Goodwin’s delight after Foley’s strike lifts Buddies off the bottom
A beaming Jim Goodwin hailed his players after Sam Foley’s late goal sunk Ross County and hauled
St Mirren off the foot of the Premiership table.
Saints dominated the second half but looked like they would have to settle for a draw until Foley popped up with his first goal for the club, two minutes from time.
The result lifts the Buddies above St Johnstone and Hamilton Accies into tenth spot, much to Goodwin’s delight.
He said: “I’m a happy man – I’m always happy when we win.
“A draw wouldn’t have been enough for us today. We HAD to go and win that game and that’s what we did.
“I’m delighted for the players because they showed some tremendous character after going a goal down.
“We really pushed hard in that second half and what a goal it was to win it.”
Saints had to come from behind to take all three points. They went in to the game with the best home defensive record in the league with only Rangers’ Borna Barisic having scored against them on their own patch.
But he would be joined after 24 minutes by Brian Graham who put his team in front with a toe bash from about 12 yards.
That was tough on Saints who had been the better of the two sides.
Ilkay Durmus sent a halfchance wide before Foley saw his shot blocked after a Durmus corner fell to him.
Kyle Magennis was next to threaten but couldn’t control his volley and it flashed over the bar.
The best chance, though, fell to Jon Obika. He sprang clear down the right but then sent in a wild shot that almost cleared the stand.
Saints were lucky not to fall two behind after Graham’s goal. Billy McKay’s shot seemed to be creeping into the far corner but Vaclav Hladky made a great fingertip save.
The home side looked to respond again. Danny Mullen cut inside on to his right foot but again the shot ended up high, wide and not very handsome.
It was looking like another frustrating afternoon for Goodwin’s men, but they dug out an equaliser two minutes before the break.
Ref Euan Anderson looked set to award a penalty after Ryan Flynn was fouled but let play continue. That allowed Sean McLoughlin to ram home the loose ball for his first goal for Saints.
The Paisley side began the second half on top.
Obika found himself back through on goal but his powder-puff attempt lacked power to trouble the keeper before Durmus had a shot deflected for a corner.
The home fans then hollered for a red card for Callum Morris after the defender brought down Obika. He was the proverbial last man but the striker was only yards inside the County half so a yellow card looked the right decision.
Saints were all over the Highlanders and missed a snip to go in front after 73 minutes.
Flynn did brilliantly to weave his way into the box and tee up Durmus. It seemed a certain goal only for the Turk to take a fresh air shot and miss the ball entirely.
Time seemed to be running out for Saints. But sub Tony Andreu teed up Foley and he smashed his shot into the top corner.
County haven’t won now for eight games leaving co-manager Steven Ferguson unhappy. He said: “I am not going to sit here and say we deserved anything from the game following that secondhalf performance.”