Ross County 1-2 Saints

It was a cold afternoon in Dingwall and it was the hosts who struck first when Jordan White headed home a Yan Dhanda cross on 22 minutes.

However, the match changed on 61 minutes when The Staggies were reduced to ten men after captain Jack Baldwin was sent off for hauling down Stevie May as he burst towards the box after winning the ball from the defender.

Saints levelled the match on 77 minutes when Crawford volleyed home following Andy Considine’s cross into the box. Crawford then got his and Saints second of the game 2 minutes later as he knocked home the rebound to secure all three points after Theo Bair had seen his effort saved by County keeper Ross Laidlaw.

Today’s win was Saints first in Dingwall since February 2017 and the result sees them extend their unbeaten run to six games as they move up to fifth in the cinch Premiership with 24 points.  

Next up for Saints is a trip to Celtic Park on Christmas Eve to take on Celtic, kick off 12:30pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints returned to action this afternoon following the World Cup break as they made the trip north to take on Ross County at The Global Energy Stadium. Prior to the break Saints drew 1-1 with Motherwell at McDiarmid Park and Callum Davidson made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s match in Dingwall. Both Ryan McGowan and Melker Hallberg were suspended and Remi Matthews missed out due to illness and they were replaced by James Brown, Daniel Phillips and Elliot Parish. Ross County were defeated 2-1 by Celtic in Glasgow in their last match in November and manager Malky Mackay made three changes to his starting eleven. Jack Baldwin, Owura Edwards and Kazeem Olaigbe came in to replace Keith Watson and Josh Sims who both dropped to the bench whilst David Cancola missed out due to suspension.

David Wotherspoon got the match underway for Saints and within 30 seconds of getting the match underway Saints were awarded a free kick in a promising position after Stevie May had been fouled by Jack Baldwin. Both David Wotherspoon and Graham Carey stood over the free kick however, it was taken by Carey as he saw his effort blocked by Jordan Tillson in The Staggies wall.

On 8 minutes Carey picked up a slack pass in midfield as Saints went on the attack and after some good build up play Carey teed-up May in the centre of the box however, the strike from the forward was straight at Ross Laidlaw who comfortably gathered.

Neat skill by Carey on the right touchline on 20 minutes sent Drey Wright free down the right channel. Wright then looked to cross the ball into the box however, his cross was deflected behind for a corner by Baldwin. Carey took the corner from the right and his delivery was met by Andy Considine whose header took a deflection off Baldwin as Laidlaw came out to gather.

PHOTO: Drey Wright breaks forward

Play then quickly switched to the other end as a minute later County took the lead. Yan Dhanda sent an inch perfect cross into the box from the right which was met by Jordan White who glanced a header into the far corner of the net.

The hosts came close to a second goal on 39 minutes as George Harmon won the ball from Liam Gordon on the touchline and then played in Kazeem Olaigbe in the centre of the box. It looked like the on-loan Southampton midfielder was going to score as he took a neat touch to take the ball around Considine however, he rolled his effort wide.

Saints came close to an equaliser on 42 minutes as Wright’s deep cross from the right was met by May whose downward header was brilliantly tipped over by Laidlaw from a corner. Wotherspoon played the corner short to Adam Montgomery and his ball into the ball into the box was met by Nicky Clark but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

There was 2 minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of the first half and The Staggies were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box deep into stoppage time as Daniel Phillips fouled White. Dhanda played the free kick to Olaigbe but the Belgian midfielder blazed his effort over.

PHOTO: Stevie May's header is saved by Ross Laidlaw

Saints made their first change of the game on 56 minutes as Ali Crawford came on to replace David Wotherspoon.

Saints first chance of the second half came on 57 minutes as Crawford’s corner from the left was met by Clark however, the forward saw his looping header go over the crossbar.

On 61 minutes Ross County were reduced to ten men as Baldwin was sent off after pulling down May who was in one goal after nipping in front of the defender to win the ball. From the resulting free kick Carey saw his left footed effort comeback off Laidlaw’s right-hand post.

PHOTO: Jack Baldwin is shown a straight red card by referee Graham Grainger after he pulled Stevie May down

Now with the man advantage Saints applied pressure to the County goal and on 67 minutes May drilled a low ball across the box which was met by Montgomery but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Callum Davidson then made a double change on 71 minutes as Theo Bair and Connor McLennan came on to replace James Brown and Stevie May.

Saints continued to press for an equaliser and 2 minutes later Phillips saw his strike saved by Laidlaw.

Then on 77 minutes Saints were level. Bair played in Considine down the left and the defender crossed the ball into the box that Clark tried to get on the end of however, it broke to Crawford who volleyed the ball into the net.

With the Saints fans barely back in their seats the Perth side took the lead as Phillips did well to win the ball on the halfway line before breaking forward. The midfielder then slipped the ball into the path of Bair whose shot was saved by Laidlaw’s legs however, Crawford was on hand to slot home the rebound to spark wild celebrations amongst the jubilant Saints fans in the Stand behind the goal.

PHOTO: Ali Crawford celebrates his second goal

Saints never looked back after that and they came close to a third late on as McLennan’s cross from the right was headed back across goal by Bair which Clark got on the end of however, he couldn’t keep his effort down as it went over as Saints comfortably saw the game out.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Edwards (Akio 72), Dhanda (Paton 62), Johnson, Loturi (Randall 72), Harmon, Olaigbe (Watson 62), Tillson, White (Hiwula 80)

Unused Substitutes: Eastwood (GK), Samuel, Sims, Smith

Booked: Tillson

Sent Off: Baldwin

Scorer: White (22)

Saints: Parish, Brown (Bair 71), Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, Wotherspoon (Crawford 56), Carey, Clark, May (McLennan 71), Wright, Phillips

Unused Substitutes: Wills (GK), Gallacher, Kucheriavyi, O’Halloran, Murphy, MacPherson

Booked: Montgomery

Scorers: Crawford (77, 79)

Referee: Graham Grainger

VAR: Craig Napier

Attendance: 4,398 (398 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Ali Crawford celebrates his first goal