Jordan Tillson waited nearly three years to get off the mark for Ross County – but he is now eager to add to his tally.
Midfielder Tillson, who joined County from Exeter City in January 2020, netted his first goal for the Dingwall outfit in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over St Mirren.
The strike came in Tillson’s 92nd appearance for the Staggies, with the Englishman hitting the net for the first time since November 2019 – in a 3-1 victory for Exeter against West Ham under-21s in the Football League Trophy.
Prior to the victory over the Buddies, County had not scored more than a solitary goal in a league fixture this season.
As a holding midfielder, Tillson does not count goalscoring among his primary remits.
But the 29-year-old acknowledges the need for goals to come from all over the park – and he is keen to play his part.
Tillson said: “I’m delighted to get my first goal and help the boys get a result. The ball fell at just the right place and I just wanted to hit the target and see where it went.
“I’ve got a role the manager asks me to do. It’s probably harder for me to score than others.
“But everyone needs to chip in – if I can get into that position I like to help.”
Tillson feels duty in knitting midfield together
Tillson, along with fellow midfielders Yan Dhanda and Victor Loturi, were pinpointed for praise by Staggies boss Malky Mackay following Saturday’s victory.
The result moved the Staggies off the foot of the Premiership table.
As a long-serving member of the squad, Tillson feels a responsibility to help the Staggies’ recent recruits adapt to the Scottish game.
He added: “Yan and Vic were really terrific. They really got on the ball and controlled the game in the first half. It’s a tough position to play because it is frenetic at times and a battle in that position.
“I was quite lucky to come from a club like Exeter that played a similar style. But you have to stand up for yourself in this league.
“We’ve got a good core who have been here for a while now and we have to help the boys coming in to understand what is required to get it out on the park.
“It seems like it’s something that’s coming along now. It’s everyone’s duty to do that.
“I think the performances speak for themselves and if we carry on playing this way we will continue moving in the right direction. We need to maintain the positives.”
Staggies in confident mood ahead of trip to Hibs
Tillson felt Saturday’s result had been brewing in recent weeks, and he is now determined to carry the feel-good factor into Tuesday’s match against Hibernian at Easter Road.
Tillson added: “I think the last few games, from the Kilmarnock game onwards, we have really played well and not quite got the results we deserved.
“If we carry on doing as we’re asked to I think we will be fine. We need to keep pushing in that direction.
“The game on Tuesday is one we need to try to pick something up from and take into the Celtic game with something to push towards the break.
“We’ve got quite a few injuries at the moment and the break might help us get some players back.
“As footballers, you just want to play and we are in a good vein of form that makes you just want to carry on.”
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