MOST of the Ross County players that merrily bounced back on to the bus parked on Fir Park Street probably did so with dreams of a giant killing heavily contributing to the spring in their step.

Settling down into their seats as the coach snaked its way down Airbles Road and up on to the motorway, the scenic views of Lanarkshire whizzing by would no doubt have been just a blur as thoughts of a match just 10 minutes up the M74 took hold.

You certainly couldn’t hold it against any of the Highland club’s players if they were to get a tad excited at the prospect of Sunday's League Cup semi-final with Celtic at the national stadium. While few will have had much knowledge at the time of the previous meeting between the two clubs at Hampden back in 2010, there will have been plenty around the Global Energy Stadium filling them in about that Scottish Cup last four tie that saw then First Division County stun their opponents in a 2-0 upset. It will no doubt fuel the fire burning within Jim McIntyre’s squad about replicating such a feat.

However, Andrew Davies, his captain, only has to draw on his own recent experience of a cup shock to realise what can be achieved on such occasions.

A year ago yesterday the centre-half was part of a Bradford City team that silenced Stamford Bridge in a stunning 4-2 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup. The League One side were 2-0 down at one point through goals from Tim Cahill and Ramires only to roar back in dramatic style. Former Hibernian, St Johnstone and Inverness winger Filipe Morais netted that day, while the decisive third was buried beyond Petr Cech by non-other than now Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday.

“I was part of the Bradford team which defeated Chelsea last season and you never know what can happen in football, that’s what makes it so great,” said Davies. “It was crazy to be part of that day at Stamford Bridge.

“We were 2-0 down and you just want to make the most of the occasion at that stage. Luckily, I had played there before in my earlier days at Middlesbrough and that’s what it’s all about. To then play as well as we did was incredible.

“It wasn’t a fluke, we played really well and it was one of those weird days. We took every chance we had and to win 4-2 was the best win of my career by far. It was massive. Jose Mourinho was brilliant. He came into our changing-room after the game and said: You deserved it. Full credit to him and those are the moments why you play football.

The Herald: Andrew Davies and Gary Liddle with James Hanson at the Bradford City v Chelsea match

Andrew Davies, middle celebrates at Stamford Bridge.

 

“I want to have that same feeling on Sunday and it can happen, you never know. Let’s give everything we have got and see where we end up.”

As touched on already, Saturday’s victory over Motherwell was just what County needed. Not only in terms of the result, but the manner in which it was garnered in the face of, at times, extreme pressure. Going into the Ladbrokes Premiership game on the back of two league defeats, McIntyre’s team found themselves in front as Jackson Irvine’s goal rewarded a fine training ground set-piece that had their hosts fooled from a corner.

While up until that point there wasn’t much to shout about from either team, after it Motherwell began to click through the gears and even now will be wondering how they didn’t manage to take something from this game. They held 59 per cent of possession over the 90 minutes and had several opportunities that just didn’t fall kindly at the decisive moment. Even after Brian Graham put County 2-0 ahead on 69 minutes, it was not enough to offer an at times shaky County defence much reassurance as a late cavalry charge almost brought Mark McGhee’s team level.

Stephen Pearson’s 87th-minute goal aside, they largely managed to hold firm, something that will give hope as they get ready to take on a Celtic team containing the Premiership’s most prolific goalscorer in Leigh Griffiths.

The Herald: Chris Cadden, pictured here playing for Motherwell against Hamilton earlier this month, relished his first start

Chris Cadden, pictured here against Hamilton, was a highlight in his first Motherwell start.

 

"We never make it easy for ourselves, but you look at the table now and see that we are fourth and that’s great,” said Davies. “It’s going to be tough and it’s nice to win at Motherwell to have a nice run up to the game. Had we lost at Fir Park, it would have taken the shine off the build up to Hampden.

“But we all dug deep and demand high standards. Even when we win, we can sometimes be disappointed.”

Motherwell found a new way of losing last weekend when they were trounced 6-0 by Hearts in the capital. Yes, the fact no points were earned this week either may have been a similar outcome, but there was still much to be positive about as a recently resurgent team looked more like themselves.

Midfield was their downfall at Tynecastle and on Saturday it was their finest asset. Keith Lasley was back from suspension which undoubtedly helped while Chris Cadden, the 19-year-old whose father Steve once played in claret and amber, was a real highlight in his first ever start for the club.

“I’m disappointed with the result but it was a great experience for me,” said Cadden, who won the League Two title with Albion Rovers last season during a loan spell. “I had some early nerves. I thought I’d be worse, but I soon got into the game. I was bad the night before, I couldn’t really sleep. But when I woke up in the morning I was okay.

“I got a text from my mum saying well done. But I’ve not heard yet from my dad – I wonder what he’ll say!”