Elliot WattImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Elliot Watt's winner delivered a relegation lifeline with the gap to Ross County now three points

St Johnstone 2-1 Ross County: Watch highlights

10 May 2025

St Johnstone overcame "nervousness" and "a few dodgy moments" to stave off automatic relegation for now and narrow the gap at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership to three points with a crucial victory over Ross County.

The win delivers a lifeline as defeat for the Perth side would have ended their 16-year stay in the top flight.

Saints were pegged back after Daniel Balodis' headed opener when Alex Samuel touched home from close range to equalise, an outcome that would have left the hosts six points adrift with two games remaining.

However, after some incredible missed chances, Simo Valakari's men survived an injury-time onslaught and Ronan Hale effort that was ruled offside, to earn a vital win thanks to Elliot Watt's composed finish into the corner.

In the dying moments, County's misery was compounded when Zach Ashworth was sent off for something he said to referee John Beaton.

It is a record-equalling seventh straight defeat for second-bottom County in the top flight, a run that leaves them in deep relegation trouble with games running out.

"We could all see the nervousness and there were a few dodgy moments when we didn't do the right things. That's totally understandable - my players are human beings," said St Johnstone manager Valakari.

"But I loved that they kept trying to do the right things under pressure and in the end it all came good. We've kept the fight going."

Valakari had stressed everyone's job at the club was on the line, including his. The stakes couldn't have been higher but there was clarity. Win or they were surely doomed.

Adama Sidibeh inexplicably missed the ball from Josh McPake's perfect delivery with the goal gaping, then Sam Curtis prodded wide before the relief around the stadium was palpable when Balodis met a corner and his header found the top corner.

Samuel knocked home the equaliser, just his second goal of the campaign, but still St Johnstone looked more likely and another desperate miss suggested it might not be their day.

Sidibeh took a horrendous touch five yards from goal when he should have scored. The ball fell to Uche Ikpeazu who then prodded over the bar from similar range as Valakari looked on in utter despair.

The hosts were rewarded for attacking persistence when Sidibeh again slashed at a great chance, the ball fell kindly for Watt and he found the corner with a remarkable degree of calmness.

Then came a huge moment. A long throw was flicked on and Hale netted. As County players wheeled away in delight, VAR images concluded the striker had strayed offside and the joy turned back in St Johnstone's favour.

Saints show character to keep hope intact

The pressure on St Johnstone to win was enormous given the gap to County before kick-off was six points. It really was win or bust.

It seemed that after those incredible missed chances that it might not be their day once again, but they got there and will take huge heart from getting through a massive test.

While they have a long way to go to pull off a great escape, this win keeps them in the fight as other relegation rivals toil.

It took character to see this through and the outcome will throw all sort of doubt County's way.

County in real trouble amid losing run

Only once before have County lost seven in a row in the top flight. What a horrendous time to equal that record.

They were second best in Perth and their momentum is going in the wrong direction.

Right now, County surely would take a play-off, something they have come through in each of the past two seasons. However, they seem to be lacking something, especially goal threat.

What they said

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "We play, we perform, we create chances but we are not taking them and the opponent will punish us, that's why we are in the position we are in.

"But the message to the team is that we just need to keep going, not let the heads go down because we can create the chances and the boys did it."

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We've got to be concerned, we've got to face the reality in terms of how tight things are now.

"Credit to St Johnstone, they get the victory and make things tight. Somehow, despite the run of form we've been on, with two games to go we've still got an opportunity to get out of the position we're in."