Malky Mackay admits Ross County perpetrated their own downfall against Motherwell in six-goal Premiership thriller
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Malky Mackay says Ross County cut their own throats as they threw away a two-goal lead in the final minutes at Motherwell.
The Staggies were 3-1 up thanks to goals from Eamonn Brophy, Simon Murray and Victor Loturi in the 89th minute, only for a late double from their hosts to make sure the spoils would be shared.
That was naturally frustrating for Mackay, who was delighted with how his side played for most of the match but did not see them hold out for all three points after conceding some poor goals.
"Motherwell are getting a lot of plaudits and they've done well, so we always knew it was going to be tough," Mackay explained.
"At the same time I thought we were excellent in parts. We were brave to play the way we did in the first half, and we have to take those chances.
"At half time Motherwell had to come at us, but we picked their pockets and showed really positive play going forward to score two good goals.
"We miss another reasonably easy chance to go 3-0 up, then we cut our own throats.
"The penalty is dreadful – we had a free kick, and within five seconds they have a penalty. The second one is even worse – one of our player smashes it off another one of our players, and it falls to their boy.
"It was two points dropped, and I'm disappointed we gave them a sniff back into it.
"Murray's goal was top class – I don't know how many passes we had before the ball goes into the net – so to play the way we did and dominate the ball, I'm really proud of."
County had other chances to move further ahead, which in the end they may be rueing having seen victory slip through their fingers.
However, with another away day on Tuesday evening against Hibernian, Mackay knows that nobody can afford to be too downbeat for too long.
"I've spoken to the boys, and we've got a long journey back up the road but tomorrow we will be cold and clinical, and responsible, going through the goals to see how we can be better," he added.
"Then we turn to Tuesday night, and we'll need people physically and mentally ready for that.
"We're travelling a 1000 miles between Dundee, Motherwell and Hibernian, but I can't have hard luck stories or anyone feeling sorry for themselves, so we have to be ready.
"I think the Old Firm are one set of teams, and then we can go toe-to-toe with the rest of them.
"Ross County are always a team people think will be fighting at the bottom of the division.
"That's okay, because we're a small-town club in the north of Scotland with a small stadium and a small budget.
"I've got a team that I know on any given day can take on anyone in the Premiership, and we have done in the last three years.
"We will continue to make it difficult for teams everywhere we go. We were outstanding on the ball to create chances, we just have to finish them."
