Staggies lack spark as Yogi warns: The hard work starts now
ROSS COUNTY 1
Draper (21)
ST JOHNSTONE 1
Conway (pen 26) John Hughes last night warned Ross County to ready themselves for a long, tough climb to safety.
But the new Staggies gaffer is convinced they have the right equipment to scale the mountain in front of them.
County slipped back to the bottom of the Premiership on goal difference after failing to hold a first-half lead against struggling Saints.
There was a lack of spark and creativity when it counted from two sides who have become strangers to winning ways for lengthy spells this season.
Saints have plenty to be worried about in the lower reaches, resting now just two points above the Dingwall side.
Two late Zander Clark saves spared the Perth men a worse fate.
Former Falkirk manager Hughes said: “We had a great result the other day against Hibs but I immediately told the players one swallow doesn’t make a summer.
“We still have so much work in front of us to scale the table from where we are. But the players’ honesty and integrity, their hard work and willingness, that’s the ingredients that gets you out of bed as a manager.
“You can’t wait to get into training because they work so hard.”
A defensive mistake wiped out Ross Draper’s first-half opener within five minutes, but ‘Yogi’ Hughes stressed: “We’re not going to point the finger of blame.
“We’re all in it together. We win together and lose together.
“I’m just happy with their commitment and how they’re digging in. It has been a hard four games in 12 days and they need to rest up.”
Hughes, chasing County’s first back-to-back wins since the start of the Premiership season, drafted in new signing Jason Naismith, released by Peterborough in November, for his debut.
Charlie Lakin, injured in that away win at Celtic at the end of November, made his return in a less familiar leftback role with Draper also returning for a start.
St Johnstone were looking for a first league victory since beating Kilmarnock on November 6.
Danny Mcnamara started, for his last Saints appearance before returning to parent club Millwall.
Neither side created much of note in the first 15 minutes, which ended with Naismith ruffling the side-netting speculatively from wide on the right.
Just past the 20-minute mark, the solid, confident home start was rewarded by the opener.
Naismith’s cross from the far right held real quality and dipped into the crowded six-yard box.
Stabbed clear unconvincingly by Saints, midfielder Draper pounced and drove hard and low into the net from 10 yards.
Within five minutes, poor defensive play helped the Perth side draw level with Keith Watson, struggling to reach a slack Coll Donaldson back-pass, clearly stretching to trip Craig Conway as he tried to play the loose ball.
Conway stepped up to take it himself and drove low into the right hand corner, just beyond keeper Laidlaw’s outstretched hand.
Saints were on top after the break, but couldn’t find the spark to turn pressure into a lead.
Chris Kane knocked a couple of chances wide before being subbed.
It then took a terrific reflex save down low from home keeper Laidlaw to deny Liam Gordon from an angled attempt as he met Conway’s excellent delivery in close.
Laidlaw also saved down low from Murray Davidson.
But County’s Watson also had a fine header tipped over the bar by Zander Clark with four minutes left from on-loan Ranger Stephen Kelly’s corner.
A rocket from sub Josh Reid from the angle of the box was also superbly palmed away for another home corner in the dying seconds.