Saints 0-0 Ross County
Match Reports

Saints 0-0 Ross County

17th September 2022

Saints 0-0 Ross County

Saints and Ross County played out a goalless draw in Perth this afternoon as both sides had to settle for a point.

It was a quick start to the match which saw both sides hit the woodwork in the opening 10 minutes but that proved to be the closest either side would get to making the breakthrough.

Saints were inches away from taking the lead on 6 minutes as Melker Hallberg found Stevie May in space just inside the box however, the strike from the forward hit the inside of the far post before it was gathered by County keeper Ross Laidlaw.

The Staggies came close 2 minutes later as Kazeem Olaigbe saw his effort hit the underside of the bar. Both sides then battled away but there was little in the way of goalmouth action thereafter.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Tannadice in a fortnight to take on Dundee United, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints returned to action this afternoon after the postponement of last weekend’s game at Kilmarnock as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Callum Davidson made one change to the team which start the 3-0 win against St Mirren a fortnight ago as Liam Gordon came in to replace the injured Graham Carey. Ross County snatched a point from the jaws of defeat a fortnight ago as William Akio scrambled the ball beyond Dons goalkeeper Kelle Roos in the fifth minute of injury time to earn a point for The Staggies. There were three changes to The Staggies starting eleven this afternoon as Malky MacKay brought in Keith Watson, Kazeem Olaigbe and William Akio to replace Callum Johnston, Yan Dhanda and Jordy Hiwula.

Before the match got underway there was a minute’s applause for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who sadly past away last week.

Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints and the Perth side created their first chance of the match on 6 minutes. Drey Wright was played in down the right and his ball into the box was met but Stevie May who had created space for himself however, his looping strike came back off the far post and landed in the arms of Staggies keeper Ross Laidlaw.

Then 2 minutes later County came close to the breakthrough as William Akio used his pace to beat Andy Considine and his effort deflected into the path of Kazeem Olaigbe who saw his strike come off the underside of the bar before the ball was gathered by Remi Matthews.  

PHOTO: The players take part in a minute’s applause for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Both sides continued to create chances as on 14 minutes Wright got a sight of goal however, his strike was deflected for a corner. Whilst up the other end Olaigbe went on a good run into the Saints box however, he dragged his effort wide.

A Hallberg corner on 21 minutes was met by Nicky Clark but his flicked effort didn’t trouble Laidlaw in the Staggies goal. Saints were creating the better of the chances and on the half an hour mark another Hallberg corner from the right broke to Considine but Laidlaw made a great save to deny the defender. The ball then broke to Clark but Laidlaw made another excellent save but played was pulled back as County were awarded a free kick as Clark was deemed to have fouled David Cancola before unleashing his strike.

PHOTO: Stevie May’s looping effort hits the post

The Staggies created the first chance of the second half as Alex Iacovitti worked the ball to Cancola whose powerful strike from the edge of the box was well gathered by Matthews.  

A good passing move by Saints 4 minutes later saw Wright drive through the middle before switching it to Hallberg on the left. The Swedish midfielder then played the ball into the path of the advancing Adam Montgomery. The on-loan Celtic defender then picked out Murphy on the edge of the box however, he couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as it trundled wide.

Saints made their first change of the game on 68 minutes as Jamie Murphy was replaced by Ali Crawford.

PHOTO: Drey Wright is closed down by Jordan Tillson

Callum Davidson then made a double change with 15 minutes remaining as Murray Davidson and Connor McLennan came on to replace Ryan McGowan and Stevie May.

McLennan was quickly involved in the action as on 79 minutes he did well to hold off the challenge from Ben Purrington before playing the ball back to Hallberg however, he couldn’t find the target with his curling effort.

Saints created another chance with 2 minutes remaining as Montgomery’s cross from the left picked out Wright however, Staggies sub Owura Edwards made a good block to deny the winger. The ball then broke to Crawford however his angled effort went narrowly over.

PHOTO: Connor McLennan shields the ball from Ben Purrington

There was one final chance and it came for the visitors as the match entered 4 minutes of additional time. Victor Loturi played in former Saints player Ross Callachan whose low strike was deflected behind for a corner by Alex Mitchell as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Saints: Matthews, Wright, McGowan (Davidson 76), Mitchell, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, Hallberg, Murphy (Crawford 68), May (McLennan 76), Clark

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Bair, O’Halloran, Kucheriavyi, Brown, Moreland

Booked: McGowan, Wright, Hallberg, Gordon

Ross County: Laidlaw, Purrington, Cancola (Dhanda 65), Baldwin, Iacovitti, Callachan, Watson (Loturi 66), Olaigbe (Edwards 65), Akio (Hiwula 88), Tillson (Samuel 76), White

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

Booked: Cancola, Olaigbe

Referee: Matthew MacDermid  

Attendance: 3,355

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: David Cancola closes down Jamie Murphy

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