A late show from Ross County when they needed it most.
Motherwell’s 5-0 victory against St Mirren threatened to cut the Staggies’ lead in 10th place to just a solitary point, however Liam Boyce’s header seven minutes from time meant the Dingwall side maintained their three-point advantage over the Steelmen, with just six games to go.
It was a poor match throughout, but little did it matter, as the Staggies recorded their seventh win from their last eight to continue their remarkable recent surge in form.
County manager Jim McIntyre was able to call upon the services of attacker Michael Gardyne once again, with the on-loan Dundee United player having been ineligible for Saturday’s 2-1 victory against his parent club. Gardyne stepped in for Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss in McIntyre’s solitary change.
The Staggies came into the game as the Premiership’s undoubted form side, having won six out of their last seven games to start this encounter 10 points ahead of bottom club St Mirren, and three points in front of Motherwell, meaning the Highlanders had a vested interest in the match between the pair at Fir Park.
St Johnstone knew a victory in Dingwall would secure their fourth consecutive top-six finish, but despite beating the Staggies 2-1 on three separate prior occasions this term they knew they were facing a side rejuvenated since their last meeting in the Scottish Cup in November. County’s home form has been the basis of their recent improvement, and having won their last four games at Victoria Park, Saints stood in the way of them making it five straight home league wins for the first time since February 2008.
With confidence sky-high, County looked to set the early pace with Martin Woods’ early driven free-kick creeping inches past Saints keeper Alan Mannus’ left hand post.
Although the Perth side showed glimpses of early threat on the counter attack through good combination play between forwards James McFadden and Steven MacLean, County carried the greater early menace, with long-range shots from Woods, Raffaele De Vita and Paul Quinn deflected to safety.
The Staggies were thwarted just after the half-hour mark as another Woods shot from distance forced a low diving save from Mannus, who in turn picked himself up to deny Craig Curran’s point-blank follow-up.
Saints’ first opportunity of note came when McFadden stroked a delicious ball through to Michael O’Halloran, but defender Marcus Fraser did well to narrow his opponent’s angle, with the eventual shot clipping the side-netting.
Despite a rapid start from both sides the first-half drew to a disappointing close, with De Vita failing to take advantage of large amount of space outside the box, sending a shot harmlessly over the crossbar.
As news of Motherwell’s 3-0 lead over St Mirren filtered through at half-time, County knew they had to respond after the break if they were to maintain their three-point lead over the Steelmen.
They were quick to threaten at the start of the second-half, with Gardyne’s shot from outside the box bending wide of target. The Staggies continued to find their way into promising areas, but their final ball was often letting them down.
Prior to his absence against Dundee United on Saturday, attacker Gardyne had been on terrific form for County, scoring two in his previous two games, and as the second-half progressed he became more influential in this game. After beating marker Brian Easton with a fine piece of skill down the right, he swung in a rapid ball that was headed just behind by De Vita at the far post.
Australian midfielder Jackson Irvine scored the opener in Saturday’s win against the Tangerines with a thumping header from a corner, and although he failed to get a similarly strong connection to De Vita’s set-piece his effort forced a hurried goal-line clearance from Simon Lappin.
County began to impose an increasing level of threat on Tommy Wright’s side, and the lively Woods saw his volleyed strike deflected behind for a corner on 69 minutes, before the resulting corner was nodded behind, again by Irvine.
County were unfortunate not to take the lead when Liam Boyce cut on to his left foot after being put through on goal down the inside right channel, but his deft lob edged just wide of the Mannus’ post with the goalkeeper static.
Just as it looked as if County were going to have to settle for a share of the spoils, Boyce popped up with a sublime cushion header from an inch-perfect cross from Reckord, in what could turn out to be a crucial goal for McIntyre’s side.