St Johnstone 2 Ross County 1 29/11

Holders St Johnstone successfully began their defence of the Scottish Cup with a hard-earned 2-1 win against Premiership rivals Ross County.

The Perth outfit, who lifted the cup with a historic victory over Dundee United in May, were 2-0 up within the first 12 minutes and looked to be cruising towards Monday's fifth-round draw before County made them sweat with a second-half revival.

Michael O'Halloran gave the home side the lead in the seventh minute and fiveminutes later the reigning champions already looked comfortable as they went two goals up with a stinging drive from James McFadden.

However, County pulled a goal back just after the hour mark through Jake Jervis and made Saints fight all the way for a successful first step in their bid to retain the trophy.

The scoreline mirrored the league meeting between the sides just seven days previously and it was another slow start from the Staggies that ultimately cost them their place in the competition.

Only five minutes had elapsed when Jamie Reckord was booked for catching O'Halloran on the edge of the County box - but the consequences were more serious than the yellow card.

McFadden's free-kick was poor and rebounded from the wall but O'Halloran reacted sharply to the loose ball and hooked a volley beyond Mark Brown into the net.

The goalkeeper and a handful of County players pursued referee John Beaton to complain about a home player interfering with play from an offside position in front of goal but the officials were not to be swayed.

Just five minutes on from that sixth-minute opener the Perth side raced into a two-goal lead. This time, McFadden could not be accused of a lack of quality as he strode forward and unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive that flew past the stationary Brown.

County tried to hit back with a Jackson Irvine shot but a deflection took the sting out of the effort and made it an easy save for Alan Mannus. Midway through the half, McFadden came close to a third for Saints but his right-foot curler from the edge of the area whistled just wide.

Brian Easton produced an excellent block to keep out Martin Woods' point-blank effort and Mannus dived full-length to his right to turn around a header from team-mate Chris Millar as the visitors threatened a breakthrough.

Eight minutes before the interval the Perth side came close to a third goal. A sweeping attack sent O'Halloran breaking down the left and only a goal-line clearance from the backtracking Scott Boyd prevented Lee Croft from blasting in from the resulting cross.

County introduced striker Liam Boyce at the start of the second period and there was a determination clearly visible in the visiting ranks in the early stages of the half.

Joe Cardle cut in from his left-wing beat and rifled a drive inches wide as the Highlanders sought a way back into the tie - and Mannus was forced to tip over a Reckord shot that looked destined for the roof of the net.

In between those efforts, defender Paul Quinn produced a vital block on O'Halloran's shot following a cute McFadden backheel as St Johnstone proved they remained a threat in attack.

However, the visitors got the goal they desperately required in the 63rd minute. A ball over the top caught out a static home defence and Jervis swept his finish beyond Mannus from just inside the area.

County's frantic attempts to find an equaliser resulted in space opening up for St Johnstone and the cup holders almost restored their two-goal advantage 17 minutes from time, only for Brian Graham to thunder his shot against the bar after chesting down Murray Davidson's through-ball.

Skipper Dave Mackay and Graham both narrowly missed the target as the home team stemmed the flow of County's attacks, Brown saved from Wotherspoon and Mackay mishit a volley wide in a frantic finale.

However, the hosts produced a determined defensive display to make sure of progress.