Date	Saturday, 28 September 2013
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Motherwell 3:1 Ross County
Venue	Fir Park
Attendance	4,263
Referee	Bobby Madden
Comments	Match Report Report by Jonathan Sutherland for the BBC. Motherwell 3 Ross County 1 John Sutton netted twice as Motherwell fought back to earn a deserved three points against Ross County at Fir Park. Melvin De Leeuw's heavily deflected strike put County in front at half-time. But a header then a well taken strike by Englishman Sutton turned the match around. Bob McHugh nodded home to completed the comeback as Motherwell stayed on the coat-tails of Scottish Premiership pace setters Inverness and Celtic. Stuart McCall's side remain three points behind the joint-leaders while County's points tally after eight matches stands at seven. Sutton and Henri Anier combined well to create a chance early to a force a sharp save from visiting goalkeeper Mark Brown. James McFadden's pass unlocked the County defence and Stuart Carswell cut the ball back for Sutton to shoot but the toe of Brown prevented what looked to be a certain goal. And, against the run of play, County took the lead. A cut back from Ben Gordon found De Leeuw at the edge of the box and his shot deflected off Shaun Hutchinson into the corner of the Motherwell net. In response, a free-kick from McFadden found Sutton but his flick-on was straight at Brown. Just before half-time County should have doubled their lead. A cut-back, this time from De Leeuw, found Richie Brittain at the edge of the box but the midfielder - normally so assured in sight of goal - blazed high over the bar. Motherwell hit back just after the interval. First a John Sutton free-kick was turned behind and from the resulting corner the former Hearts man rose highest to head past Brown. From there the game really opened up. Brittain tried his luck from 25 yards but Lee Hollis blocked. At the other end an Anier diving header went just wide. Stuart Kettlewell was put through into the box by County team-mate Rocco Quinn but his shot was brilliantly saved by Hollis. Motherwell gained the lead for the first time when Sutton ripped through the centre of the Ross County defence to dispatch high into the net. Soon after, a fizzing shot from McFadden's replacement Lionel Ainsworth was slightly fumbled but eventually gathered by Brown. 'Well were much more focused in the final third in the second-half and it paid off as they made it 3-1. A superb, thumping header from McHugh put McCall's men firmly in command as the match entered its final phases. Manager Derek Adams is demanding better from his central defenders after Ross County lost 3-1 at Motherwell. Melvin De Leeuw gave County the lead at Fir Park but the Steelmen replied three times in the second period. "We were still in control of the game but we haven't dealt well with two balls into the box," lamented Adams. "One was from a corner kick, one from another cross - and another from a ball in behind. That's how they got their three goals." Scott Boyd and Grant Munro were paired in the heart of the Staggies' defence, the latter a 37th-minute replacement for Brian McLean, who took a head knock. But their defensive line was breached twice by John Sutton and once by Bob McHugh as Motherwell consigned County to their fifth league defeat in eight games. "I thought all in all we played very well today but we really have to defend the cross ball better. I don't think we deserved to lose the match 3-1," Adams told BBC Scotland. "The two centre-halfs know that they are at fault for the three goals and we have already spoken about that. "I thought we played very well in the first half. Motherwell didn't really trouble us. We created some good openings and we scored a goal from Melvin De Leeuw. "It's been the story of our season so far where we've had good opportunities in the match and then the other team have taken an opportunity. "I think that was the case in the second half, We got into their 18-yard box a number of times and their goalkeeper has had to make a number of good saves."
Ross County
Manager	Derek Adams
Starting 11	1: Mark Brown, 2: Mihael Kovacevic, 3: Benjamin Gordon, 4: Stuart Kettlewell, 5: Scott Boyd, 8: Richard Brittain, 10: Rocco Quinn, 11: Melvin De Leeuw 1, 17: Steven Ross, 21: Brian McLean, 23: Graham Carey
Bench	20: Michael Fraser, 6: Branislav Micic, 7: Ivan Sproule, 12: Grant Munro, 14: Darren Maatsen, 15: Gary Glen, 22: Steven Saunders
Motherwell
Manager	Stuart McCall
Starting 11	Lee Hollis, Steven Hammell, Simon Ramsden, Shaun Hutchinson, Stephen McManus, James McFadden, John Sutton 2, Keith Lasley, Zaine Francis-Angol, Stuart Carswell, Henri Anier
Bench	Gunnar Nielsen, Paul Lawson, Iain Vigurs, Adam Cummins, Bob McHugh 1, Fraser Kerr, Lionel Ainsworth