| Date | Sunday, 21 July 2019 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Saint Johnstone 1:2 Ross County |
| Venue | McDiarmid Park |
| Attendance | 1,648 |
| Referee | Bobby Madden |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Will Clark for the Press & Journal Saint Johnstone 1 Ross County 2 BILLY Mckay’s double helped Ross County step one foot into the last 16 of the Betfred League Cup. The Northern Irishman’s goals helped the Staggies come from behind to win the game after Scott Tanser’s early penalty put St Johnstone in front. A win in the final group match against Forfar Athletic in Dingwall on Wednesday night will guarantee qualification to the next round. Ross County made four changes to the team that won at Brechin City on Tuesday. Liam Fontaine and Sean Kelly came back into defence with Blair Spittal and Keith Watson into the starting line up replacing Marcus Fraser, Calum Morris, Harry Paton and Simon Power. The Staggies got off to a disastrous start when they conceded a penalty after seven minutes. Watson fouled Chris Kane while attempting to win the ball in the penalty area. Tanser powered a low drive past Ross Laidlaw from the spot to give the Perth side a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone should have doubled their advantage when Danny Swanson was unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box to connect with Murray Davidson's cross. But he blasted well over the crossbar. Goalkeeper Laidlaw offered Michael O’Halloran a golden chance to make it 2-0 for the hosts midway through the first half. He failed to hold on to the ball in the box and the midfielder intercepted and ran wide of the goalkeeper before seeing his shot hit the left post. The Staggies equalised just before the half-hour mark when Jason Kerr fouled Ross Stewart in the box after he got on the end of a Blair Spittal ball to concede a penalty. Goalkeeper Zander Clark saved Mckay's spot-kick by diving to his right post. But the striker was the first to the rebound to knock into the net. St Johnstone could have regained the lead just before half time. From a tight angle, Kane unleashed at thunderous shot which forced Laidlaw to tip the ball over the bar. But it was the Staggies who took the initiative into the break. Spittal’s ball went through the heart of the Saints defence to find Mckay who from 12 yards struck a low drive past Clark. Ross County started the second half brightly when Stewart’s shot was blocked by Clark. The rebound was picked up by Kelly who couldn't find a way past the goalkeeper from close range. Iain Vigurs then came close to making it 3-1 from a free-kick after Liam Craig fouled Spittal. His shot looked to be heading for the top right corner but was parried over the bar by Clark. Josh Mullin also had a great chance to give County a two-goal advantage when he was unchallenged in the box to meet a Mckay cross, but his header hit the side netting. Kane had a great chance to level 13 minutes from time when he beat the offside trap to run on to a ball from midfield and was one-on-one with Laidlaw. But the Staggies' goalkeeper read his shot right and went low to block and gather his strike comfortably. Ross County held on to make it three wins from three and will be favourites to beat League One Forfar at the Global Energy Stadium during midweek. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Steven Ferguson Stuart Kettlewell |
| Starting 11 | 1: Ross Laidlaw, 3: Sean Kelly, 4: Liam Fontaine, 9: Billy Mckay 2, 11: Iain Vigurs 1, 12: Tom Grivosti, 14: Joshua Mullin, 15: Keith Watson, 20: Blair Spittal, 23: Joseph Chalmers, 27: Ross Stewart |
| Bench | 41: Tommy Dixon-Hodge, 2: Marcus Fraser, 5: Callum Morris, 7: Michael Gardyne, 19: Brian Graham, 22: Simon Power, 24: Harrison Paton |
| Saint Johnstone | |
| Manager | Tommy Wright |
| Starting 11 | Zander Clark, Richard Foster, Steven Anderson, Jason Kerr, Scott Tanser 1, David Wotherspoon, Murray Davidson, Liam Craig 1, Danny Swanson, Michael O'Halloran, Chris Kane |
| Bench | Matthew Kennedy, Callum Hendry, David McMillan, Elliott Parish, Wallace Duffy, Ali McCann, Kyle McClean |