Match report: Saints 3-0 Ross County

Saints took the lead on 16 minutes when Kimpioka turned home an Adama Sidibeh pass from close range. There was then a VAR review as the visitors felt there had been a foul in the build-up however, the appeals were dismissed and the goal stood.

The Staggies were reduced to ten men just after the half an hour mark when Elijah Campbell picked up a second booking for a foul on Drey Wright. The on-loan Everton defender had been booked earlier in the match for a foul on Nicky Clark.

Saints doubled their lead just before half time as Kimpioka got his second of the afternoon, converting a Matt Smith cross at the back post.

Saints dominated the second half and they thought they had further extended their lead when Clark turned the ball home from close range on 68 minutes. However, the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

The Staggies were reduced to nine men with 12 minutes remaining as substitute Charlie Telfer was shown a red card for a bad challenge on Sven Sprangler.

Kirk then made it 3-0 deep into stoppage time as the Northern Ireland Under 21 international turned a Graham Carey cut-back home from close range.

Today’s result sees Saints move up to eighth in the William Hill Premiership with 7 points.

Next up for Saints is a trip to take on Dundee at The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints returned to action this afternoon following the international break as they welcomed Ross County to McDiarmid Park. New head coach Simo Valakari again took the game in watching from the stand as he awaits to secure his work permit with Andy Kirk and Alex Clelland taking charge of the team on the sidelines. There were two changes to the Saints team which started at Rangers a fortnight ago as Aaron Essel and Makenzie Kirk dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Jason Holt and Adama Sidibeh. Ross County looked like they were going to spring a shock win against Celtic in Dingwall prior to the international break before ultimately going down 2-1 as the Champions came from behind to continue their undefeated start to their William Hill Premiership campaign. There were also two changes to the County starting eleven as Scott Allardice and Eamonn Brophy came in to replace Noah Chilvers and Aidan Denholm who both dropped to the bench.  

Ronan Hale got the match underway for the Staggies and the first chance of the match came on 6 minutes as Saints were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after Matt Smith was fouled by Elijah Campbell and the County defender was booked for the foul by referee John Beaton. Smith took the free kick as his floated delivery into the box was met by Nicky Clark whose header went over the bar.

County got a sight of goal on 12 minutes however, the strike from Hale was tame as it went wide of the post.

Then a minute later patient play by Saints saw Benji Kimpioka play the ball out wide to Andre Raymond on the left and the Trinidad and Tobago international wiped over a delightful cross which Clark got on the end of however, his header went narrowly wide of the far post.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark heads wide

The breakthrough came on 16 minutes as Saints took the lead. Good play down the right saw the ball played into Adama Sidibeh and his pass across the face of the County goal was met by Kimpioka who cushioned the ball home from close range. There was then a lengthy VAR review as the County players felt there had been a foul in the build-up to the goal when Clark got the better of Ryan Leak before playing in Sidibeh however, following the review VAR deemed there to have been minimal contact and the goal stood.

The Staggies afternoon got even worse just after the half an hour mark as they were reduced to ten men as Campbell was sent off after on-loan Everton defender picked up a second booking for a foul on Drey Wright out wide on the right.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka makes it 1-0 to Saints

A determined run by Lewis Neilson on 44 minutes saw the defender burst down the left and along the byeline and into the Staggies box. The Scotland Under 21 international then cut the ball back to Kimpioka who fired his effort over the bar when it looked like he was going to double Saints lead.

Kimpioka didn’t miss though a minute later as he scored his and Saints second of the afternoon. The Swedish forward was unmarked at the back post as he got on the end of a Matt Smith pass to send a powerful effort beyond Ross Laidlaw, who got a hand to the strike but was unable to keep it out as the ball hit the crossbar before landing in the net.

A Smith corner from the left on 55 minutes broke to Jason Holt however, the midfielder saw his effort blocked by the Ross County defence as they cleared the danger. Saints continued to apply pressure to the Staggies goal and a minute later Sidibeh saw his effort turned behind for a corner by Kacper Łopata.

The Gambian forward got another chance to further extend Saints lead on the hour mark as he received the ball from Kimpioka before unleashing a strike which wasn’t held by Laidlaw. The loose ball broke to Sidibeh however, his follow-up effort from a tight angle went high into the Ormand Stand.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka celebrates his second goal with Andre Raymond

Saints thought they had ended the game as a contest on 68 minutes when they further extended their lead after Clark had turned the ball home with a neat flick from close range. However, the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

Saints made their first change of the game on 76 minutes as Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Adama Sidibeh.

Then a minute later Ross County created a chance as substitute Charlie Telfer saw his effort deflected behind for a corner by Neilson. Telfer’s afternoon was over on 78 minutes, only 3 minutes after coming on as a substitute, as the midfielder was shown a straight red card for a crunching tackle on Sven Sprangler which reduced County to nine men. The Saints midfielder received treatment for the challenge before being replaced by Aaron Essel.

PHOTO: Ronan Hale is tackled by Sven Sprangler

Another change for Saints came on 83 minutes as Matt Smith made way for Graham Carey.

Saints passed the ball about well in the closing stages as they had County camped in their own half. On 87 minutes Kirk was played in by Clark before the young striker saw his effort palmed away by Laidlaw. Then shortly after Carey sent a curling effort well wide of the far post.

Essel was booked for a foul on Jordan White with 2 minutes remaining and from the resultant free kick Hale was unable to test Ross Sinclair with his effort.

4 minutes were added on at the end and in the second minute of stoppage time Essel saw his long-range effort go wide of the target. Then shortly after Josh Reid made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Carey as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

The one-way traffic continued and Laidlaw used his feet to block a Jason Holt effort on 93 minutes. However, the Saints pressure eventually told as Kirk added a third in the final minute of stoppage time as he turned a Carey cut-back home from close range to cap off a fine afternoon for Saints.   

PHOTO: Aaron Essel and Andre Raymond celebrate at full time

Saints: Sinclair, Raymond, Sanders, Neilson, Holt, Clark, Wright, Sidibeh (Kirk 76’), Smith (Carey 83’), Sprangler (Essel 80’), Kimpioka

Unused Substitutes: Rae (GK), Cameron, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, Franczak

Booked: Essel

Scorers: Kimpioka (16’, 45’), Kirk (90+4’)

Ross County: Laidlaw, Leak, Wright, Allardice (Telfer 75’), Randall, Hale, Campbell, Łopata (White 65’), Nisbet (Denholm 45’), Efete (Reid 45’), Brophy (Brown 45’)

Unused Substitutes: Hamilton (GK), Chilvers, Grieves, Samuel

Booked: Campbell

Sent Off: Campbell, Telfer

Referee: John Beaton

VAR: Steven Kirkland  

Attendance: 3,688

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Benji Kimpioka celebrates his second goal