Jordan White's 84th-minute header proved decisive
A late Jordan White goal saw off stuttering St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership to end Ross County's 10-game winless run and give Derek Adams a first victory since returning as manager.
The hosts racked up the best of the chances in a game largely lacking quality, but looked set for a second goalless stalemate in four days to keep their new boss waiting for victory.
That was until their big striker towered over the rest to nod home a James Brown corner as his side's perseverance paid off.
County climb from 10th to eighth, while St Mirren's status in third is now more precarious.
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On a freezing winter's night in the Highlands, the supporters were treated to a hot start as the hosts piled the pressure on.
The game soon went from frantic to fraught as the quality dropped as low as the sub-minus temperature in Dingwall.
County roused themselves after the interval to launch a pair of slick moves that both ended at the feet of Connor Randall. The first rebounded off the post, the second flew into the night's sky.
A feeling that County's chances were falling to the wrong player was heightened when the ball broke to Ben Purrington in the box, his powerful effort well saved by the onrushing Zach Hemming.
Conor McMenamin brought a rare moment of St Mirren menace at the other end with a shot tipped away by Ross Laidlaw.
But finally, an opportunity came the way of a man the home fans know can pull them out the dirt, as White's trademark header sealed a first win since the start of Setember.
Player of the Match - James Brown (Ross County)The defender (right) was tireless on the right flank, while also putting in the corner that won his side the game.County plug away while St Mirren stutter - analysis
County supporters remember Adams' football as fast and frenetic. After flying out the traps, it seemed that spirit was gone and another day of deadlock would leave them unable to look upwards.
Impressively for a side enduring such a long winless run, they kept plugging away and asked questions of St Mirren in a way few have managed this term.
All season, whether it be Malky Mackay or Adams, County have failed to make the most of their attacking arsenal. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that good delivery into the box is the optimal way to get White back in the goals.
Although the visitors make the long journey home knowing they're still the current best of the rest in the Premiership, the abject nature of their performance against one of the division's strugglers will weigh heavy on their shoulders.
Just two wins in eight games show that this is a side that are beginning to tread water high up the table, with the teams below them beginning to circle with greater consistency and confidence.
A win here would have given Stephen Robinson's men the chance to go level on points with Rangers at the weekend. Now, it's a nervous look over the shoulder rather than a gallus glance forwards.
What's next?
County will look to further distance themselves from the bottom as they travel to basement side Livingston on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while St Mirren make the trip to Ibrox to face Rangers 24 hours later.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsRoss County
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Laidlaw35Nightingale5Baldwin42Leak4Brown2Randall6Allardice3Purrington10Dhanda26White15Murray
- 1Laidlaw35Nightingale5Baldwin42Leak4Brown2Randall6Allardice3Purrington10DhandaSubstituted forTurnerat 74'minutes26White15MurraySubstituted forSamuelat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Turner12Sheaf14Loturi16Harmon21Munro25Samuel30Smith43Reid
St Mirren
Formation 3-5-2
1Hemming22Fraser13Gogic18Dunne10McMenamin6O'Hara17Baccus11Kiltie3Tanser9Mandron21Greive
- 1Hemming22Fraser13Gogic18Dunne10McMenamin6O'HaraBooked at 81mins17BaccusSubstituted forBoyd-Munceat 83'minutes11KiltieSubstituted forFlynnat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins3Tanser9MandronSubstituted forAyungaat 60'minutes21GreiveSubstituted forNahmaniat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bolton7Ayunga8Flynn15Boyd-Munce16Small19Nahmani20Olusanya24Jamieson27Urminsky
Referee:William CollumAttendance:3,758Match StatsHome TeamRoss CountyAway TeamSt MirrenPossessionHome47%Away53%ShotsHome6Away6Shots on TargetHome2Away1CornersHome7Away5FoulsHome11Away14Live Text Post update
Match ends, Ross County 1, St. Mirren 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 1, St. Mirren 0.
90'+3'Booking
Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren).
90'+2'Post update
Ben Purrington (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Charles Dunne (St. Mirren).
90'+1'Post update
Jack Baldwin (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonah Ayunga (St. Mirren) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Jonah Ayunga (St. Mirren) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marcus Fraser.
88'Post update
Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Kyle Turner (Ross County).
87'Post update
Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Alex Samuel (Ross County).
84'goalGoal!
Goal! Ross County 1, St. Mirren 0. Jordan White (Ross County) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Brown with a cross following a corner.
84'Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Conor McMenamin.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Alex Samuel replaces Simon Murray.
83'Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Caolan Boyd-Munce replaces Keanu Baccus.
82'Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Ryan Flynn replaces Greg Kiltie.
81'Booking
Mark O'Hara (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'Post update
Foul by Mark O'Hara (St. Mirren).
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Player of the match
RandallConnor Randall
with an average of 8.82
- Ross CountyRoss CountyRoss CountySt MirrenSt MirrenSt Mirren
Ross CountyAvgSquad number2Player nameRandallAverage rating
8.82
Squad number25Player nameSamuelAverage rating
8.36
Squad number7Player nameTurnerAverage rating
8.15
Squad number42Player nameLeakAverage rating
8.06
Squad number26Player nameWhiteAverage rating
7.94
Squad number1Player nameLaidlawAverage rating
7.85
Squad number5Player nameBaldwinAverage rating
7.70
Squad number3Player namePurringtonAverage rating
7.65
Squad number15Player nameMurrayAverage rating
7.65
Squad number4Player nameBrownAverage rating
7.59
Squad number10Player nameDhandaAverage rating
7.47
Squad number35Player nameNightingaleAverage rating
7.32
Squad number6Player nameAllardiceAverage rating
7.24
St MirrenAvgSquad number10Player nameMcMenaminAverage rating
6.07
Squad number17Player nameBaccusAverage rating
6.00
Squad number11Player nameKiltieAverage rating
5.92
Squad number18Player nameDunneAverage rating
5.67
Squad number21Player nameGreiveAverage rating
5.58
Squad number3Player nameTanserAverage rating
5.58
Squad number13Player nameGogicAverage rating
5.57
Squad number6Player nameO'HaraAverage rating
5.46
Squad number1Player nameHemmingAverage rating
5.17
Squad number9Player nameMandronAverage rating
5.15
Squad number22Player nameFraserAverage rating
5.00
Squad number8Player nameFlynnAverage rating
5.00
Squad number15Player nameBoyd-MunceAverage rating
5.00
Squad number7Player nameAyungaAverage rating
4.70
Squad number19Player nameNahmaniAverage rating
4.50
Source: bbc.com