Stalemate for Staggies

ROSS County were forced to settle for a second successive Premiership draw following a goalless encounter against St Mirren.

Both sides could have made a decent case to suggest they should have taken the points.

County enjoyed the better of the first half but were forced to stand tall to sustained spells of Buddies pressure after the interval, with both goalkeepers on inspired form.

The stalemate was enough for County to further reduce the gap at the foot of the table, as they now trail secondbottom Livingston by just two points.

Malky Mackay made four changes from the side which battled back to claim a late 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Saturday. Harry Clarke was ruled out through suspension, while Regan Charles-Cook, Jordan White and Jordan Tillson dropped to the bench.

There were recalls for Ross Callachan, Joseph Hungbo and Dominic Samuel, while there was a long-awaited first league outing for Jake Vokins at left back. The on-loan Southampton player had spent much of the campaign on the sidelines due to a metatarsal fracture.

County had to weather some early Saints pressure from a flurry of corners as The Buddies chased a goal.

In the second half, they raised their intensity level though, and Alnwick needed to make a good double save in the 85th minute to deny first Spittal and then Paton.

The late burst of life was not enough to take the points though, as the deadlock could not be broken and St Mirren and Ross County had to share the spoils.

On Saturday, St Mirren travel to Aberdeen, while the Staggies visit St Johnstone, with both games kicking off at 3pm.