Ross County forward Billy Mckay hopes he has put his goalscoring frustrations behind him with his double in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Livingston.
Mckay’s brace ended an 11-game goal drought stretching back to the 2-2 draw against Hamilton Accies on November 2, with the attacker taking his tally to eight for the campaign.
The 31-year-old was mindful of his long wait to hit the net, in the face of competition from fellow attackers Lee Erwin and Oli Shaw for a starting berth.
Mckay hopes he can build on his two goals, and he said: “I think you saw with my celebration for the first goal, there was a lot of frustration coming out of me.
“I have been trying hard to get the goal but it’s not been falling for me.
“I have been in and out of the team which no player wants, but it has happened.
“I was just happy to get that early goal to help the team, and the second goal came at a great time as well.
“We were under that bit of pressure, and that eased it. The goal settled the nerves.
“I’m happy for the lads, the managers and the club to get the three points.”
Mckay was joined in returning to County’s starting line-up by his former Caley Thistle team-mate Ross Draper, who made his first start for three months following a recurring knee injury.
Mckay felt Englishman Draper made a telling impact in County’s midfield, adding: “We knew what the game was going to be about – it was a big scrap. Livingston had beaten us a couple of times by doing the same.
“We had to match them and show our quality when we could. I don’t think we have done that in the two games we have played them, but we did that this time.
“It probably helped having big Ross back in there and doing that. He was brilliant – I have worked with Ross a long time and his impact is massive. We have missed him at times this season.
“He came in on Wednesday and got man of the match, and I think it was the perfect game to come back against Livingston.
“He was brilliant – but we will need every single one of us to put in a performance like that for the rest of the season now.
“We have set a standard, and we can’t let it slip.”
Mckay hailed the Staggies’ resolve after ending a run of eight matches without a victory, which puts the ninth-placed Dingwall men three points clear of nearest challengers St Mirren.
Mckay added: “We have always believed in ourselves, but at times it has not gone our way. We have gone on a little bad run, we have been questioned, but we stood up to it.”
