Celebrations are on hold for Ross County captain Andrew Davies after the defender’s hometown club Middlesbrough secured promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
The Teesiders’ 1-1 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Riverside was enough to secure automatic promotion and end a seven-year absence from England’s top-flight.
Davies began his career with Boro, going on to make 71 appearances in two spells with the club, and notably helping them reach the Uefa Cup final in 2006, although he did not play in the 4-0 defeat against Sevilla in Eindhoven.
The 31-year-old remains a staunch supporter of his boyhood club and plans to toast their success in style – but only once the Staggies’ campaign draws to a close following games against Motherwell and Aberdeen this week.
Davies said: “I’m thrilled they’ve got promoted. It’s just unfortunate I couldn’t go home and celebrate which I was a bit disappointed about.
“I was checking the result, and when it was 1-1 it was a little bit edgy. But when Brighton went down to 10 men I thought Boro were going to do it.
“It’s fantastic news for them, and it’s well-deserved. I have a lot of friends there. I’m from only five minutes from the ground, so all my family and friends are there. They would have been out celebrating and I’m sure they’ll have a good time.
“When we get this next couple of games out the way, I’ll go straight home and have a few scoops.”
Davies played in County’s 1-1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday, with David Goodwillie’s 88th minute header earning a point for the Dingwall men four minutes after what looked to have been a winning goal from Hearts attacker Juanma Delgado.
Davies is determined to finish the season strongly, and said: “We did well and worked really hard. We were disappointed to concede the goal so late and with Alex Schalk’s chance in the first half, which I’m sure he knows he should have taken, we came away at least deserving of a point.
“The manager has made sure we haven’t switched off, because there are places up for grabs. We want to finish as high as we possibly can.
“Fourth spot is out of our reach now, but we play Motherwell on Wednesday, and to finish fifth would top the season off great – it would be a massive achievement.”
