Ross County fell to a 2-1 defeat against St Johnstone on the opening day of the campaign at Victoria Park.
Michael O’Halloran gave the visitors the lead just after the half-hour mark, before Steven MacLean added a second shortly after the interval.
Despite Jake Jervis pulling one back for the Staggies, Derek Adams’ side were unable to force their way back into the game as the Perth side took the three points back down the A9.
County survived an early scare when Dreesen’s poor clearance went straight to David Wotherspoon on the edge of the box, but his attempted pass to Steven MacLean was cut out by a fine tackle from fellow new recruit Celcer.
Graham Carey was back in the Staggies’ line-up having re-signed during the week, and the Irishman signalled his intent on nine minutes with a marauding run down the left, resulting in a wicked delivery crucially headed clear by Tam Scobbie.
Hesitant defending nearly allowed Saints in again on 17 minutes. Scott Boyd tried to shepherd the ball back to keeper Reguero who had strayed otuside his penalty box, with the ball being left shrot and MacLean nearly taking advantage, however following through to foul the Spaniard.
However three minutes later a magnificent double save by Saints keeper Alan Mannus denied Derek Adams’ side the lead. Carey’s free-kick found Yoann Arquin whose first-time strike was blocked by Mannus at his near post, before the ball eventually found its way to Jake Jervis who fizzed in a shot from 16 yards that Mannus did brilliantly to tip over.
On 25 minutes, David Wotherspoon tried his luck with a 30 yard free-kick, but the ball spun marginally over the crossbar.
However the deadlock was broken on 31 minutes. Reguero’s punched clearance from a David Wotherspoon cross landed with Dave Mackay, who drilled the ball into the path of Michael O’Halloran and he got the break of the ball before stabbing beyond the keeper from close-range.
County remained threatening however, and excellent wing play by Carey down the left nearly drew the hosts level on 38 minutes.
The former St Mirren man got past Mackay before his ball across was met by the fist of Mannus before spinning back towards his own goal, fortuitously striking the crossbar before the Northern Irishman was able to clear.
Just two minutes into the second-half, Saints doubled their lead when Scott Brown’s cross from the left was headed into far corner of the net by MacLean.
However County responded well, and pulled a goal back just seven minutes later. With the majority of the Staggies’ threat coming from Carey down the left, it was ironic that it was Yoann Arquin who supplied a delightful cross from the right which was met by a bullet header by Jake Jervis who netted a debut goal.
County took confidence from their goal, and Filip Kiss scooped an effort marginally over the crossbar, before Jervis appealed for a penalty when he appeared to be impeded by Scobbie inside the box.
However despite bringing on Liam Boyce with five minutes to spare, County were unable to force an equaliser, with Saints coming closest to adding another goal when the impressive Scott Brown saw his shot deflected inches wide of the right-hand post.