Ross County joy after Jo Hungbo penalty seals top six football for Malky Mackay's team after 1-0 triumph in Aberdeen
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Aberdeen (0) 0 Ross County (0) 1
There were wild and joyous celebrations for Ross County as Malky Mackay’s men sealed top six football for the first time since 2016.
A late penalty kick winner from Joseph Hungbo lifted the Staggies from ninth to fifth in the table in the closing minutes of a tense and ragged battle at Pittodrie.
As boos rang out around the Granite City ground after the hosts’ failure, the team that remained bottom of the table in December ran to celebrate with their travelling support.
Most of them would still be absorbing this stunning success in Mackay’s first season in charge late into the evening.
The crucial spot-kick, Hungbo’s seventh goal of the campaign, came with the on-loan Watford winger’s second touch after being subbed on. The first had struck Jonny Hayes’ arm.
County hadn’t created much at all during the preceding 86 minutes, but defended superbly against the out of sorts Dons.
The Staggies can now look forward to rich rewards in prize money as well as big matches against the Old Firm, with a push for European places now also a realistic target.
It was a day for the live league table, with six teams spread from fifth to 10th place in the table chasing the rewards of top six status on the final pre-split afternoon.
County’s impressive recovery since 10 winless matches leading into October had singled them out as one of the strongest form sides outside the Old Firm, as well as fourth top scorers.
Performances leading up to this Pittodrie test had also been characterised by stronger defensive showings.
There was no question, though, that they had to target all three points on a day when the Dons also needed victory at all costs.
The Staggies were backed by a decent travelling support, with a couple of Grenada national flags unfurled in honour of the Premiership’s top scorer Regan Charles-Cook.
Play kicked off in sunshine, amid the snow showers, with County settling quickly, but unable to muster much of worth in and around the home penalty box in the opening 25 minutes.
The Dons, as expected, held more possession, but it was tense and scrappy.
Ross McCrorie should have done far better after 25 minutes from Vicente Besuijen’s lay-back, but blasted over the bar from 15 yards.
Soon after, Lewis Ferguson swerved a 25-yard free-kick into the side-netting after Alex Iacovitti caught Marley Watkins late.
County’s Ross Laidlaw made a solid clutch from a David Bates header approaching half-time as the Dingwall team ended the half under some pressure.
There was an injection of energy from both sides as the second half opened.
The ball only just eluded County’s Jordan White early on as the Dons struggled to deal with a high ball.
Inside 50 minutes, though, the hosts went agonisingly close to opening the scoring.
Watkins found space on the left and slipped a pass inside the angle of the penalty area to Lewis Ferguson.
The Scotland midfielder struck first time but the attempt flashed a whisker wide of the far post.
County were beginning to find some spaces in more threatening areas of the pitch and Harry Paton surged away on the left after 63 minutes.
The Canadian had White screaming for the ball in the six-yard box, but chose a cutback towards Callachan that was cleared by Ferguson in the nick of time.
The Staggies were beginning to win the midfield battle into the last 20 minutes, but there was a lack of incisiveness when it mattered.
County had a strong penalty claim denied after 77 minutes as Connor Barron seemed to catch Regan Charles-Cook to the right of the penalty area.
Referee Greg Aitken wasn’t interested.
A goal for either side, at this stage, would have taken them into the top six, and Ross Laidlaw reacted superbly to block Christian Ramirez as the hosts tried to make the breakthrough.
Then came County’s late moment of joy.
Jonny Hayes was adjudged to have handled Hungbo’s cross and, after a delay amid Dons protests, the substitute struck the ball past keeper Joe Lewis to shatter the deadlock and secure top six status.
ABERDEEN (4-3-3): Lewis; Ojo, Gallagher, Bates, Hayes; McCrorie (MacKenzie 67), Barron, Ferguson; Watkins (MacLennan 67), Ramirez, Besuijen. Subs: Woods, Considine, Jenks, Polvara, Ramsay, Ruth, Milne.
Booked: Hayes 83, Ferguson 85
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Laidlaw; Randall, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Vokins; Callachan, Tillson; Spittal (Hungbo 82), H. Paton (Cancola 76), Charles-Cook; White (D. Samuel 76). Subs: Munro, Watson, Burroughs, Drysdale, MacKinnon.
Booked: Iacovitti 27, Callachan 56, Baldwin 73
Referee: Greg Aitken
