Last-minute Staggies clincher sinks Saints
roSS CounTy 2
Stewart (62), Fraser (90) ST Mirren 1
Andreu (73)
Steven Ferguson felt Ross County rekindled their Championship spirit as they sank St Mirren right at the death.
The Staggies, renowned for late winning goals last season en-route to the second tier title, were at it again in a Dingwall gale with Marcus Fraser claiming a stoppage time clincher.
The captain’s winner spared keeper Ross Laidlaw’s blushes after his blunder allowed the Buddies to wipe out Ross Stewart’s second half opener from a Tony Andreu free-kick.
A delighted Ferguson absolved Laidlaw for his costly error, but warned him not to make a habit of it.
Ferguson said: “That’s the kind of never-say-die reputation we had in the Championship. The character of the team was fantastic.
“Coming off the back of a couple of defeats, it was important we won the game.
“Stuart Kettlewell and I felt it didn’t matter how we won the game today, the thing was to win.
“We also wanted to stop giving away cheap goals, albeit we did for the equaliser.
“It is a trait we want to be associated with that we never know when we’re beaten and we never give up.”
With County leading through that Stewart strike, the big former Hibs shotstopper stooped to collect a low Tony Andreu free-kick but let it squirm through his grasp.
But captain courageous Fraser got a touch on a swirling Gardyne cross after two added minutes to seal a vital win.
St Mirren opted to kick off with the powerful, blustery wind behind them and much of County’s slick possession was toothless against the breeze.
There was concern for County inside 35 minutes as Vigurs hobbled off with a painful leg injury, with ex-Caley Thistle man Joe Chalmers taking his place.
Sean McLoughlin had the ball in the County net just before the break after Laidlaw punched a Magennis free-kick, but a delayed off-side flag on Jon Obika’s touch spared the Staggies.
County, with winds at their back after the break, came flying out of the traps and produced a stunning attack a minutes after the re-start.
A slick passing move ended with on-loan Celt Ewan Henderson – making his debut – slipping a square pass into the path of Paton 16 yards out.
The Canadian’s low connection was heading inside the right-hand post but Vaclav Hladky dived brilliantly to touch it around the post.
St Mirren then lost Gary Mackenzie to injury.
County’s breakthrough came two minutes after the hour.
Richard Foster sent over a dangerous cross from the left, flicked on by the head of the rising Mckay. There, at the back of the penalty area, was Stewart taking a touch before placing a firm, confident finish arcing past Hladky.
It was Stewart’s seventh goal in the season and against his former employers at that.
County’s hard-earned lead was then undone by the goalkeeping error.
Tony Andreu’s low strike from 22 yards looked easy meat for Ross Laidlaw but squirmed out of his hands into the net.
It looked forlorn for County until Gardyne’s cross from deep left evaded Stewart but found Fraser surging in to beat the keeper for a winner.
Saints boss Jim Goodwin lamented his team’s lack of luck. He said: “We’re obviously hugely disappointed again. We were so on top in the first half and felt we’d scored a legitimate goal.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game.”