Staggies boosted ahead of Cowden clash
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ROSS County will take a massive step towards survival in Irn Bru Division One if they win at Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night.
Saturday’s vital 2-0 victory against all-but-doomed Stirling Albion pushed them four points in front of Cowden ahead of the showdown at Central Park.
With the Alba Challenge Cup final against Queen of the South in Perth on Sunday, this is a massive week for the Dingwall club, although securing key league points remains top of the agenda for boss Jimmy Calderwood and his team.
Saturday’s victory for County all but finished off Stirling’s hopes of beating the drop, while it’s potentially a three-way battle to avoid ninth spot, the relegation play-off place.
County have now given themselves breathing space over Cowdenbeath, but a loss in Fife will turn the heat back on the Staggies.
County will go level on points with Dundee, who were deducted 25 points for entering administration, if they win on Tuesday, although the Taysiders have the far better goal difference.
County grabbed the lead at Stirling just before the break when midfielder Iain Vigurs headed home a cross from Marc Fitzpatrick.
The second goal came on 67 minutes when Johnny Flynn cracked a long-range effort into the net.
This result made it a whopping club record 20 games without a win for Jocky Scott’s Stirling, who can now all but prepare for life back in Division Two.
Tuesday’s showdown for County against the “Blue Brazil” pitches Calderwood head-to-head with his best mate Jimmy Nicholl, who was his assistant at Dunfermline Athletic, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Stirling Albion: Reidford, Brown, Allison (Robertson 15), Doyle, Forsyth, Welsh, McHale, Aitken (Gibson 80), Kane, Brighton (Smith 46), Mullen. Subs not used: Christie (GK), Stirling.
Ross County: McGovern, Miller, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Lawson (Smith 82), Gardyne (Wood 46), Kettlewell, Brittain, Flynn, Vigurs (Craig 60), Barrowman. Subs not used: Malin (GK), Morrison.
Attendance: 461.
Referee: John Beaton.
