Tansey goal comes too late as Ross County book semi spot in Inverness
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ROSS County beat Caley Thistle 2-1 in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness tonight (Tuesday) and sent out a warning that they could lift this trophy.
Goals from Jackson Irvine and Michael Gardyne either side of the interval earned the Dingwall team their win, although Greg Tansey sparked a late revival from ICT.
After seeing off Ayr 2-0 then Falkirk 7-0 in the earlier stages, the Staggies will have reason to believe after this could be their year.
It was also their manager Jim McIntyre's first derby triumph since arriving at the club last September, County's first Highland derby win in seven.
Caley Thistle, who beat Championship side Livingston to reach this round, have now lost their last three games, scoring just in this game, which followed on from six fixtures without a loss.
In a tie screened live on BBC1 Scotland, this 7.05pm kick-off offered the north neighbours a real opportunity of pushing closer another national final in a competition which recently gained partnership sponsorship from Utilita Energy.
Scottish Cup winners Caley Thistle were the 2014 runners-up in the League Cup when they lost a penalty shoot-out to Aberdeen, while in 2010 Ross County were beaten in the Scottish Cup final in Hampden against Dundee United.
Both teams were looking to bounce back from weekend defeats in the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership, with the hosts losing 1-0 to stoppage-time St Johnstone penalty and Hearts winning 2-0 against the Staggies at Tynecastle.
ICT only reached the second round last term when they lost 1-0 at Championship side Rangers, with County bowing out just one stage later after losing 2-0 at home to Hibernian, also from the Championship.
Caley Thistle have nine first-team players out through injury including Dean Brill, Richie Foran, Aaron Doran, Jason Roberts and Tobi Sho-Silva, so their options were limited once more.
Ross Draper was one of those out with an ankle injury and midfielder Iain Vigurs stepped into the starting 11, with Danny Williams dropping to the bench in the sole switch from Saturday.
Changes to the County line-up from the weekend were Craig Curran, Tony Dingwall and Martin Woods all handed starts, with Richard Foster, Stewart Murdoch and Brian Graham beginning the night on the bench.
Keeper Scott Fox and defender/midfielder Rocco Quinn remained sidelined through injury for the visitors.
County were out for revenge after losing 2-1 to Inverness CT on league business in Dingwall at the start of the month, which stretched their winless Highland derby run to six games, with their last triumph being on New Year's Day 2014 in Inverness when they headed home as 2-1 victors.
There was a talking point prior to kick-off when it emerged County arrived in white kits, not knowing that ICT were planning to wear white too. A quick dash to Dingwall apparently brought their usual navy kits back to the stadium.
It was a lively start from both teams and it was the hosts who almost netted after seven minutes when Liam Polworth played the ball through for Miles Storey but keeper Gary Woods got enough of a hand to the shot to stop him.
There were claims for a County penalty when David Raven seemed to connect with Dingwall but referee Steven McLean waved play on.
Moments later, Liam Boyce almost gave County the lead but the striker but wide from 25 yards.
Martin Woods then had a deflected shot flash just wide then, from the clearance, Dingwall whipped a cross in and Boyce headed narrowly past the left post.
On 23 minutes, County, who were growing in confidence, came even closer as Martin Woods unleashed a lethal shot from fully 35 yards and it crashed off the underside of the bar before being cleared. Another warning for the Scottish Cup holders.
Chris Robertson came to the rescue for County eight minutes before the break when he swept away a Vigurs cross which Andrew Davies didn't fully connect with.
However, it was the Staggies who took the lead in this tie four minutes before the interval when Jackson Irvine powered home a header from a Woods corner.
It was a bolt from the blue from the Victoria Park team and sent the away fans into fine tune in the South Stand into half-time.
And County grabbed further control of the match when they added a second goal just three minutes into the second half when Woods fed the ball through for Gardyne and he swerved a beautiful 15-yarder beyond Fon Williams into the net.
Dingwall and Curran then went close just after that as Jim McIntyre's men pressed for a third goal.
With unrest in the home stands, Fon Williams pulled off a vital stop to deny Gardyne as he met a Curran tee-up.
On 64 minutes, County were in for a third when Fon Williams' poor clearance was hooked back into the box and Josh Meekings saved Gardyne's effort on the goal-line.
ICT needed a reply, and quickly, and they almost got a lifeline when Christie's effotrt came off the inside of the post, with keeper Woods beaten.
With 12 minutes to go though, Caley Jags did get right back into the contest with a cracking 35-yarder which flew past Woods into the net.
It was just what they needed, but could the rescue it?
Well, they certainly had a real go and it required stout defending from County to keep them out to ensure their progression in the League Cup.
In the other quarter-final tonight, St Johnstone won 3-1 away to Championship hosts Morton.
Cup holders Celtic will travel to Hearts tomorrow night (Wednesday) for their quarter-final clash, with Hibs and Dundee United meeting seven days later for their battle to reach the semis.
The draw for the semi-finals will be made on Monday, November 9.
Inverness CT: Fon Williams, Raven (Sutherland 82), Tremarco, Vincent, Meekings, Devine, Tansey, Polworth, Christie, Vigurs (Williams 62) , Storey. Subs not used: Esson (GK), Wedderburn, Horner.
Ross County: Woods, Fraser, Reckord, Robertson, Gardyne (Foster 85), Boyce, Curran (Schalk 87), Davies, Dingwall (Murdoch 80), Martin Woods, Irvine. Subs not used: Severn (GK), Boyd, Graham, Franks.
Referee: Steven McLean.
Attendance: 3,004.
