Live updates from Dingwall as Ross County host Kilmarnock in crucial Premiership contest
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Full time | Ross County 3–2 Kilmarnock (Mckay x2, Hjelde; Lafferty x2)
Full time thoughts
What a result for Ross County! That puts some daylight between them and Kilmarnock, who sink to the bottom of the table after Hamilton picked up a point at Aberdeen.
There was a point towards the end with Killie pushing where I really wasn't sure what the final score would be, so the Staggies will be delighted to hold on to all three points.
That five minute spell at the start of the second half ended up deciding the game, with a first senior goal for Leo Hjelde and Billy Mckay adding to his first-half equaliser.
It was a deserved win overall for me, but now the Staggies need to make sure that they build on this and not think the fight against relegation is already over.
Full time: Ross County 3–2 Kilmarnock
Three minutes added
77' Lafferty pulls one back from the spot
Keith Watson is guilt of trying to shield the ball out of play, but it is not going out and he ends up pulling down Greg Kiltie to make sure he cannot reach the ball.
Lafferty steps up and sends Laidlaw the wrong way, pulling one back for the visitors and making it 3–2.
59' Lakin stings the gloves of Doyle from distance, but Killie's keeper takes the ball under control.
49' Mckay extend County's advantage
What a whirlwind start to the second half from Ross County!
Billy Mckay has a second, and the Staggies very much seem to be in the ascendancy.
This time he takes a high ball down well, takes a touch to set himself up and powers the ball past Doyle to make it 3–1 to the hosts!
47' Hjelde puts the Staggies in front
The Celtic loanee has plenty of space to pick his spot after receiving the ball from Jason Naismith, and finishes with the composure of a more experienced pro.
The second half is under way!
Half time thoughts
I think that's the most fluid I personally have seen Ross County with the ball at their feet for a while. The problem is, too often the ball has been in the air for them to make that count.
The Staggies' pressing has been really good, with the number of times they have won the ball back inside the Killie half audibly one of Tommy Wright's biggest frustrations so far.
Kilmarnock's goal came slightly against the run of play through a bit of quality from Kyle Lafferty, although Colin Doyle had not had to do too much beforehand.
Mckay's reply however will feel like it was well deserved for one of County's stand out players, and that should give them confidence that three points is there for the taking.
Half time: Ross County 1–1 Kilmarnock
38' Mckay equalises for County
The Staggies are level after Billy Mckay is all but given a tap in.
It was a great cross from Jason Naismith to find his run, teeing up a simple finish for the Northern Ireland international.
35' Spittal gets a bit of space to run into in the Killie half, sho he gladly charges forward and gets a shot away, but it's off target.
21' Tremarco is struggling and has to come off, replaced by Leo Hjelde.
18' Killie take the lead
Kyle Lafferty has put the visitors ahead with a good finish, but County will be disappointed he got a second bite at the apple.
The forward had hit a ferocious effort towards goal that was blocked and ricocheted off a couple of players.
Shouts went up for handball, but instead of waiting for a decision to be made Lafferty took control of the ball again and found the net from just inside the box.
9' Spittal shoots wide from distance, and getting the ball back for the goal kick is about as much as Doyle has had to do so far.
The run of play has been for County though, finding plenty of space in their opponents' half. They seem to be up for it, but no rewards for their efforts to this point.
We have kick off in Dingwall!
15 minutes to kick off
John Hughes has gone with the 3–5–2 he switched to at half time against St Mirren last time out, with several changes to the line-up in the process.
Leo Hjelde, Michael Gardyne, Tony Andreu and Stephen Kelly drop to the bench, with Alex Iacovitti, Coll Donaldson, Jordan Tillson and Billy Mckay coming into the side.
Teams
Ross County: Laidlaw, Tremarco, Mckay, Watson, Iacovitti, Lakin, Spittal, Tillson, Naismith, Donaldson, White.
Substitutes: Hilton, Hjelde, Draper, Gardyne, Shaw, Hylton, Charles-Cook, Kelly, Paton.
Kilmarnock: Doyle, Haunstrup, Broadfoot, Power, McKenzie, Dicker, Kiltie, Pinnock, Millen, Medley, Lafferty.
Substitutes: Rogers, McGowan, Kabamba, Whitehall, Rossi, Waters, Dabo, Tshibola, Burke.
