Midfielder exorcises Dingwall demons as he scores in victory for Ross County against St Johnstone
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IT was the scene of misery and heartache for Kyle Turner late last season and recollections of Partick Thistle’s Premiership play-off collapse remain fresh in the mind.
Having joined the team that inflicted that pain, Turner was relieved to start generating happy memories of the Global Energy Stadium on Saturday.
A brilliant piece of opportunism and calm finishing from Turner provided Ross County with the breakthrough in Saturday’s 2-0 home triumph over St Johnstone, with the moment all the more special for a presence in the stands.
Connor Randall’s early second half finish was enough to complete the job, although County should have scored more.
Turner’s dad Tommy, a man who clocked up almost 500 senior appearances for clubs including Morton, St Johnstone and St Mirren, was there to witness his boy’s first top-flight goal.
“My dad was up here watching. He comes here, there and everywhere with me and won’t miss a game,” 25-year-old Turner said.
“It is quite special for him to be there to see it and he was buzzing for me. It was my first Premiership goal and my first for Ross County.
“Coming here, I want to make an impact and be an influence on the team – and get some goals and assists.
“When I got my chance after Yan Dhanda’s injury, it was important to take it.
“I obviously haven’t had the happiest of moments up here at Ross County’s stadium prior to this!
“I don’t really like to talk about what happened here with Partick last season, it still stings.
“It was just great to get my first goal and, more importantly, our first win after a hard start last week at Celtic.
“We have probably the hardest start of anyone with Rangers up next, so it was all the more important to get those three points behind us.”
Turner, who joined County on a two-year deal in the summer, is encouraged by how the squad is shaping up.
“It’s a great changing room with a lot of leaders in there, a lot of experienced players.
“The gaffer has brought in a few of us from the Championship and we’re just looking to try and have a successful season.
“We’re all delighted with the first league win, but it could have been more comfortable.
“By the time I came on in the first half, the boys could have been a couple of goals up. If we had scored four or five goals, no-one could have complained.
“We dictated and created chances, and I thought defensively we were really good. It was a really strong performance in our first league game at home.”
