| Date | Saturday, 16 October 2004 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Saint Mirren 3:2 Ross County |
| Venue | Love Street |
| Attendance | 2,538 |
| Referee | Calum Murray |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Saint Mirren 3 Ross County 2 Rangers manager Alex McLeish was an impressed spectator as Charlie Adam, on loan to County from the Ibrox side, scored one of the goals of the season. But the youngster's long-range strike was in vain as St Mirren rallied to secure victory. Ross County manager Alex Smith said of Adam's 45-yard lob: "That was one of the best goals I have seen in a long number of years. But I cannot believe we lost, having played so well. We will not get as many chances in an away game for the rest of the season." The Dingwall side was denied by some fine goalkeeping from Craig Hinchcliffe. Smith said: "He kept St Mirren in the game time and again with four or five wonderful saves. "We deserved something but did not get it. We are going to have to keep playing the way we are until we get the breaks." The sides were tied at the interval. Lawrie Ellis struck for St Mirren when he reacted first after Mixu Paatelainan's header came back off the bar. But County hit back and a free kick was deflected into his own goal by former Aberdeen midfielder Ricky Gillies. County could easily have taken the lead after but Hinchcliffe somehow turned away a Don Cowie effort. Another marvellous save in the second half kept out Brian McGinty. It was going to take something special to beat Hinchcliffe and Adam provided it with his outrageous lob. But the visitors' lead did not last long, Don Cowie slicing an attempted clearance into the net. And it was the Buddies who were celebrating again as substitute John O'Neil grabbed the Winner with a 12-yard drive. Saints player-coach Andy Millen said: "Hinchcliffe is a magnificent goalkeeper and he made some great saves." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stuart Garden, 2: John Robertson, 3: James Lauchlan, 4: Martin Canning, 5: Sean Kilgannon 1, 6: Don (JNR) Cowie 1, 7: Charles Adam 1 1, 8: Jamie McCunnie, 9: Mark McCulloch, 10: David Winters, 11: Steven McGarry |
| Bench | 0: Colin Stewart, 0: Stuart Malcolm, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Sean Higgins, 0: Gary McSwegan |
| Saint Mirren | |
| Manager | Gus MacPherson |
| Starting 11 | Craig Hinchcliffe, Kevin McGowne, Laurie Ellis 1, David van Zanten, Andy Millen 1, Kirk Broadfoot 1, Hugh Murray, Mark Reilly, Brian McGinty 1, Mixu Paatelainen, Ricky Gillies 1 |
| Bench | Stevie Woods, Jon O'Neil 1, Simon Lappin, John Baird, David McKenna |