Ross County 0
Motherwell 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

Source unknown.

Ross County opened their Scottish Premier League account with a solid if unspectacular goalless draw with Motherwell.

The best opportunity fell to Michael Higdon when the visiting striker connected in the six yard box only for the ball to fly over the crossbar.

County were well-organised at the back, with gnarled defensive stalwarts Grant Munro and Ross Tokely in dominant form. There was an early scare for the home side when Jamie Murphy curled in a cross that evaded everyone in the penalty area and bounced narrowly wide of Michael Fraser's post. Darren Randolph then had to look lively to tip over a header from Munro.

New Motherwell defender Simon Ramsden hammered a shot wide from distance before Tokely made a vital headed interception to deny Higdon. The first half ended with Higdon looking skyward in disbelief as he diverted Chris Humphrey's corner over the top. County are largely unchanged from the side that ran away with last season's First Division title and their shortcomings in the final third were evident.

The crowd in the newly-seated Jail End were on their feet early in the second half as Tokely lumbered into the penalty area but the full-back hesitated and his low cross was cut out by a defender in claret and amber.

Paul Lawson tried his luck from long range and a stretching Tokely was inches away from getting on the end of a long Richard Brittain free kick as the home side enjoyed their best spell.

Substitute Henrik Ojamaa thrilled briefly with a mazy run but could find no way through the brick wall of big men in blue shirts, while Fraser held onto a daisy-cutter from Omar Daley.