Ross County 1 St Mirren 2

Stephen Mallan headed home a late winner for 10-man St Mirren at Ross County to move the Paisley side off the foot of the Scottish Premiership table. Sean Kelly gave Saints an early lead but they suffered a setback when Yoann Arquin, making his debut against his former club, was red-carded eight minutes before the break. Substitute Liam Boyce looked to have rescued a point for County when he headed home with eight minutes to go but, against the odds, Mallan grabbed a vital second goal for the visitors. County made a promising start to the match but it was Saints who had a great chance to take the lead in the fifth minute. Kenny McLean got behind the home defence and his cutback found Jason Naismith in space, but the full-back's effort was deflected behind for the first corner of the match. McLean burst through the County defence again in the 11th minute but his ball across the face of goal found no takers. The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when John McGinn breezed past Paul Quinn and, when his shot was parried by Antonio Reguero, Kelly followed up to slide the rebound home. Buoyed by the goal, Saints went all out for a second and, after Kelly fired a low shot just past Reguero's left post, McLean just cleared the other upright with a snap-shot a couple of minutes later. McLean was a constant threat to the County defence and he rattled the crossbar in the 30th minute after a good run and pass from Arquin. McLean popped up again five minutes later when he got on the end of a Mallan pass, but he skied his effort well over. Saints were well on top but in the 37th minute they were reduced to 10 men when Arquin was sent off after clashing with Lewis Toshney. County made a change at the start of the second half with Boyce replacing Toshney as the home side went two up front. The hosts opened up the Saints defence in the 54th minute when Boyce spread the ball out to Cairey and his ball inside found Craig Curran but, with only Mark Ridgers to beat, he fired straight at the keeper. Another good build-up from County saw substitute Darren Maatsen try his luck from the edge of the 18-yard box but his fierce drive flashed narrowly over the crossbar. Cairey went close with a free-kick which just cleared Ridgers' left post, and Woods then forced a save from Ridgers as County pushed for an equaliser. The pressure paid off in the 82nd minute when Boyce nodded in from following a flick-on from substitute Jake Jervis. County almost went ahead shortly afterwards but Jackson Irvine's header was somehow kept out from point-blank range. And, with three minutes remaining, Saints hit the winner when Mallan headed in a Kelly cross.