Match report: Saints 2-1 Ross County

Saints started brightly and they took the lead on 31 minutes when Daniels Balodis headed home an corner from Watt.

Ross County responded and they took advantage of slack play by Saints to level the match on 41 minutes when Alex Samuel turned home a Kieran Phillips cross.

The winner came on the hour mark as Watt capped off an impressive performance as he slotted the ball beyond Jordan Amissah from the edge of the area.

Saints survived a late onslaught from County, which also saw a Ronan Hale goal on 82 minutes chalked off for offside following a lengthy VAR check. The Dingwall side were then reduced to ten men deep into the ten minutes of stoppage time as Zac Ashworth was given his marching orders for dissent by referee John Beaton.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Edinburgh on Wednesday evening to take on Hearts at Tynecastle Park, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Ross County to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a must win William Hill Premiership match. There were three changes to the Saints starting eleven from last week’s 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock as Graham Carey, Victor Griffith and Makenzie Kirk dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Sam Curtis, Jason Holt and Adama Sidibeh. Ross County lost 3-1 at home to Hearts last Saturday and manager Don Cowie made four changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. James Brown, Jonathan Tomkinson, Nohan Kenneh and Jordan White all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Kieran Phillips, Kacper Łopata, Joshua Nisbet and Will Nightingale.  

It was a warm sunny afternoon in Perth as Joshua Nisbet got the match underway for the visitors.

Saints created the first chance of the match on 4 minutes as a great ball forward from Barry Douglas played in Josh McPake down the left. The winger broke to the byeline before crossing the ball into the box which was missed by Adama Sidibeh with a wild swipe. However, the ball then broke to Sam Curtis but his driving effort was blocked by the County defence. Saints kept up the pressure and Elliot Watt gathered the ball before putting his strike wide of the target.  

On 9 minutes Saints created another chance as Uche Ikpeazu flicked the ball onto Sidibeh who unleashed a shot at goal which didn’t trouble Staggies keeper Jordan Amissah.

A chipped ball into the box from McPake on 28 minutes picked out Curtis at the back post who put his effort inches wide of the far post.

The pressure from Saints eventually told as they took the lead on 31 minutes and it came from a corner from Watt. The on-loan midfielder sent over a deep delivery from the left and Daniels Balodis got up well to meet the ball to guide it into the top corner off the underside of the crossbar. Amissah did his best to claw the ball out however, his effort was in vain as the ball crossed the line.

PHOTO: Daniels Balodis scores for Saints

Saints came close to doubling their lead 2 minutes later as Sidibeh saw his shot deflected over for a corner by County captain Connor Randall after being played in by Ikpeazu.

With 9 minutes of the first half remaining a shot on the turn from the edge of the area from Alex Samuel went narrowly over. County continued to look for a way back into the game and on 40 minutes Hale couldn’t test Andy Fisher with his effort.

However, the Dingwall side levelled the match a minute later as Nisbet capitalised on a loose pass by Sven Sprangler and picked out Kieran Phillips out wide on the left. The forward then sent a low ball across the face of the Saints goal and Samuel bundled the ball home from close range.

PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu fends off Josh Nisbet and Connor Randall

On 51 minutes Saints got a great chance to regain the lead. McPake sent over a delightful cross into the box which was met by Curtis. His header broke to Sidibeh however, the Gambian couldn’t get his shot away as he took a heavy touch. The ball then fell to Ikpeazu however, he put his effort over from close range.

The chances kept on coming for Saints and on 57 minutes Curtis saw his shot blocked by the County defence. The on-loan defender got a second bite at the cherry however, this time his effort went wide of Amissah’s left-hand post.

Saints regained the lead on the hour mark as Sidibeh saw his shot parried back into the danger area by Amissah and following a stramash the ball broke to Watt who fired a left-footed effort into the bottom corner of the net.

PHOTO: Elliot Watt scores for Saints

On 66 minutes great play by McPake saw the winger twist and turn in the box before unleashing a left footed effort which was straight at Amissah who comfortably gathered the ball. Then 3 minutes later great hold-up play by Ikpeazu saw the striker play in Sidibeh who burst forward before returning the ball to Ikpeazu. The Englishman then played in Watt who fired over from just outside the box.

Saints then made their first change of the game as Makenzie Kirk came on to replaced Uche Ikpeazu.

With 15 minutes remaining County got a sight of goal as Nisbet unleashed a strike from outside the box which was deflected behind for a corner by Watt.

Great play by Saints on 80 minutes saw Sidibeh break to the byeline before cutting the ball back to Kirk however, Nisbet did enough to put off the Saints striker as he cleared the danger.

Then 2 minutes later the Staggies thought they had levelled the match again when Hale turned the ball home after Will Nightingale had nodded down a Zac Ashworth corner. However, County’s celebrations were cut short as a VAR check for a potential offside then took place which sparked nerves amongst both sets of supporters before the Saints supporters were the ones left celebrating as the goal was disallowed by VAR official Greg Aitken.

A bursting run from McPake on 85 minutes saw the winger break down the left channel and then cut in along the byeline before playing the ball back to Kirk whose effort was straight at Amissah.

PHOTO: Josh McPake gets away from Akil Wright

As time ticked away the visitors burst into life and on 88 minutes Zach Ashworth fired wide of the target.

Saints then made another change as Victor Griffith came on to replace Josh McPake.

10 minutes of additional time was added on at the end and the Staggies pushed forward for an equaliser which also saw Amissah come up for a corner. That presented Saints with an opportunity to hit Ross County on the break as Sidibeh broke away and unleashed a shot from distance however, his effort was cut out by the retreating County rearguard.

Then on 100 minutes Kirk broke forward and went for goal however, his effort was saved by Amissah.

The visitors afternoon got even worse deep into stoppage time as Ashworth was sent off for dissent after fouling Griffith as Saints showed fantastic character to see the game out to set up an intriguing final week of the William Hill Premiership season.  

PHOTO: Simo Valakari celebrates with the fans at full time

Saints: Fisher, Balodis, Holt, Ikpeazu (Kirk 74’), Sidibeh, Steven, Sprangler, McPake (Griffith 88’), Douglas, Curtis, Watt

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Clark, Carey, Kucheriavyi, Duke-McKenna, Kimpioka, Franczak       

Booked: Watt

Scorers: Balodis (31’), Watt (60’)

Ross County: Amissah, Wright, Randall, Hale, Phillips (White 66’), Ashworth, Harmon (Smith 73’), Łopata (Campbell 73’), Nisbet, Samuel, Nightingale

Unused Substitutes: Ross (GK), Brown, Tomkinson, Efete, Robesten, Kenneh

Booked: Hale, Wright

Sent Off: Ashworth

Scorer: Samuel (41’)

Referee: John Beaton

VAR: Greg Aitken                

Attendance: 4,355

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Elliot Watt celebrates his goal