First Division: Rampant County shrug off ‘boring’ jibes to bring title and SPL into view

WhilE it now appears to be common practice among rival managers to be critical of leaders Ross County, what cannot be denied is that the Dingwall men could be champions by this coming weekend.

Derek Adams’ side made it 27 games in a row without defeat when they saw off Partick Thistle 1-0 at Firhill on Saturday and a home win over Raith Rovers coupled with a failure by Dundee to take full points against Ayr United in midweek would see the champagne uncorked in the Highlands.

Their latest triumph came courtesy of a Colin McMenamin goal just before half time after Thistle goalkeeper Ryan Scully had done well to block a Stuart Kettlewell header.

County saw the game out without too much in the way of danger, only for Thistle manager Jackie McNamara to join in the recent criticism aired by Billy Reid and Steven Pressley, the managers of Hamilton and Falkirk respectively. “They are not pretty on the eye, but they are efficient and that is why they will win the title,” said McNamara.

Even the Partick fans joined in the critique of their visitors’ play with shouts of “boring, boring County”. However, it was water off a duck’s back to Adams who said: “It really is not my problem if people are having a go at us. We scored, Thistle didn’t and we deserved our win. I heard the Thistle fans and that amused me as we are one of the best passing teams in the First Division.”

Second-place Dundee slipped 17 points behind when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Dens Park by Raith Rovers. The day had started well for Barry Smith’s side when Carl Finnigan headed home a Gary Irvine cross after six minutes. However, the Kirkcaldy side levelled just before half-time, with former Dundee United striker Damian Casalinuovo’s low shot after good work by Jason Thomson taking Rovers four points clear of bottom spot.

Falkirk’s season has taken a dip and they slumped to their third defeat in a row and their fourth in five games as former manager John Hughes guided Livingston to a 5-2 win at Falkirk Stadium. The result leaves manager Steven Pressley looking for an improvement before Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup Final against Hamilton.

Pressley’s side had started well and went ahead through top scorer Farid El Alagui. However, a double by Rory Boulding had Livingston 2-1 up at the break. Bobby Barr increased the Lions’ advantage in the second half and Iain Russell added a fourth from the penalty spot. David Weatherston pulled a goal back for the hosts, only for Barr to net his second and Livingston’s fifth past rookie goalkeeper Graham Bowman.

Hamilton ran out 3-0 winners over bottom side Queen of the South, but had to wait until 18 minutes from the end to break the deadlock as substitute Greig Spence popped up to head home with his first touch. On-loan Wigan youngster Danny Redmond and Andy Ryan added further goals with terrific strikes from distance to pile the pressure on the Dumfries men.

Ayr United and Morton both took a small step towards survival after playing out a goalless draw at Somerset Park with the hosts moving six points clear of the Doonhamers and the Greenock side going ten ahead.