Match Report | DUTD 0-2 RCFC

Ross County took a gigantic leap towards securing Scottish Premiership safety this afternoon with an impressive 2-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

First-half goals from Jordan White and Alex Iacovitti lifted the Staggies to 10^th in the league with just 2 games left to play.

After 20 mins, County came the closest of the 2 sides to finding a breakthrough. Michael Gardyne done well to drive past Liam Smith on the left flank before faking to cross and checking back to beat his opponent. The winger then picked out Stephen Kelly in the centre of the box, who scooped the ball past Ryan Edwards, but he could only find the side netting from close range with his resulting left-footed attempt.

4 minutes later, the Staggies did indeed take the lead! Veteran winger Michael Gardyne was at the heart of the action again as he drifted inside his marker on the left of the box before sliding a reverse ball to Blair Spittal. Spittal then hung up a left-footed cross to the centre of the box and picked out Jordan White who freed himself from his marker before heading the ball into the bottom left corner.

Shortly after, in the 28^th minute, Ross County doubled their lead! A delightful in-swinging corner from Blair Spittal from the left of the box avoided a clear connection from anyone’s head and was flicked into the path of Alex Iacovitti at the back post. The central defender then converted with his right foot from close range after the referee had adjudged his effort to have crossed the line before Deniz Mehmet could claw the ball out of the goal.

County entered the break with a comfortable 2 goal advantage in Tayside. John Hughes’s men had perfectly executed a game plan to stifle Dundee United’s attack as well as provide an exciting offensive threat of their own every time they ventured forward.

In the 61^st minute, the home side nearly got themselves back in the game. Substitutes Louis Appere and Logan Chalmers combined on the edge of area to free up space for the latter to shoot from distance. However, the subsequent curling left-footed attempt from Chalmers could not dip in time to get under the County crossbar.

With 9 minutes to play, the Staggies were denied twice by the woodwork in their search of a compounding third goal. The ball broke to Stephen Kelly on the edge of the area who released a slicing left-footed half-volley, only for his spectacular effort to be tipped onto the crossbar by Deniz Mehmet. The ball then fell into the path of Regan Charles-Cook, but his follow-up header came off the inside of the near-post to prevent a decisive third goal.

3 minutes later, Deniz Mehmet was required again to maintain any little hope of a comeback that remained for his side. A poor United clearance was met by the head of Jason Naismith who directed the ball into the stride of Jordan White. The striker then unleashed a volley from distance that would be tipped wide by Mehmet for a corner.

Resolute, dogged and clinical: County were the epitome of a side looking to successfully escape from relegation this afternoon. John Hughes’s team have now climbed to 10^th in the Scottish Premiership and their 2021/22 league status is now in their own hands ahead of the final 2 league fixtures of the season.