Derek Adams insists Ross County penalised for being 'small club'

Ross County fail to get big decisions in games because they are "a small club from the Highlands," according to manager Derek Adams.

Speaking after the Highland derby defeat, Adams believed his side should have had a penalty.

"Decisions have been going against us a number of times this season," he told BBC Scotland.

"If the other clubs are getting bigger supports and are able to influence things then that's what happens."

County, who fell behind to Aaron Doran's goal, equalised through Filip Kiss's deflected effort.

The hosts appealed in vain for a penalty when Graham Shinnie appeared to kick Kiss in the face with an attempted clearance.

And County also believed Inverness defender Carl Tremarco should have received a red for a challenge on Kiss.

Adams said: "I thought that Tremarco should've been sent off. It was a poor tackle and he wasn't in control of his body; he was over the top on Filip Kiss.

"And Filip goes into the box and I think it's Shinnie who connects with his head. We get a foul but it's inside the box. It [should be] a penalty kick. The assistant referee is right there as well as the referee.

"We didn't play well enough in spells tonight but we didn't deserve to lose the game. We got ourselves back to 1-1 and thinking that we could maybe score the second goal. But, in saying that, Billy McKay's been able to get that second goal.

County felt aggrieved at a number of decisions in the Highland derby loss

"Decisions have been going against us a number of times this season. You look at the one against Aberdeen when Arquin goes into the back; look at the one that Kris Boyd scores [for Kilmarnock] and look at some of the sendings off we've had, it's been disappointing.

"We're a small club from the Highlands and don't have the fan-base of other clubs.

"They get on top of things and make arguments, it's just the way it goes. We didn't really trouble Inverness enough; we had two strikers up front and didn't really cause them enough trouble.

"In the second half we changed it a wee bit and got the goal. We looked more solid - with the wingers on the side - but in the end we've probably got to do more to win it."

Regarding their bid to avoid the relegation play-off, Adams said: "It's very tight. We've got five games to go now and we have to pick up a number of points. That's the same with all the teams in the bottom half of the table."