Ross County Stun Partick Thistle with 2-0 Victory in Kettlewell’s Debut

10 January 2026 Sports Results

Dramatic Start Marks New Era at Global Energy Stadium

Returning Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell was thrilled after a 20-second goal helped the Championship’s basement side beat second-top Partick Thistle 2-0. The match, played on 9 January 2026, marked a significant turning point for the struggling Highlanders, who have been fighting relegation from Scotland’s second tier.

The rock-bottom Highlanders, who have closed the gap on Queen’s Park to two points, saw winger Jay Henderson net twice inside the opening 11 minutes. The match at Dingwell, Scotland, saw attendance of 2,720 with Partick dominating possession at 67%.

Kettlewell’s Return to Ross County

Ross County Football Club announced the return of Stuart Kettlewell as First Team Manager on a contract running until the end of the current 2025/26 season. Stuart’s immediate remit is clear: to retain the club’s position in the Scottish Championship and set the foundations for a strong reset in the summer. The 41-year-old previously managed County to Championship and Challenge Cup success in 2019.

After seven months in charge at Kilmarnock, Kettlewell departed with the club second bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, before returning to Ross County for a second spell as manager on 30 December 2025.

Match Analysis and Implications

This was just the Highlanders’ third league win of a season and offered an immediate dose of hope around the Global Energy Stadium. Despite Partick Thistle’s dominance in possession and shots, goalkeeper Trevor Carson was always there to deny them.

Stuart Kettlewell’s side are now just two points behind ninth-placed Queen’s Park while the Jags stay five points behind leaders St Johnstone. This result proves crucial in Ross County’s battle to avoid successive relegations and provides momentum as Kettlewell settles into his second spell at the club.

Looking Ahead

The victory demonstrates that Kettlewell’s return may provide the spark Ross County desperately needed. With Henderson’s early goals setting the tone and Carson’s goalkeeping heroics preserving the clean sheet, the basement club showed they have the quality to compete in the Championship. The challenge now lies in building consistency and securing the points necessary to climb away from the relegation zone as the season progresses.