Match Report: Ross County 4-0 East Kilbride
Chin stars as clinical County ease past East Kilbride in Dingwall. After a scrappy start to proceedings, the first chance came after 15 minutes. Randall spun his marker and hit the crossbar from a tight angle. Fifteen minutes later, it was Randall who came close for County again. Graham found the midfielder inside the EK box, but his low effort was saved by the foot of Kelly. With less than two minutes until the interval, Balde found Gray inside the area, who saw his shot come off the post. Into stoppage time, County hit the front. Chin found Lindsay, who played the ball across goal to Graham, who found the roof of the net to give the hosts a deserved lead. HT: Ross County 1-0 East Kilbride Into the second period, County doubled their lead. Emslie played the ball through to McCarvel, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Not long later, two became three. Chin did brilliantly to win the ball high up the pitch, before playing the ball down the line to McCarvel, who played a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which was eventually bundled in by Lindsay. With just under twenty minutes remaining, County made it four. Strapp played the ball into the County box, and it was the skipper Graham, in the right place, at the right time, to head home. East Kilbride came close to pulling a goal back when Balde found himself with the ball at the back post, but his deflected effort was cleared off the line. After two minutes of additional time, the referee drew the game to a close. A stellar showing form the Staggies as they maintain their perfect start to the campaign. On the other hand, East Kilbride will have to improve, as they face high-flying Hamilton in their next match. Ross County: Foster (7), Smith (7), Wright (7), Reid (7), Strapp (8), Randall (7), McCarvel (9), Chin (9), Lindsay (9), Emslie (7), Graham (9) Substitutes: Cornelius, Hamilton (6), Jamieson (6), MacLeod (6), Phillips (6), Reid, Turner (6), Wade, Williamson East Kilbride: Kelly (5), Fagan (4), O’Connor (4), Hamilton (6), Kyle (6), Armstrong (6), Zaid (6), Gray (6), Balde (7), McGrattan (5), Elliot (5) Substitutes: Calder (5), McGuffie (5), Dargie (5), McKendrick, Ross, Smith, Steele (5)
Gray calls for quick reaction after Gent heartbreak ahead of Dundee trip
Hibernian return to league action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Dundee to face Steven Pressley’s Dundee at Dens Park. Following on from the disappointment of Thursday nights UEFA Conference League playoff defeat to Belgian side Gent, David Gray will be hoping for a positive reaction from his side. Hibernian were just six minutes away from qualifying for the group stages of a European competition for the first time in the clubs history, but two late goals from Gent would deny Hibs a place in the league phase of the Conference league for the second consecutive season. It was a familiar story for the Easter Road club, having experienced similar playoff heartbreak in the same competition twelve months ago, losing out to Legia Warsaw of Poland in extra time after a dramatic 3-3 draw in normal time. Speaking before Sunday’s match against Dundee, Gray insisted that if European nights are to return to Easter Road next season then domestic form will play a crucial part in that. “As I said last season, and I’m going to say it again now, (European) nights like this are special nights if you come out on the right side of the scoreline, but you felt it in the stadium”. “The players responded really well to it, and if you want nights like that, your domestic form needs to be good. “So we need to bounce back as quick as we can because we’ve got a tough game away on Sunday.” The Hibs boss also emphasised the need to stick together and believes that Thursday’s defeat should serve as motivation for the season ahead. “I think right now it’s very difficult. Clearly we’re all human beings that are all suffering, and they’re all really disappointed, but it’s my job and the staff’s job to get around the players and make them bounce back as quickly as we can. “There was nothing I was going to say immediately after the game that makes them feel any better about that in the dressing room, but as quick as we can, we get around the boys and we make sure that we show them where we can improve. “That’s what it’s all about. We always need to try and improve as much as we can, and there will be a lot of positives to take from the game and learnings to take from it. “But that’s the big thing that we need to make sure we keep moving forward, because as we showed in very large spells tonight, when we do get it right, we’re a very good side. We just need to put that complete performance in.” Hibs have started their league campaign with a loss to Motherwell at Easter Road on the opening day before defeating Derek McInnes’ Rangers at Ibrox. Focus for David Gray’s men is now on ending the month with three points before the first Edinburgh Derby of the season at Easter Road on Thursday night.
Kilmarnock 0-4 Dundee United: Killie’s Defensive Troubles Continue with Another Heavy Defeat
Rugby Park saw yet another poor defensive performance from Kilmarnock as they lost another four goals taking their total to 13 against in three league games. Kilmarnock came into this game off the back of a derby cup win against Ayrshire rivals Ayr United in the cup but had shipped nine goals in their opening two league games which saw them bottom of the league before a ball was kicked. Dundee United had lost their last three in all competitions including a Dundee derby last weekend as they sat just one place and one point above Kilmarnock coming into this one. Killie made four changes to their derby victory as Cathal McCarthey, Mark O’Hara, Jonathan Meier and Nicky Clescenco replaced Jamie Brandon, George Stanger, Aaron Tshibola and Erik Ring. McCarthy and Meier were making their debuts for the hosts today. United also made four changes to their derby defeat as Vicko Sevelj, Dylan Tait, Jesse Randall and Idjessi Metsoko were replaced by Zac Sapsford, Emmanuel Agyei, Joshua Rawlins and Daniel Bennie. The first real chance of the game came for Kilmarnock from a long ball that was flicked on by Greg Kiltie into the path of Joe Hugill who struck on the volley from around 25 yards but it proved to be an easy stop for United keeper Jack Walton. United hit back a few minutes with a cross into the box from Zac Sapsford that was met at the back post from about a yard out as Meier lost his man but Michael Forbes somehow put his header over the bar. Dundee United took the lead after 13 minutes as a corner was floated in by Mehdi Merghem near the front post and knocked in by the head of Emmanuel Agyei who was unmarked just six yards out as Killie’s woeful defensive run continued. United continued to pile on pressure as Daniel Binnie won another header at the back post but it went wide and with Killie down to 10 men at the time as Robbie Deas had gone off injured and George Stanger came on to replace him. Killie finally found themselves with an attempt on goal around the half hour mark as Mark O’Hara flicked a deep cross towards the far post and Walton was at full stretch to tip the ball past the post, the corner that came from it was well overhit and not an issue for United. A penalty was awarded to Dundee United as Cathal McCarthy was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Michael Forbes in the box, Sapsford took the penalty and slipped but managed to strike it past Max Stryek to put United two up. That was followed by a beautiful strike from Will Ferry as he cut in on his right foot and curled one from about 25 yards into the top corner leaving Stryek with no chance at all as United were starting to make it look embarrassing for Killie. Killie tried to get themselves back into the game as Michael Schjonning-Larsen had a couple of crosses that led to nothing as the half time whistle was blown there were boos all round Rugby Park as that’s now 12 goals conceded in two and a half matches. A good start to the second half from Killie as substitute Djenaro Daniels’ low cut back was hit by Hugill but he got it all wrong and it went well over the bar. United settled into the second half as Abdoulaye Yoro hit a shot on the spin after good work on the right hand side but it was a routine save for Stryek. Mehdi Merghem was causing Killie troubles again and his pass inside found Binnie who took a good touch and hit a powerful strike but again it was straight at Stryek. Kilmarnock then went straight up the park and Schjonning-Larsen hit a similar shot to Binnie but again Walton tipped it away. Merghem was at it again but this time he went for it himself, his curling shot looked to be mirroring Ferry’s from the first half but this one drifted just wide. As we entered the last 20 minutes United again found themselves with a player unmarked inside the Kilmarnock penalty area as Sapsford had a header saved by Stryek. Just moments later substitutes Lachlan Rose and Jesse Randall combined but Rose’s shot was again saved by Stryek who got his foot on the ball at a stretch. United made it four with just over 10 minutes to go as Ferry’s cross found yet another teammate unmarked at the back post, this time it was Randall whose volley found the roof of the net from close range. As the game came to an end Dundee United were deserved winners as an almost empty Rugby Park boos their team off the park, Killie need to fix this schoolboy defending or they could have a record- breakingly bad season. Kilmarnock Max Stryek, Cathal McCarthy, Mark O’Hara (Bailey Rice 63’), Robbie Deas (George Stanger 17’), Joe Hugill, Tyreese John-Jules (Cole Burke 64’), Greg Kiltie, Tom Lowery, Jonathan Meier (Jamie Brandon 46’), Nicky Clescenco (Djenairo Daniels 46’), Michael Schjonning-Larsen. Dundee United Jack Walton, Bert Esselink, Mehdi Merghem (Jesse Randall 63’), Panutche Camera, Zac Sapsford (Neil Farrugia 74’), Will Ferry, Emmanuel Agyei, Michael Forbes, Joshua Rawlins, Abdoulaye Yoro (Lachlan Rose 64’), Daniel Bennie (Dario Naamo 79’) .
“I’m a good manager and I back myself” – Derek McInnes
Derek McInnes has admitted Rangers are “a long way away” from where he wants them to be, but insists he remains fully determined to drive the Ibrox side forward. After crashing out of Europe on penalties against FK Jablonec, McInnes’ side face a crucial week with tough trips to Pittodrie and The Falkirk Stadium before hosting a capable Motherwell side at Ibrox. Addressing the current slump, McInnes admitted that “none of us are doing our job well enough,” though he maintained that the squad’s commitment is not in question. “I like to think I know what I’m doing as a manager. I’m a good manager and I back myself, but the players need a wee bit of help and support at the minute,” McInnes said. “We’re a long way away from the Rangers team that I want us to be and the team that I intend us to be, but the players are working extremely hard.” He added that off-field distractions have not helped: “There’s a lot of uncertainty at the minute. Once the transfer window closes, everything becomes a bit calmer. We’re not quite there. We’ve obviously missed big Youssef [Chermiti], the type of striker who can go and stretch teams.” Despite the difficult start, McInnes remains confident in his long-term vision. “I don’t expect us to be perfect at this stage. It’s not been the start we wanted, and I’m not the first Rangers manager to get off to a tough start, but we are determined to follow this job through. It’s the end result that counts, and I still believe we’re going to be a success here.” Following Thursday’s European exit, McInnes bemoaned his team’s lack of tactical identity, noting their struggles to settle into a clear style, whether possession-based, direct, or counter-attacking. “My teams have always had a clear identity.” “I want us to try and be a team that puts more stress on opponents defensively, and I don’t think we are doing that at the minute. We’ve got good ball players, and I think we just need to relax a wee bit more in possession and be comfortable with what we’re trying to do.” McInnes remains hopeful that further squad reinforcements will unlock the team’s potential before the deadline. “It’s not as if we’re not capable, but I do think an extra one or two additions will help us become what we want to be. I want us to be a team that goes full press, but when you go full press and you’re aggressive, you’ve got to be really aggressive with that,picking up second balls, winning duels, turning the ball over, and really imposing yourself on the game. “There are talented players here. You don’t get in the door at Rangers unless you’re a talented player.” Aberdeen v Rangers Pittodrie 12pm Sunday 30th August