Impressive Ross County set their cinch Premiership campaign off and running with victory over St Johnstone
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Ross County (1) 2
St Johnstone (0) 0
Att 4157
(Scorers: Turner 40, Randall 52)
A thoroughly dominant Ross County performance reaped three points in their first home Premiership fixture as Malky Mackay’s rebuilt side showed great promise.
Valiant losers at Celtic Park in last week’s league opener, the hosts this afternoon showed an abundance of strength, solidity and attacking flair.
It might have been far worse for the Perth side were it not for the repeated saves of ex-Cambridge keeper Dimitar Mitov and County’s only mild negative was the fact they failed to score more.
It was Ross County’s first league bow at Victoria Park since the nerve-shredding drama of last season’s Premiership play-offs comeback against Partick Thistle.
The celebrations that day had seemed to galvanise their home support, with season ticket and shirt sales up this summer.
The buzz of anticipation was palpable around the Dingwall ground prior to kick-off.
Manager Malky Mackay made just one change from the side beaten 4-2 at Celtic Park on the opening day, with the commanding figure of Welshman Ryan Leak, signed from Salford City during the week, slotting in for Will Nightingale.
Saints made two changes after home defeat to Hearts, with veteran Andrew Considine and Wales international debutant Matthew Smith, signed from MK Dons, replacing injured Tony Gallacher and Drey Wright.
Saints manager Steven MacLean had called for energy and intensity from his side, but most of it came from County, with three decent chances in the opening 15 minutes.
Early on Jordan White’s head-flick sent Josh Sim hurtling in behind the away defence, but a poor first touch allowed Dimitar Mitov to gather.
A well-worked free-kick then ended with a James Brown cross from the right to find Simon Murray heading just wide.
Soon after, Murray raced in behind the Perth defence, but his low attempt was saved by Mitov’s legs.
Saints’ first real threat came on 15 minutes, with Daniel Phillips twisting onto his left foot outside the area and flashing a strike towards the top corner.
Home keeper Ross Laidlaw leapt superbly to push it away.
It was the Staggies, though, who remained in the ascendancy.
White drew a save down low from Mitov, before Yan Dhanda’s curled cross was flicked just wide by the head of Sims.
Dhanda, in fine form for County, was subjected to several hefty challenges and Saints skipper Liam Gordon, already booked, was fortunate not to walk for a thumping late tackle after 30 minutes.
There was a VAR check for a red card, which returned a negative, and with no yellow card flashed, Gordon stayed on the pitch.
Dhanda, though, had to hobble off soon after, with ex-Partick midfielder Kyle Turner the replacement.
If Saints were glad to see the back of Dhanda, Turner would soon punish them and reward home dominance.
A high ball down the left for County was misjudged by Sam McClelland.
Turner nipped in between him and the ball and, from a tight angle on the left side of the box, threaded a fine finish under Mitov’s body.
Seven minutes after the break, County struck again.
The hosts worked the ball about to the left of Saints’ penalty area, before Sims and George Harmon combined to tee up Connor Randall just outside the area.
The Liverpudlian steadied and swept a fine right foot shot beyond Mitox on the angle from 22 yards. It was only Randall’s second club goal, and first in the Premiership.
There might have been worse for the visitors as Murray threaded White through on Mitov, but the Bulgarian keeper was again sharp down low and kept his side in it.
Saints couldn’t muster much in response but Sims had to knock a Ryan McGowan attempt off the line with 28 minutes left.
With seven minutes left, Turner carved a path through Saints’ defence but struck the overworked Mitov’s legs.
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-2-2): Laidlaw 7; Brown 7, Leak 7, Baldwin 7, Harmon 6; Randall 7, Loturi 6 (Smith 72, 4) Dhanda 6 (Turner 34, 7), Sims 8 (Tillson 72, 4); Murray 7 (Brophy 76, 3), White 6. Subs: Munro, Sheaf, Henderson, Tillson, Samuel, Reid.
Booked: White 55
ST JOHNSTONE (4-1-4-1): Mitov 8; Olafunwa 5 (Jephcott 45, 6), Gordon 6, McClelland 5, Considine 6; McGowan 6; Smith 5 (Kucheriavyi 59, 4), Phillips 6, Ballantyne 5 (Steven 59, 4), Carey 5; May 5. Subs: Richards, Ferguson, Parker, McCrystal.
Booked: Gordon 16, Steven 89
Referee: Willie Collum
