Malky Mackay pleased with attacking progress at Ross County after seven-goal win over East Fife seals spot in second round of Premier Sports Cup
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Malky Mackay was delighted with how Ross County kept doing the right things to score seven goals against East Fife in the Premier Sports Cup yesterday.
The Staggies took a little while to get going, but once the deadlock was broken there was no looking back as they eased into the second round of the competition.
With a 2–0 lead going into the half-time break, it may have been easy for County to just keep control of the ball and see out the result they needed, but instead they kept pushing for goals – and got them in style.
“I challenged them at half time not to get fed up doing the correct things," Mackay revealed.
“For about five minutes before we scored the goal, we were a wee bit sloppy. Once we scored, we re-set and got back on it for the last 15 minutes of the first half.
“We said if they kept doing the correct things in the second half, it would open up and obviously they did.
“I’m really happy with some of the goals we scored in terms of balls flashing across the six-yard box and people coming flying in.
“It was one of the wee bug-bears of mine last year that we didn’t do that well enough in terms of the final quality of that ball and people arriving to meet it.
“It was really pleasing as far as a lot of the new guys are concerned. We were hitting a really high level today.”
Plenty of options going forward
All seven of County's goals were scored by summer recruits to Dingwall.
Victor Loturi opened the scoring before Ben Purrington doubled the advantage.
After the restart Jordy Hiwula essentially put the result beyond doubt, before Owura Edwards and Kazeem Olaigbe scored twice apiece – with Yan Dhanda and the debuting William Akio each claiming multiple assists.
There were some tinges of disappointment after Josh Sims was forced off in the first half after taking a kick on the calf, while Akio picked up a knee issue that resulted in him leaving the ground on crutches awaiting an investigation into the extent of his issue.
However, the main takeaway from the dominant win is the number of different attacking options Mackay has at his disposal this season.
“They are all mobile, but they all have something slightly different – and that’s the key," he explained.
“There has obviously been huge change last year and fire-fighting to bring a group together.
“I’d suggest this year we’ve refined the group and we have real threats.
“I look at my bench and players like David Cancola who never got on the bench today.
“There are options coming off the bench that are as strong as what’s coming off the pitch.”
