Lee Erwin might not think much of scoring against his former club- but he knows how important that strike is for current side Ross County.
Erwin struck late on to hand The Staggies a late winner against his former side Kilmarnock. As the game looked destined for 0-0, he sprung into action to change the game’s outcome.
Erwin is a former Kilmarnock player. (Photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
His late effort from outside the box came back off the crossbar, but the striker showed good instincts to pounce on the rebound and hand three points to County.
Three points over Killie edges Ross County closer to the top six, sitting one point outside it now. Speaking after the game, Erwin was well aware how big that moment was for the club.
It feels very satisfying, you can’t beat a last-minute winner,” he said. “We deserved the three points, especially on our second-half performance when we were pressurising them a lot. Luckily for me and for the team my shot went in. I had two previous chances and just needed to keep chipping away.
Erwin bagged his first Ross County goal at the weekend. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
“I think that was the first bad spell the club had in the last two seasons and everyone was criticising us. But credit goes to us and the staff for turning it round against Hibs and carrying it on this week.
“It’s an important goal for me. It’s been a slow start and it’s nice to score but the main thing is Ross County securing back-to-back wins. Since the injury I’ve had to be patient. There’s good competition for places in my position and that drives you on. We’re all scoring goals that is beneficial to the team.
“You’ve just got to keep working hard and take your chance when it comes. All credit goes to the defence for keeping a clean sheet and giving us the platform to go on and get a winner. It’s another big result.
The likes of Richard Foster helped keep a clean sheet. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
“It’s always nice to get a goal. Scoring against my former club doesn’t bother me, a goal is a goal, I don’t care who they are against.”
Kettlewell left happy too
Erwin’s goal left co-boss Stuart Kettlewell delighted too. The Staggies man reckons that Erwin more than deserved his goal after what has been a tough start to life in Dingwall for the ex-Killie forward.
He said: “It was a big moment for Lee. We know his quality and it’s just been a case of getting him up to match sharpness. The original strike is unbelievable – I think he’s holding off two defenders at the time when he strikes it with his left foot.
Happy with his striker. (Photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
“It was just that strikers’ instinct to get himself in the forward movement and it’s a composed finish.”