Ross County boss Tony Docherty pleased to navigate ‘tricky’ tie against Banks o’ Dee

Ross County manager Tony Docherty felt his depleted squad stood tall to avoid potential pitfalls as they progressed against Banks o’ Dee in the Scottish Cup.

The Staggies were without 12 players through a combination of injury and illness for the third round tie at Spain Park.

County did not let that stand in the way of an assured performance however, taking an early lead through leading scorer Ronan Hale before Jordan White killed the tie late on.

The result ends the Staggies’ near seven-year Scottish Cup hoodoo, with the Dingwall outfit having not won a tie in the competition since a victory over Motherwell in January 2019.

Docherty was pleased with the manner of his side’s triumph against their on-form Highland League opponents.

He said: “I knew it was going to be a tricky tie against a team on good form – and 13 games unbeaten.

“I applaud the players as it was important we kept a clean sheet, and we carried a goal threat at the top of the pitch with two of our strikers scoring.

“I felt we were reasonably comfortable for the whole game.

“I want us to be that team that is hard to beat, but carry that goal threat at the top end of the pitch – and I think that’s what we were.”

Depleted Staggies praised by boss

County, who are second bottom in the Championship, will hope the result can ignite their stuttering league campaign – as they prepare for a crucial home match against an Airdrieonians side who trail them by a solitary point next Saturday.

Docherty is hoping for more options to choose from, with Nicky Clark and Alex Iacovitti having been sidelined by a virus, while Ross Docherty, Jamie Lindsay and Connor Randall are stepping up their return from injury.

He added: “I’ve never encountered such an injury list, but that’s great credit to the ones that stepped up. When you look at my bench, I’ve only got a few substitutes there.

“We hope we can get a few back and it can become a bit healthier for us.

“For just now though, I think the players deserve a lot of credit for getting through a tricky tie and meeting the objective of getting into the next round.”

Dee’s recent form has taken them up to sixth in the Highland League, and that confidence was apparent in the opening stages, with both Magnus Watson and Sam Pugh threatening with deflected efforts inside the opening 10 minutes.

Although it took time for County to impose their threat on the home side, they took the lead with their first meaningful attacking burst on 19 minutes.

White was released down the right flank before cutting back for Hale, who took a touch before clinically drilling the ball beyond the reach of Daniel Hoban from 12 yards.

Dee retained hope of clawing back into the tie while the deficit remained one goal, with Hoban keeping that belief alive early in the second half with a superb point-blank save to deny White’s header following a corner, before Kieran Phillips fired the rebound over.

County made sure of their progression nine minutes from time though, when White rose unchallenged to nod home a Henderson corner.

Despite suffering a first loss since August, Banks o’ Dee co-manager Paul Lawson remains upbeat about the weeks ahead.

Lawson said: “We certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves.

“We have been on a great run, after a slow start to the season. I would like to think this will not derail anything because it was a free hit for us – let’s be honest.

“We will treat this one in isolation, regroup and go again for some more important games than this one so to speak, in terms of what we are looking to do as a club.”

BANKS O’ DEE (3-4-2-1): Hoban 6; McCabe 7, Reynolds 7, Anderson 7; Stark 6 (Davidson 85), Cooney 6, Pugh 7, Stephen 6; Gilmour 6, Duell 6; Watson 6 (Morgan 73).

Subs not used: Duncan, Alexander, Winton, Phillipson.

ROSS COUNTY (3-4-2-1): Laidlaw 6; Smith 7, Gallagher 7, Crompton 7; Phillips 6, Fraser 6 (O’Sullivan 81), Cornelius 6, Duncan 6; Scott 6 (Henderson 70), Hale 7 (Mackay-Steven 85); White 7.

Subs not used: Foster, Carson, Munro, Lindsay, Coyle.

Referee: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 550

Man of the match: Jordan White

[Source: Press and Journal]