REPORT | St Mirren 1-0 Ross County

Ross County remain without a point in their cinch Premiership campaign as Richard Tait’s strike five minutes into the second half secured three points for St Mirren.

The Staggies came as close as hitting the woodwork at the SMiSA Stadium but failed to find the net on a frustrating afternoon on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Manager Malky Mackay made three changes to the side that lost to Celtic seven days previous, with Josh Sims, Owura Edwards and Callum Johnson making the XI – the latter replacing the injured Connor Randall.

The first half chance came after less than two minutes when Jonah Ayunga glanced a header wide from a deep free-kick for the hosts.

Less than eight minutes in captain Jack Baldwin would need to tread with caution after picking up a yellow card for dragging down Greg Kiltie who looked to bare down on goal from the right of the box. County stood firm to defend the resulting free-kick.

St Mirren were well on top in the early stages and could have been ahead within ten minutes when Ryan Strain picked the ball up 35-yards out and took it forward, but hit a volley well wide of the mark.

The Saints constant pressure almost paid off on 20 minutes when Ayunga’s drilled effort from the right smashed on to the post. The chance wasn’t however reflected upon, as continued waves of pressure came from the home side.

It took half an hour for County to make any sort of foray into the Buddies half, as Dominic Samuel played a ball over the top for Jordy Hiwula, who made a strong run before being denied a shot in the box. Moments later he almost capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Trevor Carson, who sliced a clearances horribly before just about adjusting to a follow up pass back to him.

County improved as the half went along, Owura made a great run to beat the full-back and play in Samuel to win a corner, before his cross in the aftermath could only meet the arms of Carson.

Moments later Owura released Sims on the left who’s cross was blocked for a corner, which was headed wide after a ball to the back post by Cancola.

County burst into life on 40 minutes as Sims beat anyone in his wake clearing half the pitch before firing a superb ball to Owura who only had to tap home, but it somehow ricocheted onto his face before taking a touch off a defender to put it wide.

St Mirren replied two minutes later when Keanu Baccus hit an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box with Ross Laidlaw grasping at air.

Half-Time: St Mirren 0-0 County

Manager Mackay made two changes at the break for County with George Harmon and Jordan White replacing Samuel and Ben Purrington, with White in the thick of it straight away as he looked to tee up Hiwula in the Saints box, but it was well defended.

However, it would be the home side to score first after a ball rolled back to Richard Tait just to the left of centre 20-yards out as he smashed home a belter of a strike to give the hosts the lead.

County responded well as Owura found Johnson out on the right who crossed back to the Bristol City loanee who met it with his head, smashing the ball against the post. Moments later White had a pop inside the box but his shot went wayward.

Following the spell of pressure from the Staggies it was the home side who began to take control again, with County chances joining the half-time sprinklers in drying up. That was until two minutes from time when a cross met Olaigbe on the left who directed a header towards goal and forced Carson into a superb save.

With the seconds running out in the four minutes of added time the Staggies were unable to muster what they had in the two games previous and find the back of the net, and it ended with three points to the home side.

Ross County XI: Laidlaw, Johnson, Iacovitti, Baldwin, Purrington, Callachan, Cancola, Sims, D.Samuel, Owura, Hiwula

Subs: Eastwood, Dhanda, Loturi, Watson, Harmon, Olaigbe, Tillson, Paton, White

St Mirren XI: Carson, Tait, Shaughnessy, Ayunga, Main, Kiltie, Erhanon, Baccus, Dunne, Fraser, Strain.

Subs: Urminsky, O’Hara, Flynn, Brophy, Henderson, Olusanya, Grieve, Offord, Kenny.

Referee: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 4,557 (143 away)