Live updates from Dingwall as Ross County host St Johnstone in first Premiership match of 2021
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Full time | Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone (Draper; Conway)
Full time: Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone
90' Josh Reid gets in on the act with a shot from the edge of the box, but another top save from Clark keeps it out.
Two minutes of added time
86' Watson goes close with a header from Kelly's corner, forcing a great save out of Clark.
84' Watson heads the ball straight to Davidson at the edge of the box, and the Saints player shoots at goal where Laidlaw holds on to the all.
Late changes for both teams, as Mckay comes on for Shaw for County and Bryson replaces Conway for the visitors.
81' St Johnstone skipper Gordon booked after a collision with Shaw.
76' St Johnstone chance as Kane comes off for May.
74' Double change for County, as Hylton and Paron are replaced by Reid and Tillson.
71' Important save by Laidlaw to deny Gordon, who had connected with Conway's free kick at the back post.
66' St Johnstone counter attack, with Wotherspoon heading a high ball forward into the path of Kane, who shoots just wide.
56' St Johnstone follow sit with a change of their, O'Halloran coming off for Wotherspoon.
55' First subtitution of the afternoon, Gardyne replaces Vigurs for County.
The second half is under way!
Half time thoughts
There have been a few moments of real quality from individual Staggies in the first half, but neither keeper has really had much to do.
I always like to see crosses into the box, and Draper's opener was a prime example of why – even if you don't win the first header, it can cause major problems when you have numbers forward supporting the play.
As for St Johnstone's goal, that is a hazard of trying to play out from the back. It's nice to watch, and I'm not saying Hughes is wrong by wanting County to play like that, but if a mistake gets made it usually ends up being costly.
Although in control for most of the half, St Johnstone were starting to really gain a foothold in proceedings just before the referee's whistle, so it may have come at a good time for the Staggies to regroup and re-energise their play.
Half time: Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone
44' Kane heads a McNamara cross towards goal, but it is a comfortable stop for Laidlaw.
31' Poor free kick from Kelly, who shoots low and right into the hands of Clark.
31' McNamara shown a yellow card for St Johnstone.
26' Conway levels from the spot
County have been trying to play out from the back, and while it is easy on the eye it has been their undoing here.
Under pressure from several St Johnstone players, the ball gets played across County's box but does not quite reach Watson.
He was stretching to try and reach it, but takes down Conway in the process, and the Saints man steps up to convert the resulting penalty and level the scores.
21' Tellow card for Vigurs
20' Draper fires County ahead
Ross County have the lead thanks to the experienced midfielder, who was first to pounce on a loose ball inside the cross.
Naismith sent a dangerous cross into the middle where Shaw and Hylton were looking to attack it, but it was not cleared and Draper arrived late to fire into the bottom corner.
16' It has been a midfield battle between the teams so far, with some nice passing exchanges from County being contained by their visitors.
Hylton has just managed to find a yard of space though, only for his shot to clip the side netting on it's way wide.
2' Donaldson booked for pulling back Kane just inside the County half, but without anyone else directly between the Saints striker and goal.
We have kick off!
30 minutes to kick off – the teams
Three changes for Ross County, who see Carl Tremarco and Alex Iacovitti drop out of the squad altogether.
Jordan Tillson is the other, having to settle for a spot on the bench, but Jason Naismith comes into the starting line-up for his second debut for the Staggies.
Ross Draper returns after suspension, while Charlie Lakin makes his first start after injury, and Josh Reid is back on the bench after his own red card last weekend.
For the Saints, Danny McNamara starts his last game for the Perth outfit as his loan from Millwall comes to an end tomorrow.
Ross County: Laidlaw, Draper, Shaw, Vigurs, Hylton, Watson, Kelly, Lakin, Naismith, Paton, Donaldson.
Substitutes: Doohan, Randall, Gardyne, Mckay, Tillson, Reid, Wright, Williamson, MacKinnon.
St Johnstone: Clark, McCart, Gordon, Conway, Davidson, Kane, O'Halloran, McNamara, McCann, Rooney, Booth.
Substitutes: Parish, Tanser, Wotherspoon, Bryson, May, Melamed, Hendry, Craig.
