Swanson runs the show for clinical Saints
A BAD day at the office got a whole lot worse for Ross County when Liam Boyce limped off supported by two of the Staggies’ backroom team six minutes from time.
His injury was subsequently diagnosed as a damaged medial ligament in his right knee after a collision with Zander Clark.
What is less clear is exactly how long he will be out, but with fellow front men Alex Schalk and Craig Curran also crocked, Boyce’s misfortune represents another blow for the Highlanders.
Fortunately, County have 13 days to tend to their wounded due to the fact it’s international week with World Cup qualifiers taking place.
Jim McIntyre will also use the time to try to ginger up his troops after confessing to being unsure why they lacked zing against Saints. Danny Swanson was the main difference between the sides as St Johnstone consolidated fourth place in the Premiership, scoring the opening goal and setting up the second.
Saints might have scored on each of three occasions before they eventually succeeded in taking the lead from the penalty spot three minutes from the interval.
First, Chris Kane was unable to apply the finish to Blair Alston’s corner, before Liam Craig failed to hit the target following a move begun by Steven MacLean, who headed weakly into Scott Fox’s hands in turn.
Swanson had no trouble beating Fox when his turn came in the 42nd minute after Jay McEveley — a late replacement for Andrew Davies, injured in the pre-match warm-up — inexplicably bundled Kane off the ball.
County began to display a little more enterprise after the break and should have levelled in the 56th minute.
Jonathan Franks’ low cross popped up invitingly in front of Greg Morrison and Kenny van der Weg, but neither was able to find a finish from close range.
The introduction of former Rangers and Scotland player Chris Burke and Ryan Dow for their debuts preceded a header from McEveley that Clark was happy to push over the crossbar.
But when Swanson released Kane, the latter shot under Fox to settle things with 17 minutes left.
‘The first-half performance was our worst of the season,’ declared McIntyre. ‘We didn’t play with any energy or tempo; we were flat.
‘It was a performance where you’re left scratching your head. We had such an opportunity to jump into fourth spot.
‘You have to give St Johnstone credit. They were better than us, did better things than we did, and they deserved it.’
Perhaps the one bright spot on an otherwise gloomy afternoon for McIntyre was Morrison’s enthusiasm.
‘He did okay,’ said McIntyre. ‘More so in the second half because we had more of the play. Coming into the side when the team didn’t play to its best is difficult but Greg has a bright future.’
County have scored only once in their last five games and McIntyre added: ‘We need to create more than we’ve been doing. Normally that’s a side of the game we do quite well.’
Counterpart Tommy Wright said: ‘It was comfortable, but to make it that way you have to play well and we did, extremely so.
‘In the first half, that’s the best we’ve been with the ball this season and we put Ross County under a lot of pressure.
‘Maybe we were a little overelaborate in the final third but we deserved to be one-nil up.’