Ross County 3-2 Dundee: Stirring comeback punishes slack visitors

Danny Mullen's own goal from a Dundee calamity opened the door for Ross County

Ross County produced a rousing comeback against Dundee in Dingwall to claim three precious points and move off the foot of the Scottish Premiership.

Luke McCowan had the visitors in front twice but late lapses proved costly for James McPake's side.

Dominic Samuel made it 1-1 before a goalkeeping howler and Danny Mullen own goal had the game level again.

And Regan Charles-Cook completed a remarkable turnaround by stabbing home late on as Dundee failed to clear.

County are now level on points with St Johnstone but rise to 11th based on goals scored, with Dundee hovering ominously two points further ahead in 10th.

• Reaction & how it happened

This was a monumental afternoon for Ross County. Three points adrift before kick-off, Malky Mackay's side could - and really should - have been staring at their opponents putting clear distance between themselves and a County team that had only won two games this term.

And while the hosts deserve credit for showing fight and determination, Dundee's profligacy and calamitous defending were just as responsible for the outcome here.

The game changed on the 78th minute. At 2-1 down, a whipped County cross should have been dealt with by Dundee goalkeeper Adam Legzdins. Instead, the Englishman missed the ball completely, with the unsuspecting Mullen seeing the ball hit off him and trickle into his own net.

If that wasn't bad enough, moments later Dundee shot themselves in the foot again. Jordan Marshall had a fine game, but made a meal of clearing a high ball forward in his own box. It left the door open for Charles-Cook, who leapt to prod home the winner and spark scenes of celebration.

It could have been so different. In sky blue, Dundee's McCowan was inspired early on. A sumptuous left-foot volley provided a stunning opener.

Samuel fortuitously levelled soon after. Keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer initially did well to save, but the rebound crashed back off the County man and then squirmed under his grasp.

However, McCowan had Dundee in front once more before the break. Marshall careered forward at pace to slip the ball to the 24-year-old, who took one smart touch before arrowing a low shot through a ruck of legs and into the far corner.

McCowan had the chance to get his hat-trick in the second half but was denied by Maynard-Brewer, while Mullen struck the post and substitute Leigh Griffiths headed straight at the keeper late on in a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

Man of the match - Luke McCowan

The Dundee midfielder didn't deserve to be on the losing side. His opener was a touch of class, and he was a positive influence for his team all afternoon

What did we learn?

It is the way of things in the crazy world of the Scottish Premiership - expect the unexpected. A mad-cap place where inconsistency is a standout characteristic for most teams.

To that end, sides at the bottom of the table should be concerned at County's building form. That's now four games undefeated with eight points from their last 12. Mackay's men have been praised this season for being better than their position suggests, and there's hope for the Highland side.

For Dundee, at least it's clear where they went wrong here. They created more than enough chances to take this game, and uncharacteristic mistakes cost them badly.

What they may be more concerned about is captain Charlie Adam going off midway through the first half. With a busy run of games looming against teams just above them, his influence could be crucial if Dundee are to build momentum going into the January break.

What they said

Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "It's been a terrific day for us. It was probably an incredible game to watch.

"It was a tough game, Dundee posed a real challenge. On another day, there's a chance that we don't win that. The three subs were excellent. We're getting results now. That's one defeat in six."

Dundee manager James McPake: "We lose three ridiculously bad goals down to basic errors of defending your box. The three goals we should not be losing, it's as simple as that.

"Going forward, we were really good. At this level, teams punish you if you're not ruthless. We weren't ruthless."

What's next?

Dundee travel to managerless Hibernian on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), while County host Celtic the following day (19:45).

Player of the match

SpittalBlair Spittal

with an average of 8.74

• Ross CountyRoss CountyRoss County
• DundeeDundeeDundee

Ross County

Avg

1. Squad number7Player nameSpittal

   Average rating

   8.74
2. Squad number26Player nameWhite

   Average rating

   7.43
3. Squad number31Player nameMaynard-Brewer

   Average rating

   7.42
4. Squad number23Player nameHungbo

   Average rating

   6.93
5. Squad number17Player nameCharles-Cook

   Average rating

   6.85
6. Squad number5Player nameBaldwin

   Average rating

   6.54
7. Squad number20Player nameClarke

   Average rating

   6.48
8. Squad number10Player nameSamuel

   Average rating

   6.21
9. Squad number6Player namePaton

   Average rating

   6.07
10. Squad number15Player nameWatson

    Average rating

    6.02
11. Squad number2Player nameRandall

    Average rating

    5.96
12. Squad number3Player nameVokins

    Average rating

    5.93
13. Squad number4Player nameCancola

    Average rating

    5.84
14. Squad number8Player nameCallachan

    Average rating

    5.79

Dundee

Avg

1. Squad number17Player nameMcCowan

   Average rating

   7.44
2. Squad number9Player nameMullen

   Average rating

   7.05
3. Squad number18Player nameMcMullan

   Average rating

   7.05
4. Squad number10Player nameMcGowan

   Average rating

   6.95
5. Squad number4Player nameFontaine

   Average rating

   6.76
6. Squad number24Player nameAnderson

   Average rating

   6.68
7. Squad number3Player nameMarshall

   Average rating

   6.67
8. Squad number2Player nameKerr

   Average rating

   6.67
9. Squad number5Player nameSweeney

   Average rating

   6.60
10. Squad number26Player nameAdam

    Average rating

    6.26
11. Squad number1Player nameLegzdins

    Average rating

    5.65
12. Squad number6Player nameMcGhee

    Average rating

    5.62
13. Squad number29Player nameGriffiths

    Average rating

    4.26
14. Squad number35Player nameCummings

    Average rating

    3.75

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Ross County

Formation 4-2-3-1

31Maynard-Brewer

20Clarke15Watson5Baldwin2Randall

6Paton4Cancola

23Hungbo8Callachan17Charles-Cook

10Samuel

• 31Maynard-Brewer
• 20Clarke
• 15Watson
• 5Baldwin
• 2RandallSubstituted forVokinsat 22'minutes
• 6PatonSubstituted forWhiteat 45'minutes
• 4CancolaSubstituted forSpittalat 75'minutes
• 23Hungbo
• 8Callachan
• 17Charles-CookBooked at 80mins
• 10Samuel

Substitutes

• 1Laidlaw
• 3Vokins
• 7Spittal
• 18Burroughs
• 22Tillson
• 25Donaldson
• 26White

Dundee

Formation 4-4-1-1

1Legzdins

2Kerr4Fontaine5Sweeney3Marshall

17McCowan24Anderson26Adam18McMullan

10McGowan

9Mullen

• 1Legzdins
• 2KerrBooked at 90mins
• 4FontaineBooked at 88minsSubstituted forCummingsat 89'minutes
• 5Sweeney
• 3Marshall
• 17McCowan
• 24AndersonBooked at 45mins
• 26AdamSubstituted forMcGheeat 13'minutes
• 18McMullan
• 10McGowanSubstituted forGriffithsat 69'minutes
• 9Mullen

Substitutes

• 6McGhee
• 7Jakubiak
• 16Elliott
• 20Panter
• 21Lawlor
• 29Griffiths
• 35Cummings

Referee:

Bobby Madden

Attendance:

3,122

Match Stats

Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamDundee

Possession

Home55%

Away45%

Shots

Home7

Away14

Shots on Target

Home5

Away5

Corners

Home4

Away6

Fouls

Home13

Away15

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Ross County 3, Dundee 2.

2. 90'+4'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Ross County 3, Dundee 2.

3. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Hand ball by Dominic Samuel (Ross County).

4. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Foul by Blair Spittal (Ross County).

5. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Jordan Marshall (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

6. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Foul by Harry Clarke (Ross County).

7. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Daniel Mullen (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8. 90'

   Booking

   Cammy Kerr (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

9. 90'

   Post update

   Joseph Hungbo (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. 90'

    Post update

    Foul by Cammy Kerr (Dundee).

11. 90'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Daniel Mullen (Dundee) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Paul McMullan with a cross.

12. 90'

    Post update

    Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Ross Callachan.

13. 89'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Jason Cummings replaces Liam Fontaine.

14. 89'

    Post update

    Foul by Dominic Samuel (Ross County).

15. 89'

    Post update

    Paul McMullan (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.

16. 88'

    Booking

    Liam Fontaine (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

17. 87'

    Post update

    Joseph Hungbo (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

18. 87'

    Post update

    Foul by Liam Fontaine (Dundee).

19. 87'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Daniel Mullen (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Sweeney with a cross.

20. 85'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Dundee) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luke McCowan with a cross.

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