Ross County 0-1 St Johnstone: Kimpioka goal settles clash between stragglers
- Published
St Johnstone's last away victory came in the Scottish League Cup group stage in July.
St Johnstone climbed five points clear of Ross County in the Scottish Premiership relegation play-off berth with a first away win since July.
January signing Benjamin Kimpioka's maiden St Johnstone goal settled the game, ending a six-match winless run.
County threatened in both halves, with James Brown - three times - Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda all coming close.
Derek Adams' side remain six points above basement club Livingston, but have now failed to win in eight games.
They do, at least, have two games in hand on Livingston, and have played one fewer than Motherwell, who sit three points above them.
Kimpioka, a January addition from AIK, provided the decisive moment of calm and class with 34 minutes played, a tantalising flourish for St Johnstone fans eager to see the pedigree of their new forward.
The Swedish age-grade international capitalised on an error from Will Nightingale, who failed to cut out a long ball down the left.
He collected possession, produced a flamboyant double stepover, cut inside and bent low beyond George Wickens.
County had openings - and plenty of them. Brown half-volleyed wide from a nice Dhanda delivery. The captain rasped over, and Jordan White's teasing cross was tipped clear by the soaring Dimitar Mitov.
The flow of play continued chiefly towards the away goal after the break.
Simon Murray sent a brilliant low ball across for the onrushing George Harmon, but heroic defending prevented it from reaching its target.
Murray, and Brown, again, drew strong saves from Mitov, who then parried a swerving long-ranger from Loic Ayina over the the top.
For all their statistical dominance, County could not conjure a killer touch.
Player of the match - Benjamin Kimpioka (St Johnstone)
The striker offered an enticing glimpse of his talents with a brilliantly taken goal, sealing three precious points
County spurn chances against dogged visitors - analysis
County's quest for an elusive victory will now stretch beyond two months, since they beat Motherwell on 5 December.
Their home record, too, makes for brutal reading. This was their fourth Dingwall defeat on the bounce without scoring a single goal, an aggregate scoreline of 0-8.
County did look dangerous. They did threaten. They had mobility in the final third through the unrelenting Murray, and the creativity of Dhanda always a spark.
But despite close to two-thirds of possession and a dozen shots, Mitov's goal was unbreached.
Profligacy and frustration were the order of the day again, but Livingston's brutal form keeps them at arm's length from the foot of the standings.
St Johnstone were on a similarly bleak run of form, and this is a win which could offer a vital tonic, built on defensive snarl and graft.
Mitov was excellent between the sticks, his backline resolute and dogged - key components of a gritty away win, and a monkey shrugged off the back.
What they said
Ross County manager Derek Adams: "We're really disappointed because we controlled large parts of the game and had numerous opportunities to go ahead.
"We were in control of the game, in the ascendancy, and getting ourselves in good position. We should have got more out of the game. I'm sure if we'd got that elusive equaliser, we could have won the game."
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "It was a hard-fought victory, not an awful lot between the teams.
"The magic Benji provided, a wonderful goal to win any match and I'm thrilled he's managed to get off the mark. Everyone knows he's got pace but he's been improving his finishing in training.
"He's not match fit yet either, I'm so pleased for him."
What's next?
County travel to Motherwell on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), while St Johnstone host Levein's former club Hearts a day later with the same kick-off time.