MALKY MACKAY hammered out a Hampden Park vision for his players after victory over Dunfermline put revamped Ross County’s group fate back in their own hands.
A Jordy Hiwula winner on his home debut was enough to sink the unlucky Pars, who not only held their own but created the lion’s share of chances in Dingwall.
Victories on Tuesday over Alloa and on Saturday against East Fife would now guarantee the Staggies a Group C-topping finish after the Covid-wrecked campaign of 12 months ago.
Mackay said: “I’ve got great respect for Dunfermline as a football club and know James McPake, their manager, well.
“We knew it was going to be tough, having watched them a couple of times and seen the quality they can supply into the box.
“In the first half we kept a lot of the ball while being a little too safe.
“In the second half, I thought we were more positive and managed to get in behind them, scored a goal, and created another couple of chances.
“When we didn’t get the second one, we knew we had to defend well to get the result, which we did.
“It can feel a bit like pre-season, but we’re trying to win the group to make sure we get to the last 16 of the League Cup in Scotland, which is huge in this country.
“That’s what I spoke to them about in there with the players. We want to go and make sure we get to a semi-final at Hampden Park in front of 50,000 people.
“We have to go and win the group and we have Alloa and East Fife next week.
“We have to go and try to win those games.”
The Pars came north with a perfect group record after 2-0 and 5-0 victories over East Fife and Buckie Thistle, but the hosts had slipped up in their opener away to the Highland League side, grasping a bonus point through the penalty shoot-out.
Mackay handed home debuts to four summer signings - Ben Purrington, Owura Edwards, Yan Dhanda and ex-Doncaster striker Hiwula.
The Pars made one change from the Buckie win, with Kyle MacDonald stepping aside for Craig Wighton.
The Premiership side controlled possession in the first half without seriously threatening the League One side.
The Staggies had a narrow escape after 33 minutes after Paul Allan’s free-kick struck the home wall.
Chris Hamilton’s cross into the box from deep right was met superbly in the air by the head of McCann.
Home keeper Laidlaw reacted with a strong parry, but Wighton on the rebound should have netted, firing wide of the right hand post.
County ended the first half without an attempt on goal, but upped the tempo afterf the break.
Ben Paton’s curling attempt from distance was well-saved by Deniz Mehmet to his right.
The home breakthrough came after 64 minutes.
A County corner broke to Keith Watson and the defender’s strike was redirected superbly by the summer signing, with his glancing header nestling in the top right corner of the net.
Craig Wighton also saw a header smack the bar as the Pars responded with some heavy pressure, with some desperate home defending keeping them at bay.
Substitute Nikolay Todorov also flashed a powerful header just over the crossbar and the Pars had a stoppage time penalty claim turned down after McCann tumbled in the box under the attentions County’s Alex Iacovitti.
Dunfermline manager McPake said: “Credit to the players - they were excellent and did the football club proud.
“You get nothing in the end for that alone, but that was a really good performance against an established Premiership club, with a really good manager.
“We’ll use it as motivation going forward, but we don’t want too many games where you feel you should have taken something, but haven’t.”
