Laurie Ellis (!) got the first one in the first half after a penalty box scramble. Brian McGinty's cross missed everyone, Shuggy Murray played it back in, Mixu headed off the bar and then Ellis threw himself at the ball, only for the defender to volley it clear as far as his goalkeeper's backside, from which the ball went into the net. Got that? Good. The former Raith man, in for Simon Lappin, had scored his first ever Saints goal. And not a hint of it being an own goal. Oh no. We had enough of them at Love Street today as it was.
Tghe first was just two minutes away. Ricky Gillies brought down on loan Rangers youngster Charlie Adam in what looked like a soft foul. Adam didn't care, took the free kick, Gillies hit it and it went past Craig Hinchliffe in the Saints goal. Oops. An unfortunate deflection, not what Ricky wanted to do on his first start for a few weeks.
Things got even worse for Saints a few minutes later as Mixu went off injured, being replaced by John O'Neill. Not good. Tackles flew everywhere with fouls galore until half time, but incredibly only Adam was booked. 1-1 at half time.
The second half was what football was all about, end to end stuff with bodies flying everywhere and a great goal or two. Saints could have had a penalty when useless defender Jim Lauchlan brought down McGinty in the box about three times, but never got a foul given against him. There was another claim when there seemed to be a handball inside the box, before David van Zanten (!) went on a wander and fired a shot off the bar. With his left foot. No, that's not a typo and I'm not drunk. Does he think he's Cafu or someone?
Sadly, despite the brilliance from van Zanten, it was something even brillinater (is that a word?) from Adam that saw County lead. Remember the goal David "people say I'm too thick not to get a deliberate booking" Beckham scored a few years back against Wimbledon? Replace Beckham with Adam and Sullivan with Hinchcliffe and you get the idea. Hinchy was off his line, Adam shot and scored a wonder goal. Oh dear.
Saints were level a few minutes later though, after Don Cowie put the ball into the net. A new signing? Nup, a Ross County player as the game saw another goal. Shuggy crossed, Cowie tried playing the ball out for a corner, miskicked, and the ball spun into the net via the post. Nice one mate, thanks for that as we would have struggled.
The winner came with seven minutes left, when Simon Lappin, on for Ellis, took a free kick from the left, Kirk Broadfoot flicked on and O'neill volleyed home. A good goal, and enough to win as County couldn't make any of their remaining chances count.
Apart from being caught out for the lob, Hinchcliffe was superb, making some stunning saves. McGinty was good but had an awful miss, though he regulary did some great stuff down the wings. There were other good performances, but it's a team game.
County probably deserved a point, but who cares? How many times have we deserved better and not got it? We're now on 21 points, more than half way towards safety. Keep it up and we'll be safe soon, and then we can concentrate on the title, depending where we are.
Bring on the Falkirk.