Ross County secured their first ever win at Fir Park, with a 2-1 victory against Motherwell.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine, a late replacement for injured Martin Woods, set the Staggies on their way when he rifled home on 21 minutes, before a powerful finish from Brian Graham wrapped up the points midway through the second-half.
Despite Stephen Pearson pulling a goal back late on, the victory was no more than County deserved and it sets them up for next Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against Celtic.
County made three changes from the side defeated 3-2 by Aberdeen last Sunday, with manager Jim McIntyre forced to make a late change to his line-up. Midfielder Woods was all set to return from a back injury, until pulling out injured in the warm-up. That meant Irvine was drafted in, along with Scott Boyd and Jonathan Franks, with Chris Robertson, Jamie Reckord and Stewart Murdoch dropping to the bench.
Motherwell were also looking to bounce back from defeat, and a more humiliating one at that, with the Steelmen going down 6-0 against Hearts the previous weekend. Manager Mark McGhee also made three changes, with skipper Keith Lasley, Kieran Kennedy and Chris Cadden coming in for Joe Chalmers, Lionel Ainsworth and Josh Law.
Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, with Irvine giving County the lead on 21 minutes with the first shot on target in the match. Ian McShane’s corner picked out the Australian totally unmarked, and he brought the ball down before rifling a strike beyond Connor Ripley with the aid of a deflection.
Motherwell responded well to the setback however, forcing Staggies goalkeeper Scott Fox to make two fine saves. Fox did well to tip Louis Moult’s header over from Scott McDonald’s cross, before youngster Cadden forced the former Partick Thistle goalkeeper to tip wide.
Well spurned an even better chance to equalise on 34 minutes, when McDonald failed to get on the end of Stephen McManus’ flick-on, when any contact would have resulted in a goal.
County withstood the pressure until half-time, and spurned a decent chance to double the lead on 50 minutes when McShane’s header from Michael Gardyne’s delivery was cut out by Ripley.
Well remained a threat though, and they were unlucky not to level when Moult’s cross was hacked into the side netting by McDonald.
County midfielder Michael Gardyne was twice denied in quick succession, firstly with a point-blank header which was cleared off the line by Marvin Johnson, before he had an effort blocked by the legs of Ripley moments later.
The Staggies wrapped up the points with a fine goal on 69 minutes, though, when a neat break saw Stewart Murdoch released down the inside-right channel, and he played a delightful low cross to the far post where Graham was on hand to bundle home.
County looked to be cruising their way to a comfortable victory until Stephen Pearson lashed home with four minutes left, and goalkeeper Fox was required to make superb saves from James McFadden and Lasley, but despite a nervy few minutes the Staggies held on.