Date	Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:2 Motherwell
Venue	Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park
Attendance
Referee	Nick Walsh
Comments	Match Report Report by Nick McPheat for the BBC. Played Behind Closed Doors Ross County 1 Motherwell 2 Motherwell manager Graham Alexander hailed his players' courage as "exceptional" to fight back and earn a vital win over Scottish Premiership relegation rivals Ross County. Devante Cole cancelled out Oli Shaw's first-half opener before Bevis Mugabi's header won the game for the visitors. The victory is Alexander's first as Fir Park boss and ends Motherwell's 12-game winless league run. "It's an excellent night for everybody," Alexander said. "The courage they showed in the second half was exceptional. Every credit to the players. It's a great confidence boost for them." After a positive start from Alexander's side, it was the hosts who had the first sight of goal as Iain Vigurs lashed over a shot from the edge of the area. Cole then did well to make a yard for himself before having a close-range finish smothered by Ross Laidlaw and it proved to be a crucial save with the opening goal coming just minutes later. Declan Gallagher misjudged a long ball, which allowed Jermaine Hylton to get in behind the Scotland centre-half and the former Motherwell winger's finish slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Liam Kelly, leaving Shaw to tap home into an empty net. Hylton then passed up the chance to double County's lead, failing to cushion a volley on target. Motherwell pushed for a leveller as a deflected strike from Allan Campbell curled wide. However, like so often this season, the Lanarkshire side struggled to create anything of note. Just six minutes into the second half, though, the visitors scored their first equaliser of the entire campaign as Laidlaw could only parry Tony Watt's shot into the path of Cole, who converted his third goal in four games. The goal sparked Motherwell into life as Robbie Crawford and Watt tried their luck before Jake Carroll's outswinging corner was met by Mugabi, who rose highest to power home the winning goal. The hosts pushed for an equaliser, as a deflected volley from Blair Spittal drifted just wide and Jason Naismith could only direct a header straight at Kelly. However, Alexander's men held firm to secure a vital three points and a first win since October. So often this season, Motherwell have crumbled when going a goal behind. The fight of the players has been questioned, but the turnaround in Dingwall should do wonders for the confidence and belief of the squad. It is the first time since March last year that they have come from behind to take points. As for County, recent wins against Hibernian and Aberdeen show that the Highlanders are capable of getting results against the league's tougher opposition. However, they now have to show that they can get the job done against teams that are in the dogfight with them and John Hughes' side will have the chance to put that right next week when they travel to Hamilton. Ross County manager John Hughes: "The first half was even. I said at half time let's not sit back, try and take the game to Motherwell. "We conceded poor goals again. You can't have free headers in your own box. The last 15 minutes there was real effort to get the equaliser but it was a little bit too late." Motherwell manager Graham Alexander: "The players have took criticism this season, and rightly so, and at half-time it wasn't looking great. "But it's the first time we've won for a while and it's the first time this season the team has come from behind to take points."
Ross County
Manager	John Hughes
Starting 11	1: Ross Laidlaw, 4: Leo Hjelde 1, 5: Callum Morris 1, 6: Ross Draper 1, 8: Oliver Shaw 1, 11: Iain Vigurs 1, 14: Jermaine Hylton 1, 16: Alexander Iacovitti, 17: Regan Charles-Cook, 23: Jason Naismith, 24: Harrison Paton
Bench	21: Joseph Hilton, 7: Michael Gardyne, 9: Billy Mckay, 15: Keith Watson, 18: Stephen Kelly, 19: Charlie Lakin, 20: Blair Spittal, 22: Jordon Tillson, 28: Tony Andreu
Motherwell
Manager	Graham Alexander
Starting 11	Liam Kelly, Barry Maguire, Declan Gallagher, Robbie Crawford, Stephen O'Donnell, Alan Campbell, Bevis Mugabi 1, Christopher Long, Tony Watt, Devante Cole 1, Jake Carroll
Bench	Peter Morrison, Steven Lawless, Harry Smith, Max Johnston, Ricki Lamie, Jake Hastie, Ross MacIver, Nathan McGinley, Sherwin Seedorf