Saints 0-1 Ross County

Despite edging the first half Saints went in at half time a goal down. Iain Vigurs curling free kick on 42 minutes evaded everyone in the box and the ball crept in at the far post to give the visitors the lead.

Saints pressed hard for what would have been a deserved equaliser. They almost got it with the match edging towards injury time but Staggies keeper Ross Laidlaw made a great save to deny Saints substitute Murray Davidson to make sure that the Staggies left Perth with all 3 points.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Livingston next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Ross County to McDiarmid Park this afternoon as they looked to bounce back from last week’s 1-0 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park. Saints manager Callum Davidson made two changes to the side that started in North Lanarkshire last week as Craig Conway and Michael O’Halloran dropped to the bench to be replaced by Liam Craig and Stevie May. Ross County also suffered defeat last Saturday as they went down 5-0 at home to Celtic and The Staggies manager Stewart Kettlewell made one change as Oli Shaw came into replace Billy McKay.

It was a glorious sunny afternoon in Perth as the visitors got the match underway.

The first chance of the game came after 7 minutes as Danny McNamara sent a delightful cross into the box as he tried to pick out Callum Hendry. However, the ball was only partially cleared by the visitors and it then broke to Scott Tanser who had a shot which went narrowly over.

Then 2 minutes later Stevie May setup Hendry who had a shot on the turn which went wide of Ross Laidlaw’s right-hand post.

Saints were claiming for a penalty on 12 minutes as Stevie May made a connection with a Tanser cross but his effort was blocked by the arm of a County defender but referee David Munro dismissed the Saints appeals.

County were forced into a change on 19 minutes as former Saints player Keith Watson came on to replace Connor Randall. The right-back had shortly before clashed heads with Callum Hendry on the halfway line and had initially tried to play on.

As the match approached the half an hour mark Ross County forced several corners but Elliott Parish did well to gather one of the deliveries into the box. The Saints keeper then sent the ball long up field as he looked to play in May however, Laidlaw was quick out his box to head clear the danger.

On 31 minutes Ali McCann played the ball out wide to May and the Saints forward broke down the left before sending over a good cross into the County box, picking out McCann but the outstretched effort from the midfielder went over.

Saints continued to press County and 3 minutes later a Tanser cross picked out Jason Kerr at the back post but the header from the Saints captain went over. Then shortly after another Tanser cross caused panic in the County rearguard as Coll Donaldson failed to make a good connection with the cross however, they were able to scramble it clear before a Saints player could react to the loose ball.

Saints were edging it however, the visitors took the lead on 42 minutes as they were awarded a free kick following a foul on Michael Gardyne by Tanser 20 yards out. Iain Vigurs took the free kick and he sent a curling ball deep into the Saints box past a ruck of players and into the net.

6 minutes into the second half Michael Gardyne and Josh Reid linked up well for the visitors on the left however, luckily for Saints nobody could get on the end of Gardyne’s low cross into the box.

On 57 minutes Saints got a great chance to level the match as Kerr’s ball across the face of the County goal fell to Tanser at the back post but his effort from a tight angle cannoned off the bar before rebounding to safety.

Saints then made their first change of the match as Callum Hendry made way for Chris Kane.

On 65 minutes a Watson cross from the right picked out Ross Stewart who got up above Kerr to make a connection with the ball but Parish got down well to gather the header from the striker.

Callum Davidson then made more changes as Craig Conway, Murray Davidson and Michael O’Halloran were all introduced into the action as Saints tried to find a way back into the game.

The Staggies seemed content to sit deep for much of the second half as they defended their narrow lead. With 8 minutes remaining Saints were awarded a free kick after O’Halloran was fouled by Reid following a good run in the County half. Conway took the free kick but his delivery into the box was cleared by the visitors.

Saints continued to press forward in the closing stages as they tried to get back on level terms and they almost did as the match entered 3 minutes of additional time. The ball was played into the box and Kane knocked it down to Davidson but Laidlaw made a great save to deny Saints a deserved equaliser as he turned the effort from the midfielder behind for a corner.

Saints: Parish, Kerr, Gordon, McCart, McNamara (O’Halloran 78), Tanser, Wotherspoon (Davidson 78), McCann, Craig (Conway 69), Hendry (Kane 59), May

Unused Substitutes: Clark (GK), Robertson, Rooney, Olaofe

Booked: Wotherspoon, Kerr

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall (Watson 19), Tillson, Donaldson, Shaw, Paton (Kelly 87), Gardyne (Charles-Cook 82) Reid, Vigurs, Iacovitti, Stewart

Unused Substitutes: Doohan (GK), Tremarco, Morris, Mullin, Wright, MacKinnon

Booked: Watson, Reid, Vigurs

Scorer: Vigurs (42)

Referee: David Munro

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Murray Davidson’s shot is saved by Ross Laidlaw