| Date | Saturday, 27 December 2003 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Saint Mirren 1:1 Ross County |
| Venue | Love Street |
| Attendance | 3,550 |
| Referee | Iain Brines |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Saint Mirren 1 Ross County 1 County face yet another difficult derby with Caley Thistle on Saturday. But it could hardly be harder than this 90 minutes as they escaped with a point after a smash-and-grab John Rankin equaliser seconds from time. And experienced manager Alex Smith handed out a warning to every other club who will head for Love Street this season. Smith said: "St Mirren are a different team from a month ago and this could be our hardest fixture of the festive period." Smith spoke despite his anger at the sending-off of Stuart Malcolm. But a disappointed Buddies manager Gus McPherson could de forgiven his look of disbelief following the late leveller. With a super goal on the turn from Ricky Gillies earning the Buddies a first-half lead, it seemed as if their pressure must lead to a second as a Robert Dunn effort was cleared off the line by Jamie McCunnie. A raking 25-yarder from John O'Neill then clipped the County crossbar. But then came the final act in the last seconds which sent the home fans home stony-faced, while the few who had made the long trip from the Highlands were ecstatic. Ironically, it was former Buddie Steve McGarry who set it up with a determined run on the right and cross which created havoc, with David Winter hitting the crossbar before, in the melee, John Rankin drove in the equaliser. Rankin's good luck continued as referee Brines turned a blind eye when the celebrating youngster took off his shirt. McPherson said: "We showed a lack of composure in the last 15 minutes." Smith, like his side, had the last word. He said: "We did not start to move positively until we had a player sent off and we have to be grateful for a point." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Graeme Smith, 2: Stuart Malcolm 2 1, 3: Martin Canning, 4: Sean Webb, 5: Hugh Robertson, 6: David Hannah, 7: John Rankin 1, 8: Jamie McCunnie, 9: Don (JNR) Cowie, 10: Steven McGarry, 11: Sean Higgins |
| Bench | 0: Stephen O'Donnell, 0: Mark McCulloch, 0: David Winters, 0: Graham Bayne |
| Saint Mirren | |
| Manager | Gus MacPherson |
| Starting 11 | Craig Hinchcliffe, Kevin McGowne, Laurie Ellis, David van Zanten, Hugh Murray, Simon Lappin, Mark Dempsie, Brian McGinty, Robert Dunn, Ricky Gillies 1, A Trialist |
| Bench | Stevie Woods, Jon O'Neil, Allan Russell, Mark Crilly, David McKenna |