Lucky 13! Buzzing Buddies end long wait for three-in-a-row
Jim Goodwin saw St Mirren end a 13-year wait to secure three Premiership wins on the trot – but insisted there was still plenty more to come.
The Buddies’ manager was beaming after adding Ross County’s scalp to a six-game unbeaten run that has also featured victories over Aberdeen and Livingston.
But the Irishman, while delighted with his team’s effort and commitment in holding out in Dingwall, stressed there should be better ahead.
He said: “We’re on an impressive run, but I still don’t believe we’re anywhere near playing at the level we’re capable of.
“I still think there’s a hell of a lot more to come from this group.
“That’s great from our point of view. Three wins on the spin in this league is extremely difficult to do. It shows how far we’ve come as a group.”
Scott Tanser inspired the upwardly mobile visitors with two assists and a goal as Ross County’s winless run stretched to nine Premiership games.
Malky Mackay’s Staggies twice cut the deficit but couldn’t find an equaliser despite a surge of secondhalf pressure.
That left them pegged to bottom place even before Dundee’s late kickoff last night.
Goodwin added: “We’ve not lost many games, apart from away to Celtic, with 10 men for 75 minutes and lost a real narrow one to Hearts who are flying high.
“All in all, I’ve got to be satisfied with work up to now, but we can’t let our standards drop. At 3-2, with 25 minutes to go, it gives the whole place a lift. That’s where I’m really pleased with the players’ effort and commitment.”
With 13 minutes gone, Eamonn Brophy dragged a low attempt wide of the far post.
County failed to heed the warning and fell behind from a similar move just two minutes later.
Tanser’s pass found Brophy, again in far too much room on the left side.
This time his rocketed finish beat on-loan Charlton keeper Ash Maynard-Brewer high at his near post.
After 34 minutes Saints were 2-0 up. Tanser’s corner from the right found the home defence at fault, with ex-Staggies skipper Marcus Fraser unmarked to head home at the far side of the goalmouth.
County hit back within two minutes after Ethan Erhahon brought Alex Samuel crashing 25 yards out.
Spittal’s dead-ball attempt took a wicked skim off the top of the away side’s wall and beat Jak Alnwick just under the crossbar.
A third goal within four minutes had the Buddies back two goals ahead.
Home centre-backs Jack Baldwin and Iacovitti failed to deal with a long Alnwick kick-out and Tanser was able to dink a finish past the helpless Maynard-Brewer.
The hosts were back in business approaching the 66th minute.
On-loan Arsenal defender Harry Clarke delivered a tremendous cross from the right and fellow defender Iacovitti directed a glancing header beyond Alnwick.
County, tails up, kept pressing for the equaliser and it took some increasingly desperate St Mirren defending to keep them at bay.
Home boss Malky Mackay said: “We can’t give away poor goals like that. At half-time I questioned their energy levels. In the second half we pressed them back to their own goal.
“We hit both posts and ended up with 56% possession, 20 crosses and 20 shots on St Mirren’s goal.
“To come away with a defeat is disappointing, but it’s for a reason. We gave away a couple of horror goals.”