St Johnstone showed their are no shoe-ins for the drop, beating Ross County 1-0 to narrow the gap to the relegation play-off to just three points.

A scrappy and keenly contested affair, it would be Makenzie Kirk to the rescue in the 66th minute to give Simo Valakari’s side the first and last word, Akil Wright’s slip-up with the ball at his feet leaving the hosts all the ammunition they needed to fire ahead.

Although it might have belonged to Stephen Duke-McKenna were it not for an excellent save from Jordan Amissah to deny the midfielder’s free-kick from range.

Amissah was at hand to deny Kirk, getting low to deny the striker before stopping Sam Curtis with an arguably more impressive save to deny Curtis’ diving header.

County struggled to produce any opportunities of note, Connor Randall failing to hit the target his long distance shot before Eli Campbell at least hit the target with his headed effort, albeit straight into the welcoming palms of Fisher.

Saints give themselves fighting chance

A nine game run that produced two solitary points left St Johnstone to live a solitary existence, condemned by many to the drop.

Well 9 points from the next available 15 and the story looks slightly different these days.

Kirk was the difference maker tonight, but not for the first time this season after grabbing the only goal in their 1-0 win over Kilmarnock just three months ago.

How crucial will he be in helping to haul his side to safety as they travel to face a Dundee side in free fall.

No magic on the road from County

Perennial relegation dogfighters have turned the tables of pre-conceived notions this season.

Not only keeping themselves away from the relegation play-off that seemed to have their names etched in people’s minds, but becoming on the league’s better travelling sides.

Four wins from five away from home leading up to this tie made Don Cowie’s side a real danger but it wasn’t to be on the night.

Unable to produce any real moments of quality and saved from further damage by the heroic Jordan Amissah.

County remain closer to the top half than 11th but will no how easily things can change. Victory at home to Kilmarnock could be a big step towards the former.

Line-ups:

St Johnstone: Fisher, Wright (Douglas 46), Mitchell, Balodis, Duke-McKenna, Holt, Sprangler (c), Curtis, Svedberg (Carey 58), Kirk, Sidibeh (Clark 74) Unused subs: Franczak, McPake, Sinclair, Smith, Steven, Watt

Booked: Douglas, Fisher

Goals: Kirk (66)

Ross County: Amissah, Campbell, Łopata (Grieves 76), Tomkinson, Harmon (Ashworth 76), Chilvers (Nisbet 65), Randall (c), Kenneh, Wright, Hale (White 46), Phillips (Robesten 46) Unused subs: Allardice, Ashworth, Grieves, Laidlaw, MacLeod, Smith

Booked: none

Goals: none

Referee: Dan McFarlane

Attendance: 3,576