Saints put in a dominant display this afternoon but had to settled for a point against Ross County at McDiarmid Park.
Saints controlled proceedings for large spells and they came close to breaking the deadlock on 23 minutes when Kai Fotheringham hit the post from 20 yards.
The Staggies almost took an unlikely lead on 55 minutes however, Toby Steward made a fine save to deny Ronan Hale.
Saints continued to knock at the door and Declan Gallagher made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Fotheringham with 13 minutes remaining. Then Josh McPake drilled a late strike narrowly wide as the match finished goalless.
Next up for Saints is a trip to Angus next Saturday to take on Arbroath at Gayfield, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Ross County to a sunny McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a William Hill Championship match. Simo Valakari made three changes to the side which started the goalless draw at home to Ayr United last Saturday as Matty Foulds and Sven Sprangler came into the starting eleven, whilst Liam Smith made his first started for Saints. They replaced Adam Forrester and Jack Baird, who both dropped to the bench, whilst Adama Sidibeh missed out as he is away on international duty with Gambia. Uche Ikpeazu also missed today’s match as he is also away on international duty with Uganda. Ross County got their first win of their league campaign last Saturday as they defeated Raith Rovers 2-0 in Dingwall and manager Tony Docherty made one change to his starting eleven this afternoon as Connor Randall came in to replace Miller Thomson who missed out completely due to being on international duty with Scotland under 21s.
Scott Fraser got the match underway for the visitors however, it was Saints who created the first chance of the match on 6 minutes. Matty Foulds played the ball out wide to Josh McPake and the winger then cut inside before seeing his low effort saved by Trevor Carson.
The Staggies got a sight of goal on 8 minutes as Fraser played in Ronan Hale however, Toby Steward got down well to save the right-footed strike from the County forward.
Good play by Saints on 10 minutes saw McPake pick out Reece McAlear in the box however, the strike from the midfielder was deflected behind for a corner by Declan Gallagher. McAlear got another sight of goal a minute later as the midfielder was played in by Jason Holt however Carson made a fantastic save with his legs to turn the ball over for a corner. McAlear took the corner from the right and the ball eventually broke to McPake however, he couldn’t find the target with his effort. Saints continued to apply early pressure to the Staggies goal and on 13 minutes Kai Fotheringham was next to test Carson as the County keeper gathered the strike from the attacking midfielder.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear’s shot is saved
Saints were dominating possession and on 23 minutes a lovely move down the right saw Jamie Gullan advance down the channel before picking out Holt in the box. The Saints captain then laid ball off to Fotheringham who unleashed a fine effort from 20 yards which beat Carson but the ball struck the post.
Saints continued to control proceedings and just before half time they created another chance as a cross from the left by Foulds was met by Fotheringham however, who couldn’t make a clean connection as his left-footed effort was comfortably held by Carson.
PHOTO: Jason Holt and Scott Fraser
Simo Valakari’s side made a bright start to the second half as on 46 minutes good play down the left saw McAlear play in Foulds whose effort was deflected behind for a corner by Akil Wright. Then on 52 minutes Liam Smith picked out McPake in space just outside the box and the in-form winger unleashed a strike at goal which took a slight deflection off a Staggies player as Carson gathered the ball.
County got a great chance to take the lead 10 minutes into the second half as Hale burst into the box but Steward made an impressive reaction save to keep the score level. The Staggies created another chance on 65 minutes as Wright’s long ball down the right played in Jordan White and the half time substitute tried to pick out Hale in the centre of the box, but the forward couldn’t connect with the delivery as the ball went behind for a goal kick.
PHOTO: Morgan Boyes lets fly with a long-range shot which goes just past the post
With 16 minutes remaining Morgan Boyes let fly from distance which went narrowly wide of the post. Further pressure from Saints 3 minutes later saw Gallagher make a vital last ditch tackle to turn a Fotheringham effort behind for a corner.
A long throw-in from Gallagher on 81 minutes saw the ball break to Gary Mackay-Steven in the box however, the effort from the Staggies substitute was comfortably gathered by Steward.
Saints then made a change with 5 minutes remaining as Jannik Wanner came on to replace Sven Sprangler.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham is denied by Declan Gallagher
Saints continued to control the game and McPake came close with a low right-footed effort on 87 minutes. Saints continued to rack up their corner count as another good move a minute later saw Foulds force Wright to turn the ball behind for Saints seventeenth corner of the match.
As the match entered stoppage time both sides created chances to snatch a later winner. On 93 minutes Wright blazed an effort over from distance for the Staggies.
Then a minute later Saints came close again as Fotheringham setup McPake however, his right-footed strike went narrowly over as Saints had to settled for a point.
PHOTO: Josh McPake’s shot is blocked by Connor Randall
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt, Gullan, Foulds, Fotheringham, Sprangler (Wanner 85’), McPake, Smith, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Tumilty, Griffith, Svedberg, Stanton, Baird, Forrester, Franczak
Booked: None
Ross County: Carson, Wright, Randall, Henderson (Mackay-Steven 45’), Hale, Fraser (O’Sullivan 75’), Clark (White 45’), Iacovitti, Duncan (Scott 75’), Gallagher, Lindsay (Cornelius 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Laidlaw (GK), Foster (GK), Crompton, Smith
Booked: None
Referee: David Dickinson
Attendance: 4,525
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Kai Fotheringham and Liam Lindsay
