Ross County: Stunned boss Tony Docherty slams side after 6-0 rout at Raith Rovers sees Staggies rooted to foot of the Championship

Shell-shocked Ross County boss Tony Docherty blasted his rock-bottom Championship team after their crushing 6-0 defeat at Raith Rovers.

Sent to 10th place after losing 2-1 against Airdrieonians last week, they hit a new low here with their worst loss of the season by some distance.

The Dingwall team are now two points behind ninth-placed Queen’s Park, who drew 1-1 with Dunfermline, but five points away from Airdrie, who won 1-0 at Morton, albeit having played one match more.

Docherty replaced Don Cowie in the hot seat in early September, but County have won just two league fixtures and failed to find form.

A Scott Brown goal and Dylan Easton penalty had Rovers 2-0 inside the first 14 minutes.

Jai Rowe made it three before half-time and second half goals from Easton, Paul Nsio and Jack Hamilton piled on the agony for the Highlanders, who have conceded more goals than any other team in the division – 34 goals in 17 games.

This was the second win in short succession for Dougie Imrie over County, having won 3-0 as Morton manager at the Global Energy Stadium before taking over as Rovers boss.

Apologised to fans for ‘inept’ display

Docherty didn’t miss the mark when he assessed the display and result at Stark’s Park after Raith moved to within one point of the top four.

Speaking to Ross County media just after full-time, Docherty said: “I went over to the fans at full-time and apologised to them for that inept performance from the team.

“It’s happening regularly, but if you play opponents who have more desire and a higher work-rate than you, and you concede goals the way we’re conceding then you have no chance of winning football matches. That’s the story of today.

“We’re far too easy to score against. Raith had eight shots on target and scored six.

“I don’t know our stats yet, but in the game we had opportunities at the top end where we could have put (more than their two) shots on target.

“You can’t win when you’re conceding such soft goals, allowing players to run off you or not winning first headers, absolute basics and fundamentals of the game.

‘More desire shown by opponents’

“I have seen that in time, that it’s something that is systemic of the team. That desire, that hunger, that work-rate is shown in abundance from other teams. It’s not shown in us.

“The head-scratcher is we can’t find momentum (after a 4-0 win against Celtic B in midweek in the Challenge Cup).

“You work really hard all week to analyse your opponents and execute a game plan, then when you go out on the pitch there is no desire – or more shown by the opponent – and they win more duels, they run harder than us, and they get easier opportunities than us in front of goal.

“I would love to get these opportunities, for our strikers that the opposition strikers get.

“You can’t win football matches like that and, again, I’d like to apologise to our supporters for that inept performance. I stand by that.”

[Source: Press and Journal]