Ross County got here from three objectives down towards Partick Thistle to dramatically retain their Scottish Premiership standing with a sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory following an epic play-off ultimate.
Aidan Fitzpatrick put Thistle three forward on mixture two minutes earlier than half-time within the second leg in Dingwall they usually have been in management till the 71st minute when Yan Dhanda’s penalty and Simon Murray’s close-range end turned the sport on its head inside 80 seconds.
County accomplished their comeback simply after the 90-minute mark when George Harmon netted to ship the sport into further time.
There have been possibilities and VAR controversy all through and the penalty shoot-out was simply as dramatic as the sport earlier than Josh Sims lastly settled issues three hours after kick-off to seal a 5-4 shoot-out victory.
Malky Mackay’s aspect prolonged their four-year keep within the high flight whereas Thistle, who went down by means of the play-offs in 2018 and have been to League One and again to the Championship since, will ultimately discover encouragement from their type below Kris Doolan as soon as their shock subsides.
It was solely a second defeat in 19 video games below their supervisor, who suffered the lack of his father throughout a play-off marketing campaign which noticed Thistle win 5 matches and rating 19 objectives.
County made 4 modifications, two of them enforced by means of suspension, as Ben Purrington got here in for his first begin since struggling a severe ankle damage in October. Doolan named the identical crew for a fifth sport in a row.
County’s solely actual first-half stress got here courtesy of Thistle goalkeeper David Mitchell failing to take care of two excessive balls, Purrington seeing a header cleared off the road after the second blunder.
The dwelling aspect survived a prolonged VAR assessment after Greg Aitken referred to as referee Nick Walsh to his monitor after Ross Docherty went down below Nohan Kenneh’s problem as he bumped into the field. Walsh had a protracted look whereas County boss Mackay instructed him “it’s a dive”, and the referee determined towards awarding the penalty regardless of particular contact.
The guests quickly took the lead after Tiffoney reacted quickest to a free ball and drove it throughout the field. Fitzpatrick took a contact as David Cancola dived in, and the Thistle huge man reversed a end previous Ross Laidlaw.
The noisy visiting followers chanted “Thistle are back” and Alex Samuel missed a good chance to present the house help hope simply after the break following a slip within the Jags defence. Mitchell made cease and a grounded Aaron Muirhead accomplished the clearance.
Thistle appeared snug and Connor Randall cleared off the road from Steven Lawless as they appeared to place the sport out of sight.
But the complexion of the tie was remodeled with 19 minutes of the 90 remaining when Aitken alerted Walsh to the ball hitting Graham’s arm within the Thistle field and Dhanda transformed the ensuing spot-kick.
Thistle then conceded a throw-in from the restart and Samuel capitalised on some hesitation from Darren Brownlie and drove in a cross which substitute Murray transformed.
Jordan White and Brian Graham missed possibilities at both finish earlier than extra VAR drama when County captain Keith Watson was proven a straight crimson card for hacking down Tiffoney from behind because the ahead was about to string a team-mate by means of. Walsh downgraded to a yellow after being referred to as to the monitor.
The fourth official signalled for 9 minutes of stoppage time simply as Dhanda crossed for substitute Harmon to volley in off the put up to make it 3-3 on mixture. A VAR examine for offside extended the stress.
There have been additional alternatives at both finish and Murray missed a wonderful probability with the final kick of regular time when he volleyed over from seven yards.
Samuel headed towards the bar however Thistle had the higher of additional time and Stuart Bannigan blazed over the most effective probability after being arrange by Graham contained in the six-yard field.
The shoot-out was simply as tense.
Kevin Holt and Jack Baldwin noticed penalties saved for both crew earlier than Harmon’s stress kick took it into sudden dying. Bannigan hit the put up earlier than Watson blazed over, and Laidlaw saved from Docherty earlier than Sims netted to spark a pitch invasion from the house followers.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk