A penalty shootout defeat meant Ross County missed out on the chance to be one of the seeded teams in Sunday’s Viaplay Cup second round draw after sharing six goals with League One Kelty Hearts.
Premiership County were coasting at 2-0, but they were made to pay for slackness at the back as their well-drilled opponents stormed back to secure penalties.
This was their final Group D fixture and it came against the Fifers, who were three points behind Malky Mackay’s side, who had beaten Stranraer, Morton and Edinburgh City.
A three-goal win for the visitors could have given them a chance of winning the group.
Championship side Morton’s 4-1 victory against Edinburgh City secured them second spot.
Goals from Josh Sims and Simon Murray had County in front but Stefan McCluskey hauled the Fifers back into the tie.
Substitute Botti Biabi headed Kelty level as the hour approached and it was tense and tight until James Brown scored what looked to be the winner.
However, a Ross Cunningham penalty in stoppage-time took it to spot-kicks for the bonus point before Biabi ended as the key man with the winner.
It was a low note to end on but the Staggies progress to round two.
County were on the front foot from the off, with a Yan Dhana strike beaten clear by goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay then Brown was just off the mark with a back-post drive.
The hosts took the lead on 13 minutes with a crisp move and a killer finish. It ended when Dhanda whipped the ball out to Sims and he rifled a swerving shot beyond the reach of Gourlay from the edge of the box.
Mackay’s side continued to knock the ball about with precision and pace, with Kelty being put through their paces.
Just before the half hour mark, it was 2-0 as from a breakaway, Jordan White flicked the ball in to Murray’s path.
He stormed clear and slotted his shot beyond Gourlay. This was Murray’s sixth goal of the season – and the league hasn’t kicked off yet.
Kelty halved the deficit a few minutes later when McCluskey drilled an angled shot past Ross Laidlaw after making space for himself in the box.
An overhead kick from Dhanda just before half-time was tipped clear by Gourlay to keep the match within the Fifers’ reach.
Ex-Brechin City forward Biabi came on for Craig Johnston at the start of the second half and he levelled the contest on 57 minutes.
A corner was whipped in from the right and the striker planted a header past Ross Laidlaw from six yards. Suddenly, winning this group was not certain with chasers Morton in front.
Dhanda lined up Brown for a searing shot which seemed to be the winner, but Kelty drew level when Jack Baldwin’s foul on Biabi led to a last-gasp spot-kick. Cunningham slammed it past Laidlaw and it was on to a shoot-out.
A couple of good goalkeeping saves kept it tight before Biabi tucked away the decisive penalty for a 4-3 win.
Next up for County is a trip to Celtic Park to tackle the treble-winning champions on Premiership flag day this Saturday.
Talking points
Murray and White clicking well in attack
Simon Murray could barely have begun the season in better fashion. Six goals over the four Viaplay Cup ties is lethal and it could have been more.
Last term, County were overly reliant on Jordan White, who is going to be a capable finisher again this term, without the burden of needing to be the main focal point.
White wants goals too, but he’s seeing the bigger picture as he showed when he lined his fellow forward up for his goal this afternoon.
There are, of course, tougher tests to come in the top-flight, but the cup games have allowed this partnership to further flourish.
Yan Dhanda continues to pull the strings
Midfielder Yan Dhanda was at the heart of most positive aspects of County’s play against Kelty.
From early on in this tie, he was testing his opponents and he’s playing with confidence in his own ability.
This won’t surprise anyone who watched the 24-year-old ex-Liverpool and Swansea playmaker last year and he was reportedly tracked by Blackburn, Birmingham and Ipswich.
If he continues to shine like this, 2023-24 could well be his last in a County jersey, with suitors sure to swoop with serious money too good to refuse.
Goals against are the only cause for concern
While there is plenty to be pleased about after four successive victories, Mackay will be looking at why Stranraer, Morton, Edinburgh and Kelty have all scored against County.
It’s very early days and now is the time to find out who fits best where.
Not just the back-line and goalkeepers, but the team as a whole will no doubt go over the videos before getting set to take on Celtic.
Result after penalties:
Ross County 3-3 Kelty Hearts
Kelty win 4-3 on penalties to take the bonus point. pic.twitter.com/1eYmCaZKTy
— Ross County FC (@RossCounty) July 29, 2023
Talking tactics
There was a return for fit-again goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw, while striker Eamonn Brophy made the bench. Midfielders Yan Dhanda and Victor Loturi were handed starting jerseys, with Scott Allardice and Jay Henderson on the bench.
They went 4-4-2 against Edinburgh on Wednesday. This time, the midfield shuffled between Dhanda, Loturi, Randall and Sims. A 4-3-1-2 formation was as close as it could be described, but it was fluid and it worked.
Referee watch
Steven McLean let the game flow and nothing much was questioned, including the Kelty penalty.
Player ratings
ROSS COUNTY (4-3-1-2): Laidlaw 6, Brown 6, Baldwin, Nightingale 6, Harmon 6 (Reid 78), Randall 6 (Allardice 65), Dhanda 7, Loturi 6 (Turner 65), Sims 7, White 6 (Samuel 59), Murray 6 (Brophy 78).
Subs not used: Munro (GK), Sheaf, Henderson, Smith.
KELTY HEARTS (4-4-2): Gourlay 6, Corbett 6, Thomson 6, Lyon 6, Billy Owens 6, Daramola 7, Tidser 6 (Lewis Owens 72), Moore 6, McCluskey 6 (Cameron 58), Johnston 5 (Biabi 46), Cunningham 6. Sub not used – Campbell (GK).
Star man
Yan Dhanda: Fellow midfielder Josh Sims was a driving force, but Dhanda edges this one and was unlucky not to get a goal to cap a sparkling performance.