Ikpeazu scores late winner for St Johnstone

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Substitute Uche Ikpeazu's late header gave St Johnstone a narrow but deserved win away to fellow promotion favourites Ross County in the Scottish Championship.

Until then, the two relegated sides had cancelled one another out, but it is the visitors who start the league season with two consecutive wins.

The Perth side dominated possession for most of the first half, but it was County who forced the first save of note, with midfielder Jay Henderson stinging goalkeeper Toby Steward's palms with a powerful drive after the break.

Ikpeazu headed wide from only six yards with the goal at his mercy, while rival striker James Scott, who was handed his debut along with centre-half Alex Iacovitti after moves from St Mirren earlier in the day, glanced an opportunity just wide.

However, when home goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw failed to meet a free-kick lofted to the back post, Ikpeazu rose to head home his third goal in five games this season.

Fellow striker Adama Sidibeh looked to be through for a second and, although Laidlaw did well to touch wide this time, the goalkeeper's error was enough to hand Saints a sixth consecutive win as they continue their League Cup form in the league.

For County, it is a third game without a win and they are already five points adrift of their prospective title rivals.

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "St Johnstone were definitely slicker than us in possession, especially first half, but still I thought we defended really well.

"We tried to change things at half time and we had bits of encouragement in the second half and has the best chance when it was 0-0. Ultimately, the game is lost by a mistake and to lose it in the manner we did was really frustrating."

St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari: "I think we all saw it was a tough battle between two good teams.

"I have to say that how our players showed themselves tonight, it was very good. It's not easy to come here and control the game. Yes, we maybe did not create that many chances, but we dominated with the ball."

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