Dundee 2-0 Ross County: Hosts bolster Scottish Premiership top-six push
- Published
Scott Tiffoney bagged a goal in either half with two excellent finishes
Ross County's Scottish Premiership relegation fears were heightened as they slipped to defeat to a Dundee side who bolstered their top-six push.
Scott Tiffoney's ruthless double proved the difference in an open affair played in sodden conditions.
Tiffoney prodded home in the final minute of the first half, before rifling in from the edge of the box midway through the second.
County strikers Simon Murray and Eamonn Brophy both went close, but the visitors' winless run stretches to 11.
Livingston's win over St Mirren reduced the arrears at the foot of the table to three points, albeit the Highlanders do have a game in hand.
Dundee, meanwhile, have opened up a five-point gap to seventh-placed Hibernian.
The scoreline feels cruel to County, and interim manager Don Cowie, who looks to have brought more fluency and belief to a side whose form flatlined under the doomed reign of Derek Adams.
Brophy and Murray were a nuisance, each troubling the home goal in the first half. Murray, in particular, forced a terrific point-blank save from Trevor Carson as he nodded Loick Ayina's acrobatic effort goalward.
At the other end, Lyall Cameron was a source of creativity and danger for Dundee, the young midfielder rasping wide early on, seeing a header tipped over by George Wickens, and a volley deflected kindly into the County stopper's grasp.
Tiffoney found a vital breakthrough as the interval loomed, latching on to a measured pass from Dara Costelloe, taking the ball in his stride, and stabling between the legs of Wickens.
County responded well after the break, with Brophy and Murray constantly providing energy and options, but Tiffoney delivered a killer blow with 65 minutes played.
Cameron's through-ball ricocheted into his path on the edge of the box, and he whacked it low into the bottom-left corner past a leaping Wickens.
The goal broke the Highland challenge, and while Yhan Dhanda drew two straightforward saves from Carson, they never looked like clawing their way back.
Player of the match - Scott Tiffoney (Dundee)
While Cameron and Luke McCowan were dynamic in the Dundee engine room, and the County front two ploughed fruitful furrows, it is hard to overlook Tiffoney given his killer instinct sealed the win
Dundee midfield catches the eye - analysis
Dundee's midfield is an impressive unit, 21-year-old Cameron a bundle of skill and tenacity, and particularly adroit operating in the congested trenches of the Premiership.
Cameron looked the likeliest scorer before Tiffoney pounced, winning ball, driving Dundee forward, and finding space where none seemed to exist.
McCowan, too, is a threat with a vicious strike, while Mohamed Sylla provides the ballast, industry and intelligence in a deeper role.
County do look a better unit under Cowie, and though his first two games have yielded no points and a single goal, there has been a positive shift in performance.
They weaved some neat stuff in midfield, and with Dhanda creating, the Murray-Brophy axis should provide the openings - and crucially, the goals - they so desperately need.
What they said
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "It was going to be a tough game. Scott Tiffoney provided the quality with his outstanding finishes.
"I demanded we kept a clean sheet, now we've got the strength of squad back, it's important we learn from not defending a lead earlier in the season. That's the most pleasing aspect."
Ross County interim manager Don Cowie: "It's about trusting the process, I saw really good signs against Rangers and I've seen even more today.
"I know what's in that dressing room, I've worked with the players for a long time as assistant manager, and I had no doubt in the ability we've got. I'm seeing a real togetherness and it's about pushing on and getting results."
What's next?
Massive fixtures loom for each team on Saturday, as Dundee travel to Hibernian, directly beneath them in the top-six race, while County host Livingston in a relegation scrap (both 15:00 GMT).