Date	Saturday, 08 November 2014
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Kilmarnock 0:3 Ross County
Venue	Rugby Park
Attendance	3,684
Referee	Stephen Finnie
Comments	Match Report Report by Keir Murray for the BBC. Kilmarnock 0 Ross County 3 Three-first half goals helped Ross County to their first away win in the Scottish Premiership this season. Jim McIntyre's side are now level with St Mirren at the bottom after the Buddies' loss to Partick Thistle. Graham Carey cracked home a shot for County via the crossbar and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Craig Samson in 32 minutes. Michael Gardyne scampered clear down the left and slotted in a simple second and Paul Quinn third volleyed a third, from which Kilmarnock never recovered. It means Killie have lost three league games in a row, their earlier run of five games unbeaten followed by a 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park and a 3-1 home loss against Dundee. The Staggies were in command of the match by half-time as they made the most of their chances while Killie did not. Carey had tested Killie keeper Craig Samson's alertness early in the game with a long-range effort but the home side had enjoyed the bulk of the opportunities without managing to score. Mark Brown made a solid save to knock a fierce Josh Magennis shot wide from 10 yards after the big striker had been set up by Alexei Eremenko, and from the resultant corner Mark Connolly headed a foot wide. Rory McKenzie also had a chance for the hosts but, whether it was a lack of technique or poor composure, he blazed wide. McIntyre believes he and assistant manager Billy Dodds have made County harder to beat since they took over from the sacked Derek Adams. Scoring three goals in 45 minutes certainly helps. A little after half an hour, Carey collected Tony Dingwall's pass out on the right and hammered a 20-yard shot against the bar that crossed the line via a ricochet off the despairing Samson to give the Staggies the lead. Robbie Muirhead came on for Killie's Jamie Hamill, who looked to be carrying a knock as he headed off the pitch and who had been booked for a nasty challenge eight minutes earlier. Samson made impressive stops from the confident Carey and Jake Jervis but was left isolated when Gardyne had an age to pick his spot and shoot home from 10 yards. Worse was to follow for the home fans when Carey's in-swinging corner was volleyed into the net by defender Quinn, who had peeled off his back-post marker. Killie improved after the break but it was County who forced the first chance, with Martin Woods pinging a shot wide. McKenzie stung Brown's palms with a shot but later failed to get enough purchase on a right-foot shot as the ball dropped kindly for him in the box. Jackson Irvine headed a Carey cross over his former team's crossbar and his County team-mate Brown made a brave, painful save from centre-half Connolly as it became clear County would be heading north with a precious three points. Manager Jim McIntyre is confident his Ross County players can pull themselves to safety in the Scottish Premiership now that they have registered their first away win of the season. Graham Carey, Michael Gardyne and Paul Quinn scored in the first half of their 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. "We've got a belief in the players that we are good enough to get back in the pack," said McIntyre. "It's been eight hard weeks trying to get there. It's a good result today." McIntyre took over in Dingwall on 9 September following Derek Adams' sacking, with the team pointless. County now have eight points, the same as 11th-placed St Mirren, who they trail on goal difference. Motherwell are only two points further ahead. "It's a great response from Monday night's defeat at home to Aberdeen," said the manager. "We knew Kilmarnock would be smarting from their first defeat at home the week before and we knew we'd need to start the game well, which we certainly did. "I thought young Tony Dingwall did fantastically well and Jamie Reckord, making his debut, also slotted in well at left-back. "I thought we were very dynamic in the front four positions. There was good movement there." Ross County manager Jim McIntyre on Darren Barr's cruciate ligament injury "Darren's already been through that type of injury before. He's got the mental support to cope with it. He'll get every support from us at County." The opener in the 32nd minute came from the left boot of Carey, who shot from a few yards outside the area and watched his shot ricochet into the net off Kilmarnock goalkeeper Craig Samson. "We want him to get on the half turn and try to get shots away," McIntyre said of Carey. "He's got such a fantastic shot on him. We got the bit of luck. Craig Samson's tipped it on to the bar and it has come off his shoulder. "If you don't shoot, you don't score." McIntyre rested Lewis Toshney and played his skipper, midfielder Richie Brittain, at right-back. His defensive options had been further limited by the cruciate ligament injury sustained by Darren Barr against Aberdeen. "It's a result we dedicate to Darren," added McIntyre. "Cruciate injuries can be anything from six to nine months [out]. "Darren's already been through that type of injury before. He's got the mental support to cope with it. He'll get every support from us at County."
Ross County
Manager	Jim McIntyre
Starting 11	21: Mark Brown, 5: Scott Boyd, 8: Richard Brittain 1, 9: Jake Jervis, 12: Jamie Reckord 1, 23: Graham Carey 1, 26: Martin Woods, 30: Tony Dingwall, 36: Jackson Irvine 1, 40: Michael Gardyne 1, 43: Paul Quinn 1
Bench	1: Antonio Reguero Chapinal, 10: Filip Kiss, 14: Darren Maatsen, 15: Yoann Arquin, 16: Liam Boyce, 18: Benedict Frempah, 25: Lewis Toshney
Kilmarnock
Manager	Allan Johnston
Starting 11	Craig Samson, Ross Barbour 1, Mark Connolly 1, Manuel Pascali, Chris Chantler, Rory McKenzie 1, Sammy Clingan 1, Jamie Hamill 1, Chris Johnston, Alexei Eremenko 1, Josh Magennis
Bench	Robbie Muirhead, Lee Miller, Craig Slater, Conor Brennan, Lee Ashcroft, Aaron Splaine, Mark O'Hara