Ross County 0
St Mirren 2
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Source unknown.

9-men Ross County were defeated by St Mirren at the Global Energy Stadium this afternoon.

Josh Reid and Ross Draper were sent off for the Staggies before late goals from Marcus Fraser and Kristian Dennis broke the commendable resistance of the County defence.

The Staggies started the better of the sides and would have found an early opener if they were not foiled by a heroic double save from Jak Alnwick. Inside the 4th minute, Iain Vigurs’ corner was nearly turned into the net by opposing defender Conor McCarthy. Alnwick had to be alert to tip his defender’s header over the bar. From the resulting corner, Alnwick produced another excellent save when Iacovitti’s flicked headed effort looked certain to find the net.

Ross County maintained their early pressure and found another opportunity to grab the lead in the 13th minute. Midfield powerhouse, Ross Draper, bulldozed through the midfield and the break of the ball fell into the path of Jermaine Hylton. The winger slid the ball to his left for Stephen Kelly, who dragged his left-footed effort well wide of Alnwick’s goal.

9 minutes before half time, County were reduced to 10 men when Josh Reid was sent off for a second bookable offence. The teenager, who was previously booked for a cynical foul on McAllister, brought down his opposite number for a second time and was shown a second booking.

Reid’s dismissal dealt a devastating blow for the hosts who had looked the better of the two sides until this point. The visitors were refreshed and started to threaten Laidlaw’s goal inside the final 10 minutes of the half.

On the hour mark, Ross Draper was also sent off for the Staggies as their task grew increasingly more difficult. Referee Colin Steven showing Draper two consecutive yellow cards resulting in the midfielder departing the field.

Now down to 9 men and under relentless St Mirren pressure, the challenge ahead looked impossible for John Hughes’s side.

With just 15 minutes to play, St Mirren’s unrelenting onslaught led to the visitors finding the breakthrough. County’s admirable defending was undone by former player Marcus Fraser who watched his effort from the edge of the box deflect off Carl Tremarco and find its way into the net.

In the 85th minute, the Buddies put the game to bed when substitute Kristian Dennis added a second goal to their tally. Ilkay Durmus’s cross found the head of Dennis inside the area as the substitutes combined to create the final goal.

*Match report courtesy from Ross County Football Club*.