Clean sheet perfect result as Woods takes Staggies chance
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Ross County’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock this week was a fine performance for a team gunning to snatch a top six spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership, but it was particularly important for goalkeeper Gary Woods.
The stopper, on loan from Leyton Orient, is set to appear between the sticks regularly for the Staggies, after number one goalie Scott Fox was ruled out for up to eight weeks through a knee ligament injury.
The unfortunate absence means Woods will all but likely be in goal when the Highlanders face Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup final next weekend, and Tuesday night’s game at Killie was crucial game-time for the 25-year-old.
Ex-Man United youth player Woods featured in eight Premiership games during the Autumn, but when Fox returned before Christmas, he was relegated to the bench.
The 2-0 win at Rugby Park marked his first league appearance for almost three months and the keeper is aware that now is his chance to shine: “I am disappointed for Scott as we get on well. It is hard for him to take but obviously it is a chance for me to play more games”.
The win was a marked improvement from County after going down 3-0 to bottom side Dundee United at the weekend.
“The team effort in front of me tonight was brilliant. We showed a good reaction from Saturday when we lost 3-0 and I was pleased on a personal level to keep a clean sheet,” Woods said.
Having been in the top half of the table since the second week of the campaign, County are still under pressure to secure a spot in the top half with just four games remaining ahead of the split.
“It was a massively important result for us as there are teams below us in the league who have games in hand. If we can keep winning then it will put the pressure on them,” the goalie added.
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