Saints 0-2 Ross County

The visitors took the lead just before half time as Simon Murray latched onto a Jordan White flick on before sending a powerful strike beyond Remi Matthews.

County doubled their lead 4 minutes into the second half as a George Harmon corner broke to David Cancola who thumped the ball into the net.

The visitors could have extended their lead further during the second half but Matthews made good saves to deny both Murray and White.

Saints had a couple of chances to get back into the game. Dan Phillips saw his low strike saved by Ross Laidlaw on 71 minutes and the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist came even closer late on as his strike hit the post.  

Saints are back in action next Saturday as they head to West Lothian to take on Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena, kick off 3pm.  

MATCH REPORT

For the second week in a row Saints were at home as they welcomed Ross County to McDiarmid Park for a cinch Premiership match. Last weekend ten man Saints lost 1-0 at home to Aberdeen and there was one change to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon as James Brown came in to replace Andy Considine, who was suspended following his sending off against The Dons last weekend. Ross County went down 2-0 to Celtic in Dingwall last Sunday and they also made one change to their starting eleven as Malky MacKay brought in Josh Sims to replace the injured Gwion Edwards.

It was a lovely spring afternoon in Perth as Ross County got the match underway and the visitors created the first chance of the match in the first minute of the match. Josh Sims gathered the ball out wide on the right and he sent over an inviting cross which Eamonn Brophy got on the end of however, the on-loan St Mirren forward couldn’t direct his header on target.

Saints were awarded a free kick on 3 minutes following a foul on Stevie May by County captain Alex Iacovitti. David Wotherspoon took the free kick and he whipped a good ball into the box which Liam Gordon got on the end of at the back post however, the Saints captain saw his header go inches wide.

A great bit of skill by Dan Phillips on 15 minutes saw the midfielder get away from his man before playing in Melker Hallberg down the left channel. The Swedish wizard then picked out May just inside the box who slipped the ball into the path of Adam Montgomery however, he dragged his effort wide.

PHOTO: Liam Gordon heads wide

The Staggies created the next chance of the match 3 minutes later as Brophy broke into the box and unleashed a shot however, the forward injured himself in the process and had to be replaced by Simon Murray.

The visitors came close to the breakthrough on 27 minutes as another Sims cross from the right was met by Jordan White at the near post however, his header went narrowly wide.

Play quickly switched to the other end as a minute later good play by Saints saw Montgomery break inside from the left as he sent an inviting ball across the face of the County goal however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as the ball went behind for a goal kick.

As the match approached half time Saints created a couple of chances to take the lead. Firstly, on 41 minutes Ross Laidlaw produced a good save with his left leg to deny Drey Wright at the near post. Then 2 minutes later Wright picked out Zak Rudden in the box and his ball across the face of the County goal was cut out by Sims before May could get on the end of it.

PHOTO: Adam Montgomery gets his cross in despite the efforts of Josh Sims

On 44 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on Phillips by David Cancola. Wotherspoon took the free kick and his deep delivery was met by Gordon but the defender couldn’t direct his header on target.

Then on the stroke of half time County took the lead. Ross Laidlaw’s goal kick was flicked on by White as the forward headed the ball in the path of Murray and the former Queen’s Park forward blasted a powerful strike beyond Remi Matthews and into the net.

The Staggies then doubled their lead 4 minutes into the second half. George Hamon’s corner from the right was headed back across goal Dylan Smith and Cancola fired a right footed effort into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

That goal sparked a triple change by Saints as Jamie Murphy, Connor McLennan and Alex Mitchell came on to replace Zak Rudden, James Brown and Liam Gordon.

Just before the hour mark County came close to a third as Murray got the better of Ryan McGowan and then cut inside before unleashing a strike which was saved by Matthews.

PHOTO: David Cancola scores Ross County's second goal

Matthews was called into action again on 64 minutes as Sims broke down the right channel before picking out Murray in the box however, Matthews produced a good save to deny the forward.

Saints continued to search for a way back into the game and on 71 minutes Phillips gathered the ball just outside the box and unleashed a low strike which Ross Laidlaw got down well to save.

2 minutes later and Ross County got another sight of goal as White was in on goal and was one-on-one with Matthews and he attempted to round the keeper however, the Saints number one came out on top as he made a fine save at the feet of the forward.

Callum Davidson then made another change on 74 minutes as Cammy MacPherson came on to replace David Wotherspoon. That was followed by another change 5 minutes later as Melker Hallberg was replaced by Theo Bair.

Saints came close to pulling a goal back with 4 minutes remaining as Phillips saw his strike hit the post. Play continued and Phillips picked out Wright on the edge of the box however, he fired high into the North Stand as County comfortably saw the game out to leave Perth with the points.

PHOTO: Drey Wright unleashes a strike at goal

Saints: Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Gordon (Mitchell 54), Brown (McLennan 54), Montgomery, Phillips, Hallberg (Bair 79), Wotherspoon (MacPherson 74), May, Rudden (Murphy 54)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Gallacher, Carey, Moreland

Booked: Phillips, MacPherson

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Cancola (Watson 83), Iacovitti, Sims (Edward 74), Loturi, Harmon, White, Brophy (Murray 20) (Stones 83), Smith, Kenneh

Unused Substitutes: Munro (GK), Samuel, Hiwula, MacPhee, Williamson

Booked: Kenneh, Iacovitti, Stones

Scorers: Murray (45), Cancola (49)

Referee: Alan Muir

VAR: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 3,027

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Dan Phillips gets away from David Cancola