Oisin Smyth celebrates scoring for St MirrenSNS
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Oisin Smyth's 90th-minute free-kick gave 10-man St Mirren a vital Scottish Premiership victory against Ross County in a wet and wild day in Dingwall.

Stephen Robinson's side went ahead in the first-half when Jack Hamilton spilled Greg Kiltie's free-kick and Alex Iacovitti stabbed home to score against the club he used to captain.

It only took 29 second-half seconds for County to find a leveller, though, with Michee Efete slotting a rebound after his own header came back to him.

The pressure was ramped up on the visitors when Scott Tanser was sent off for his second yellow, and referee Ian Snedden was busy calming both sides down as various penalty shouts were ignored.

Eamonn Brophy was barged over in the box for the hosts, as was Killian Phillips up the other end, and there were two handball shouts against Efete and Josh Reid.

However, Greg Aitken saw no reason to call Snedden across to the screen.

With a few moments left, St Mirren won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Smyth - whose set-piece prowess had been pointed out by Robinson pre-match - smashed the ball into the top corner.

St Mirren stay sixth but move five points clear of Dundee, while County remain 10th after losing their last four Premiership games.

Resilient St Mirren grind out precious win

Only the top three sides in the league had on their travels to the Global Energy Stadium before this.

It's never an easy trip, let alone with the wind blowing a hoolie and the rain coming down in stair rods. But St Mirren came out on top in the brutal conditions.

They probably just about edged it. They tried to keep the ball on the deck in the first half with the wind in their face, and kept County pinned back for large spells of the second half.

This was all after being let down by Tanser. The left-back flew into a challenge while on a yellow, and that was after a few niggly tackles which also might have tempted Snedden to send him off.

They also came through a few injury complaints. Ellery Balcombe and Richard Taylor were doubts, Tanser was only called into the starting XI on Saturday morning, and Conor McMenamin - their best player in the last few weeks - missed out.

When most teams would wilt, St Mirren stood tall and with three wins in their last five, they're putting some daylight between themselves and the teams below.

SNS

Alex Iacovitti's celebrations were muted after scoring against his former side

County's form collapses as fortress Dingwall scaled

After losing their last three, County were reliant on their home form giving them a lift before Christmas yet, they rarely looked like winning this one.

Hampered by injuries to Eli Campbell and Alex Samuel, they also had to do without the unwell James Brown and the reshuffle did not work for Don Cowie's side.

That's now four losses in a row - although there are defeats by Rangers and Celtic among them - but it won't help the confidence as they gear up for another relegation battle.

They've got more problems up front. Ronan Hale, the usual dangerman, didn't threaten and that's now just 14 goals in 18 games, the lowest tally in the league.

They've also conceded 35 - only Kilmarnock have conceded as many.

Unable to score and unable to keep a clean sheet is not a recipe for staying up, and Cowie has a real job on his hands.

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