Ross County 1-0 St Mirren: Jordan White winner gets Derek Adams off the mark

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 new manager Derek Adams a “big victory”.

That was until their big striker towered over the rest to nod home a James Brown corner as County’s perseverance paid off.

Adams’ side climb from 10th to eighth, while St Mirren’s status in third is now more precarious.

“It’s been a hectic week, it hasn’t been easy. I’m delighted for the players and the supporters, it’s a big victory for us,” the County manager told BBC Scotland.

“I’m delighted because of the manner of the victory, the way that we played, the chances we created against the third team in the league.”

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 attempt 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 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 September.

Player of the Match – James Brown (Ross County)

County plug away while St Mirren stutter – analysis

County supporters remember Adams’ football as fast and frenetic. After flying out of 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 under 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 heavily on their shoulders.

Just two wins in eight games show that this is a side who are beginning to tread water high up the table, with the teams below them starting 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 they said

Ross County manager Derek Adams: “St Mirren had their first chance in the 80th minute and I think that overall we were the team in the ascendancy.”

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “We have to take responsibility. We play better against the top teams when we pass the ball. We need to do the same against the boys at the bottom end of the table.

“We didn’t do that tonight. We got punished from a set-play and we didn’t deserve anything from the game. “We’ll look closer at it, why we aren’t dominating games like we should be. You have to do the basics right.”

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.