St Johnstone

We asked for your thoughts after St Johnstone's 1-0 win against Ross County.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Stuart: Great result. A striker [Kimpioka] that scores goals at long last (with the exception of Clark). Give the new attacking signings the game time to advance the team and climb away from the foot of the table. For too long we have looked back, onwards and upwards Saints.

Hamish: Gritty and well-composed victory, new strikers looking like they’ll score and with the best keeper in the league we should be looking up rather than down the league.

Anon: Good to see a striker and a midfielder in. Just need a bit more width in midfield, hopefully the new signing will fill that role.

Liam Gordon, Dan Phillips and Matt Smith could return for St Johnstone against Hearts on Wednesday, while David Keltjens could also feature after coming off during Saturday's 1-0 win at Ross County. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "It was a hard-fought victory, with not an awful lot between the teams.

"The magic Benjamin Kimpioka 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.

"We defended crosses really well - Andy Considine and Ryan McGowan were amazing, steadfast, dealt with everything Ross County threw at us."

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone were on a similarly bleak run of form to Ross County, and this is a win which could offer a vital tonic, built on defensive snarl and graft.

Benjamin Kimpioka's excellent finish, and the class and guile of Graham Carey, were telling.

But Dimitar 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.

Image source, BBC Sport

St Johnstone, at last, won on the road with a hugely important victory in Dingwall.

What did you make of your team's performance, Saints fans, and can your side build on this long-awaited away victory?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

This was a seismic victory for St Johnstone, and it was sealed by Benjamin Kimpioka, who fans can start to get excited about.

The striker has a solid CV, with Swedish age-grade caps under his belt, and his trickery and finish clinched the goal which sank Ross County.

The win was built on defensive solidity too, and in that respect Dimitar Mitov stood like a titan between the Saints sticks. Mitov stopped from Simon Murray, James Brown and Loic Ayuna, and his saves went a long way to deciding the match.

Craig Levein makes three changes to his St Johnstone line-up following the draw with Motherwell seven days ago.

There's a debut for new signing Connor Smith, on loan from Hearts, while teenager Fran Franczak and Tony Gallacher also come in.

Key defender Liam Gordon is injured, with Dan Phillips and Matthew Smith also dropping out.

Ross County: Wickens, Harmon, Ayina, Nightingale, Borthwick-Jackson, Brown, Jenks, King, Dhanda, Murray, White.

Substitutes: Ross, Sims, Sheaf, Loturi, Henderson, Khela, Efete, Brophy, Reid.

St Johnstone: Mitov, Gallacher, Considine, McGowan, Robinson, Keltjens, Carey, Kucheriavyi, Franczak, C Smith, Kimpioka.

Substitutes: May, Kane, Clark, Jaiyesimi, Sidibeh, Olufunwa, Sprangler, Richards, K Smith.

Kerr Smith believes he left Dundee United as a boy and has arrived at St Johnstone as a man. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Image source, St Johnstone FC

Adama Sidibeh is ready for the "big step up" from non-league to the Scottish Premiership after joining St Johnstone.

The striker left Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands to join the Saints and is aware of the challenges he could face.

“I’m delighted to be here and really looking forward to playing for this great club” he told club media.

“My manager told me earlier this week that St Johnstone had made an enquiry, I was really interested and it’s happened.

“I know it’s a big step up but I’m here to learn, to do my best, help the team and make the fans happy.

"Yes, it’s a challenge but I am ready for it.”

Image source, SNS

Jay Turner-Cooke has returned to Newcastle United with his St Johnstone loan spell curtailed.

The midfielder made six appearances for the Perth club, his last outing coming in a 3-1 defeat to Celtic at the start of December.

A club statement said: "We would like wish thank Jay for his time with us and we wish him every success for the remainder of the season and beyond."

Image source, AFP

St Johnstone have signed striker Adama Sidibeh for an undisclosed fee from Northern Premier League club Warrington Rylands.

The 26-year-old frontman joins on a two-and-a-half-year deal from the English seventh tier side.

A statement from his former club said: "The board and all involved at the club are delighted for Adama to get this move to the top level of Scottish football and would like to thank him for some of the great memories he leaves us with this season.

"Our best wishes to both the player and St Johnstone for the future."

We asked what you would like to see happen at McDiarmid Park before the window slams shut. Here's what you had to say...

Les: I'd be happy with another striker in hopefully as a foil for Nicky Clark and I'm sure we will be fine.

Gary: I think our signings have looked reasonable so far but I'd love to see us try to bring in David Marshall from Hibs. Think he'd be a brilliant addition to our squad.

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have only lost one of their last nine home league games against St Johnstone (W2 D6), going down 1-2 in December 2022.

• After their 1-0 win in November, St Johnstone could pick up back-to-back league victories over Ross County for the first time since October 2016.

• Ross County have lost both of their last two home league games, last losing three in a row in April 2023.

• St Johnstone are on an 11-match winless run away from home in the Scottish Premiership (D5 L6), their longest run without a victory on the road since December 2019 (run of 16).

• St Johnstone are the only side yet to win an away Scottish Premiership match this season, and have scored just two goals on the road this season in the competition, six fewer than any other team.

Northern Premier League club Warrington Rylands have agreed a deal for 25-year-old striker Adama Sidibeh to sign for St Johnstone subject to a medical. (Stephen Killen on X), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

St Johnstone fans, what positions do you think need to be targeted before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday, and how many incomings would you like to see?

Also, how would you rate the business done to this point?

Send us your thoughts here.

It's a huge battle at the bottom as St Johnstone travel to Dingwall to take on fellow relegation strugglers Ross County.

Who would you like to see on the teamsheet? Pick your Saints side here.

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

It feels like almost every team in the Premiership is chasing a striker to supercharge their season this January.

St Johnstone are certainly one of the sides in that boat, with Craig Levein actively scouring the English market in search of a frontman.

Having scored the joint-fewest goals in the Premiership this season - their tally of 15 tied with bottom club Livingston - adding goals could prove imperative if the Saints are to lift themselves away from the relegation mire.

St Johnstone new boy Connor Smith says Andy Kirk is the biggest influence on his career and as soon as he and Craig Levein arrived at McDiarmid Park, the former Hearts playmaker wanted to join them. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.