career, plans to talk to Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood about extending Pars striker Owen Coyle's loan spell at Victoria Park.
Republic of Ireland international striker Coyle, who has made a significant impact with County, has already indicated to Cooper that he is happy to stay at Victoria Park beyond the end of this month. Cooper said: "Owen made it clear well before Sunday's cup draw that he is happy to stay with us for as long as he can provided Dunfermline are happy,".
"I'll be talking to Dunfermline to see if they will extend his loan again because he's already cup-tied after playing against Buckie Thistle on Saturday and his big-match experience could make him an important figure for us when we play Rangers."
County moved quickly yesterday, opening negotiations with their opponents to agree ticket prices and visiting fans' ticket allocations for the big games.
County were first to release information on ticket prices – £15 and £8 for stand seats and £12 and £6 for ground admission, with preference going to season-ticket and debenture holders initially. They can book their regular seats or buy terracing tickets from the Victoria Park ticket office on Friday (9am to 8.30pm), Saturday (9am to noon) and Monday (9am to 8.30pm).
All remaining tickets, limited to two per person, will go on general sale at Victoria Park next Tuesday and Wednesday, when the ticket office will be open from 9am until 8.30pm on both days.
Return to the Page Index
Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor yesterday confessed that his opposition to the Dingwall club's televised Tennents Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Rangers on Sunday, February 18, is based on purely personal Christian convictions.
A practising Free Presbyterian, MacGregor made it clear yesterday that his personal beliefs have not put him at odds with his fellow Ross County board members over the Victoria Park club's compliance with the SFA's decision to switch the match to a 6.05pm Sunday slot to accommodate live Sky TV coverage.
The Victoria Park chairman said he was astonished and disappointed at the reaction in some newspapers to his admission that the switch had left him facing a personal dilemma.
The Dingwall club, guaranteed an all-ticket 5,500 sell-out against the cup holders, will pick up a £100,000 cash bonus from Sky on top of its half-share of gate receipts expected to generate around £55,000.
MacGregor was yesterday standing firmly by his statement that he would have waived the live coverage and the six-figure Sky payment and played the tie on a Saturday had it been his own choice. He said: "I was asked for a purely personal opinion on the issue of the tie being played on a Sunday. I gave a purely personal answer and that's all it was – my opinion on the issue and neither the club's nor the board's.
"I've had calls from fans who attend all of our Saturday home games who will not be at the biggest game in the club's history because it's being played on a Sunday. I understand their misgivings and I have sympathy with all of them. Ross County is a community club and we try to make sure we cater for every section of that community. It is disappointing that a section of our support, however small, which has strong ties with the club, will miss out on the Rangers game.
"I have yet to decide whether attending the game will be at odds with my personal convictions but they are my convictions and my decision will be a personal and, I hope, a private one."
County chief executive Alastair Kennedy, who is master-minding the club's plans to meet the massive demand for tickets, stressed that realism and contractual obligations had to take priority over any personal misgivings about playing on a Sunday. He said: "Roy's beliefs and religious convictions are known and respected by everybody connected with Ross County but at no stage when the board met to discuss the match arrangements did he raise any objection to the match being played on a Sunday.
"He realises that Ross County is party to contractual agreements with the Scottish League and the SFA which mean we have to comply with instructions from both bodies. The fact the game is to be played on the Sunday has been dictated to us by the SFA and there was never any question of us not complying."
Return to the Page Index
Return to Lorsports' Home Page