Ross County crowned champions after beating Queen of the South in style

Ross County have clinched the Championship title in style with a 4-0 win against Queen of the South at Victoria Park.

Ross Stewart’s first-half header gave the Staggies a half-time lead before further goals from Brian Graham (2) and Josh Mullin secured the championship and an immediate return to the Premiership less than a year after the club was relegated following six years in the top flight.

County striker Brian Graham wasted a wonderful chance to give his side an early lead as let Josh Mullin’s cross get stuck in between his feet.

The Staggies nearly came to rue that early chance being wasted when Andrew Stirling of Queen of the South picked out captain Kyle Jacobs in the box but home goalkeeper Scott Fox did well to parry his shot on the line and County scrambled the ball clear.

?? Congratulations to @RossCounty, who have clinched the Ladbrokes Championship title and will be playing Premiership football again next season ?? pic.twitter.com/MB5egSBLWs

— SPFL (@spfl) April 26, 2019

It was end-to-end in the opening exchanges and Fox made another terrific save as Queens threatened again, diving low to his left to prevent Andrew Boyle from netting an own goal.

County looked nervous and Queens sensed there was something in this game for them but the course of the game changed just before the half hour mark as the home side opened the scoring.

Ross Stewart got the important goal, getting to Mullin’s corner ahead of Queens defender Michael Doyle to head the ball past Deniz Mehmet.

Queens continued to press, however, and Michael Doyle came close to an equaliser with a fantastic 30 yard strike which beat Fox but rebounded off the crossbar.

? CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS ?

Played: 35
Won: 21
Drawn: 8
Lost: 6
Goals: 61
Conceded: 31

Welcome back to the Premiership, @RossCounty ?#RCFC #Staggies pic.twitter.com/KdrZMygjei

— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) April 26, 2019

County held on to their lead until the interval but they wasted little time in doubling their lead as they scored a second five minutes into the second half.

Mullin was the creator again, whipping in a fine ball to Brian Graham who powered a header past Mehmet.

The second goal lifted the pressure from the Staggies players and they quickly grabbed a third as Mullin cut in from the right before beating Mehmet with a powerful low drive from 20 yards.

The scoring was not finished there, however, as Graham grabbed his second of the game and his side’s fourth nine minutes from time when he headed Tom Grivosti’s cross into the net.