Ross County 1
St Johnstone 2
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Source unknown.

Ross County opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with a hard-fought defeat at the hands of St Johnstone at the Global Energy Stadium.

Saints, who sold Stevie May to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, went ahead through Michael O'Halloran's strike.

And last season's Scottish Cup final goalscorer Steven MacLean headed the Perth side's second after the interval.

Debutant Jake Jervis nodded one back for County but Derek Adams' men were unable to find a leveller.

And with the three points, Saints made up for the disappointment of Europa League elimination at the hands of Spartak Trnava on Thursday.

County's line-up featured five new players after a busy summer of recruitment at Victoria Park.

And they threatened early on with Filip Kiss, Yoann Arquin and Tim Dreesen having shots charged down before Jervis was denied by goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

At the other end, David Wotherspoon's free-kick flew narrowly over,

However,before too long, the visitors had the lead as captain Dave Mackay's cross was swept home by O'Halloran.

Michael O'Halloran despatched the ball into the net to give Saints the lead

The hosts were almost level when Graham Carey ran at the Saints' defence and saw his shot brilliantly touched onto the crossbar by Alan Mannus.

The second half was barely minutes old when St Johnstone scored their second.

Scott Brown fired a ball into the penalty area and Steven MacLean was first to react with a diving header past Antonio Reguero.

County were thrown a lifeline when a deep cross from Yoann Arquin was met by Jervis, who climbed at the back post to head home.

Jervis then set up Filip Kiss for a shot that was far too high.

Claims for a Ross County penalty were turned away following Tam Scobbie's challenge on Jervis and the home side kept pushing in the closing stages.