Kilmarnock 1-0 Ross County Daniel Armstrong goal is difference at Rugby Park - BBC Sport Homepage
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By Amy CanavanBBC Scotland Last updated on 4 hours ago4 hours ago.From the section Scottish PremiershipDanny Armstrong's winner was his second in five days after his League Cup strike against Dundee United Kilmarnock ground out a narrow victory over Ross County to create breathing space between them and the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. Danny Armstrong's fourth league goal of the season was a worthy match-winning strike and leaves his side unbeaten in their last four league matches. County failed to create a glaring opportunity despite displaying more fervour in the second half and remain bottom, three points adrift of Kilmarnock, and behind Dundee United on goal difference.Everything you need to know about KilmarnockAll the best Ross County newsReaction & as it happened Derek McInnes had spoken passionately about the importance of this week in Kilmarnock's season. Kicking off with a goalless draw with St Mirren, followed by booking a Hampden outing for the first time in a decade, and book-ending it with victory in a true six-pointer would be just what the manager was after. "A lot of players were running on empty after three demanding games for us but we have come out of it okay," said McInnes. "We take the benefit from the confidence of the run we are on and recognise what that has given us, which is a lot of hard work, a lot of quality moments and a lot of team spirit." County came up trumps in the first meeting of the sides this season, but with the buzz of a League Cup semi-final still brewing amongst the Ayrshire side, their confidence was overpowering. Slipping the ball around with a swagger, it was only going to be a matter of time before Kilmarnock drew first blood and exploited the alarmingly gaping holes in County's shape. Fresh of securing his side a semi-final with Celtic, Armstrong once again had his team-mates celebrating. Capitalising on some woeful defending, Armstrong latched onto a Kerr McInroy flick to caress the ball past Ross Laidlaw. That pressure was maintained, which left the hosts scratching their head at their slender interval advantage. McInroy's powerful strike, calling Laidlaw into a fine save, was the pick of the lot. County showed more spark in the second-half, and Kilmarnock struggled to contain them. Owura Edwards, Jordan White and Yan Dhanda probed, with the latter pair calling Zach Hemmings into action, but an equaliser always looked unlikely. The zip which both halves began with dissipated rapidly, with Kilmarnock able to comfortably see the win through unscathed. Player of the match - Danny Armstrong
Armstrong was the match-winner again for his Kilmarnock side in a potentially top-flight status-defining match. County look lost as Kilmarnock confidence shines - analysis
County will be ever so grateful for St Mirren's late winner, which keeps Dundee United on the same points as the Dingwall side. Not least because St Johnstone and, now Kilmarnock, have pulled clear of them this weekend. Malky Mackay will struggle to see many positives from a match against an evenly-matched side. A source of goals is hard to find while, defensively, there was some questionable shapes and positions taken up. Kilmarnock rode the emotions from their midweek success and took advantage of that uplift in morale. Armstrong is the man of the moment right now, but once again, Ryan Alebiosu gave a great account of himself. What they said
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "I thought it was a mixed bag. We came out of the traps brilliantly and imposed ourselves. We had umpteen chances and thankfully Danny is confident at the moment and I could see that with the finish." Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "I thought we came down and did really well. It was always going to be a tough game but w e had numerous chances in the second half. "We but we have got to be clinical and that is my take-away. I am proud of the way they came down and played." What' s next
Kilmarnock travel to Perth to take on St Johnstone next Saturday (15:00 BST), while Ross County host Hearts on Sunday (15:00 GMT).Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text Line-ups
Kilmarnock
Formation 3-4-2-11Hemming2Mayo5Taylor19Wright25Alebiosu4Power21McInroy33Chrisene11Armstrong10Jones27Cameron1Hemming2Mayo5Taylor19Wright25Alebiosu Substituted forPolworthat 74'minutes4Power21McInroySubstituted forMcKenzieat 65'minutes33ChriseneSubstituted forStokesat 88'minutes11Armstrong10JonesBooked at 64mins27CameronBooked at 13mins Substitutes
6Stokes7McKenzie9Shaw15Murray17Lyons20Walker29Wales31Polworth32Warnock Ross County
Formation 4-2-3-11Laidlaw12Johnson5Baldwin6Iacovitti16Harmon22Tillson4Cancola19Hiwula-Mayifuila8Callachan7Edwards26White1Laidlaw12Johnson5Baldwin6Iacovitti16Harmon Substituted forAkioat 77'minutes22Tillson4Cancola19Hiwula-MayifuilaBooked at 40minsSubstituted forOlaigbeat 65'minutes8CallachanSubstituted forDhandaat 8'minutesBooked at 64mins7Edwards26White Substitutes
9Samuel10Dhanda11Sims14Loturi15Watson17Olaigbe18Akio21Munro31EastwoodReferee:Colin StevenAttendance:4,640 Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamRoss CountyPossessionHome49%Away51%ShotsHome11Away10Shots on TargetHome6Away4CornersHome5Away7FoulsHome9Away9 Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Kilmarnock 1, Ross County 0.90'+6' Full Time
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 1, Ross County 0.90'+3' Post update
Foul by David Cancola (Ross County).90'+3' Post update
Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.90'+1' Post update
Foul by Callum Johnson (Ross County).90'+1' Post update
Innes Cameron (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.90'+1' Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Baldwin (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.90'+1' Post update
Attempt blocked. David Cancola (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.90' Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.90' Post update
Foul by Lewis Mayo (Kilmarnock).88' Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Chris Stokes replaces Ben Chrisene because of an injury.83' Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Armstrong (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ben Chrisene with a cross.81' Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Liam Polworth.80' Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan White (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by David Cancola with a cross following a corner.79' Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Innes Cameron.77' Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. William Akio replaces George Harmon because of an injury.74' Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Liam Polworth replaces Ryan Alebiosu.73' Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Daniel Armstrong.73' Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Johnson (Ross County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Owura Edwards with a cross.73' Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Zach Hemming.Page 1 of 5rewind previousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforwardPlayer of the match ArmstrongDaniel Armstrong with an average of 7.97KilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnockRoss CountyRoss CountyRoss County Kilmarnock
Avg
Squad number11Player nameArmstrongAverage rating7.97Squad number21Player nameMcInroyAverage rating 7.76Squad number4Player namePowerAverage rating 7.60Squad number2Player nameMayoAverage rating 7.51Squad number5Player nameTaylorAverage rating 7.27Squad number1Player nameHemmingAverage rating 7.22Squad number27Player nameCameronAverage rating 7.09Squad number19Player nameWrightAverage rating 6.85Squad number7Player nameMcKenzieAverage rating 6.83Squad number25Player nameAlebiosuAverage rating 6.82Squad number33Player nameChriseneAverage rating 6.78Squad number31Player namePolworthAverage rating 6.68Squad number6Player nameStokesAverage rating 6.62Squad number10Player nameJonesAverage rating 6.60 Ross County
Avg
Squad number12Player nameJohnsonAverage rating 7.93Squad number16Player nameHarmonAverage rating 6.50Squad number1Player nameLaidlawAverage rating 6.43Squad number5Player nameBaldwinAverage rating 5.90Squad number4Player nameCancolaAverage rating 5.88Squad number6Player nameIacovittiAverage rating 5.67Squad number26Player nameWhiteAverage rating 5.61Squad number7Player nameEdwardsAverage rating 5.47Squad number18Player nameAkioAverage rating 5.33Squad number22Player nameTillsonAverage rating 5.32Squad number19Player nameHiwula-MayifuilaAverage rating 5.11Squad number8Player nameCallachanAverage rating 5.00Squad number10Player nameDhandaAverage rating 4.92Squad number17Player nameOlaigbeAverage rating 4.56 Scores Results & Fixtures
Saturday 22nd October 2022
HeartsHeart of Midlothian3CelticCeltic4FTKilmarnockKilmarnock1Ross CountyRoss County0FTMotherwellMotherwell1AberdeenAberdeen2FTRangersRangers1LivingstonLivingston1FTSt MirrenSt Mirren2Dundee UtdDundee United1FTView all Scottish Premiership scores As It Stands
TeamPWDLFAGDPts1Celtic11100139930302Rangers11821271017263Aberdeen1161422166194St Mirren116141214-2195Hibernian125251416-2176Livingston11515913-4167Hearts114251820-2148Motherwell124171516-1139St Johnstone124171317-41310Kilmarnock12336919-101211Dundee Utd122371125-14912Ross County12237620-149View full Scottish Premiership table Top Stories
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