Ross County boss hails ‘point gained’ but frustrated not to take three

Posted Sunday, March 18, 2018 by PA

Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson thinks his side did enough to earn all three points against Hamilton.

Two quickfire goals at the start of the second half had put Hamilton in front, but County captain Andrew Davies equalised.

And Ferguson says that while County’s performance deserved a win, they have to look at it as a point gained on their relegation rivals.

“To say we’re frustrated is an understatement,” he said. “When you put as much as we did into the game you expect to come away with all three points.

“Everybody knows we haven’t done that, we’ve only taken one, but the way we’ve played merited three points and not just one.

“Things don’t always go your way with little half decisions and choices around the box going against you, but we need to brush ourselves down and go again.

“It’s another point gained on the team above us.”

Ferguson’s opposite number – and former team-mate at the Global Energy Stadium – Martin Canning was delighted with to be able to leave Dingwall having won something from the game.

“I’m pleased with a point. If you’d offered me that at half-time I’d have bitten your hand off,” he said.

“I thought first half we were really poor. It’s so hard, you hear managers talking about it all the time, guarding against that type of performance when you’re on the back of two good wins.

“That’s a challenge for myself and our club for the levels to go up. We need to handle these games and these occasions better.”

Canning’s side were 1-0 down at half-time to Jamie Lindsay’s goal, but came out firing after the restart and actually found themselves ahead within 10 minutes.

Substitute Dougie Imrie scored from the penalty spot to bring Hamilton level, and quickly afterwards Marios Ogboe’s shot somehow found its way past Aaron McCarey in the Ross County goal to put the visitors in front.

Davies hit back but Canning said: “In the second half we were better. We came back out and went straight on the front foot, which was important.

“Obviously, we get our two goals and go 2-1 up and from there we were disappointed not to hang on and win the game, losing a goal from a set-piece.

“But on the balance of play, you can’t deny Ross County a point today.”