Venue: Global Energy Stadium                                                   Date: 21/12/24                                                       Time: 15:00

Oisin Smyth’s fantastic free kick gave St Mirren an important 2-1 win in awful weather despite Scott Tanser’s sending off early in the second half.

Alex Iacovetti had given the visitors the lead against his former club in the first half when keeper Jack Hamilton failed to push Oisin Smith’s tame free kick into safety.

County responded just 29 seconds into the second half when Michee Efete was quickest to his blocked effort following a Noah Chilvers cross.

Despite going into the break a goal down, County were dominant in large spells, let down by a lack of accuracy.

Chilvers sent a free kick from a promising position wide before Ronan Hale failed to trouble the Ellery Balcombe with an ambitious overhead kick.

Already feeling the heat after conceding an equaliser Stephen Robinson looked on as Scott Tanser earned himself a second yellow after a crunching challenge on Aiden Denholm to leave his side with ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage the Saints pushed for a winner, Oisin Smyth not far from giving them one, his attempt curling just wide.

Jonah Ayunga’s introduction an added edge up front, the Kenyan international forcing Hamilton into making a strong save.

Akil Wright had a golden opportunity for County but could only skew Kacper Lopata’s cross wide as the side fell to their fourth consecutive defeat.

Cowie’s men face difficult games against Dundee and Hearts as they sit just two points off the bottom of the table.

Smyth’s set-pieces separate sides

Since moving from Oxford United the Northern Irishman has hardly been the first name on the team sheet, today was just his second start of the season.

It’s fair to say he made the most of it in the Highlands.

His first free kick, whilst hardly thunderous, put the keeper under enough pressure to see the ball land at the feet of a grateful Iacovetti.

The second was textbook despite the blustery conditions, curling his effort from outside the box past a hapless Hamilton to give his side the win.

He has to bide his time this season, but with a goal and an assist tonight Smyth has Stephen Robinson yet another head scratcher ahead of home fixtures against Rangers and Dundee.

Lack of goals haunt County

With just fourteen goals this season, Don Cowie’s side’s lack of creativity in the final third continues to harm any chance of becoming a top six side.

Ronan Hale has been the main source of goals with five but he cut a isolated figure this evening, not getting the necessary service to cause damage, his desperation epitomised in the wildly inaccurate overhead kick in the first half.

One month ago they were three points behind St Mirren in sixth, driven by an ability to pick up points here and there.

Now that gap has stretched to nine as sides around the bottom of the table continue to earn crucial points of their own, Hibernian beating Aberdeen tonight.

Efete’s goal was much deserved but the side needed to capitalise on the reduced numbers of their opponents, their failure to do so means they will drop into the relegation play-off place whatever the score when Hearts welcome St Johnstone tomorrow.

What the managers said

Ross County boss Don Cowie:

“St Mirren go down to ten men, the game’s perfectly poised for us to step through and get a valuable three points. At that moment in time we did nowhere near enough to go and win the game.

“[They] dealt with the conditions so much better than us and we did not test them considering they were down to ten.

“The results have not been good enough over the last six weeks and maybe the players are feeling a little low in terms of confidence.”

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson:

“I think the character shown was superb. It was a real tough game in the conditions I’m sure Don said the same.

“We started really poorly in the second half but our response to that was terrific.

“Oisin starts and scores a wonder goal and sets the first one up. He’s a boy I believe will get better and better with each game and more football matches.”

Attendance: 3,271

Line-ups:

Ross County: J. Hamilton, C. Randall (c), K. Lopata, A. Wright, G. Harmon (J. Reid 68’), S. Allardice (A. Denholm 46’), J. Nisbet (E. Brophy 69’), M. Efete, N. Chilvers, R. Hale, J. White

Substitutes: J. Amissah, R. Leak, V. Loturi, M. Sheaf, J. Grieves, A. Denholm, C. Telfer, E. Brophy, J. Reid

St Mirren: E. Balcombe, R. Taylor, A. Iacovetti, M. Fraser, S. Tanser, K. Phillips, O. Smyth, E. Bwomono, G. Kiltie, M. Mandron (J. Ayunga 77’), R. Idowu (A. Gogic 76’)

Substitutes: P. Urminsky, J. Ayunga, A. Gogic, J. Scott, C. Boyd-Munce, D. Adeniran, L. Kenny, C. Penman, E. Mooney.

Referee: Iain Snedden