Date	Saturday, 27 February 2021
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Saint Mirren 1:0 Ross County
Venue	SMISA Stadium
Referee	Greg Aitken
Ross County
Manager	John Hughes
Starting 11	1: Ross Laidlaw, 3: Carl Tremarco 1, 4: Leo Hjelde, 7: Michael Gardyne, 15: Keith Watson, 18: Stephen Kelly, 19: Charlie Lakin, 20: Blair Spittal, 23: Jason Naismith, 26: Jordan White, 28: Tony Andreu
Bench	21: Joseph Hilton, 6: Ross Draper, 8: Oliver Shaw, 9: Billy Mckay, 14: Jermaine Hylton, 16: Alexander Iacovitti, 22: Jordon Tillson, 24: Harrison Paton, 25: Coll Donaldson
Saint Mirren
Manager	Jim Goodwin
Starting 11	Jak Alnwick 1, Joe Shaughnessy, Conor McCarthy, Marcus Fraser, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ilkay Durmus, Dylan Connoll, Ethan Erhahon, Kyle McAllister, Jamie McGrath 1 (1 pen), Lee Erwin
Bench	Richard Tait, Ryan Flynn, Jonathan Obika, Cameron MacPherson, Daniel Finlayson, Dean Lyness, Jay Henderson, Lewis Jamieson, Collin Quaner
Attendance
Match Report	Ross County Substitutions: Alex Iacovitti for Carl Tremarco (45') Oli Shaw for Michael Gardyne (45') Coll Donaldson for Tony Andreu (45') Jordan Tillson for Blair Spittal (63') Harry Paton for Charlie Lakin (67') Ross County Caution: Carl Tremarco (28') Saint Mirren Goal Scorer: Jamie McGrath (82' Pen.) Saint Mirren Substitutions: Richard Tait for Joe Shaughnessy (45') Jonathan Obika for Dylan Connolly (56') Cameron MacPherson for Ethan Erhahon (56') Collin Quaner for Lee Erwin (56') Ryan Flynn for Ilkay Durmus (66') Saint Mirren Caution: Jak Alnwick (74') Report by Andrew Southwick for the BBC. Played Behind Closed Doors Saint Mirren 1 Ross County 0 Collin Quaner should be punished if he is found to have cheated to earn the decisive penalty in St Mirren's win over Ross County, says Jim Goodwin. The German forward was labelled a diver by Ross County boss John Hughes after going down under a challenge from Leo Hjelde late in the game. Jamie McGrath converted the spot-kick to put Saints on course to finish in the Scottish Premiership top six. "It was minimal contact," said St Mirren manager Goodwin. Goodwin, who earlier this month called for divers to be named and shamed, told BBC Scotland: "If there is any indication that our player has dived, I'll be the first person to tell him it's not acceptable. "There's far too many players getting far too many soft penalties out there. If my player is the one to get the book thrown at him then so be it. I don't think it's simulation, I think there's contact, but is it enough to go over - I don't know." St Mirren were heading for their fifth draw in a row when Irish midfielder McGrath's spot-kick ensured the hosts are now four points clear of seventh-placed Dundee United, and one behind fifth-placed Livingston. County, who hit the woodwork twice, remain in 10th. And bottom-of-the-table Hamilton have a game in hand over John Hughes' strugglers, who were unable to build on last week's win over Celtic. St Mirren dominated the first half, and it took an excellent Ross Laidlaw save to deny Conor McCarthy's point-blank header from breaking the deadlock. They had other chances, too, with Dylan Connolly shooting over and Lee Erwin flashing a shot wide. It was a fine first 45 minutes from Jim Goodwin's side and all that was missing was the goal. But St Mirren captain Joe Shaughnessy was unable to emerge for the second half after failing to shake-off a head knock. County boss Hughes made three changes to try and get his side going, and it appeared to work with the Highlanders hitting the woodwork twice in the opening minutes. Jordan White's point-blank header forced a great save from Jak Alnwick, who pushed it off the bar. As the hosts struggled to get it clear, Stephen Kelly rattled a shot off the same crossbar. After 10 minutes of County dominance, Goodwin made a triple change of his own to turn the tide. However, Ross County remained in the ascendency, with Cammy MacPherson having to head Alex Iacovitti's header off the line, and they looked the more likely as the home side were pushed deeper. But then Quaner skipped into the County box and was tripped by on-loan Celtic defender Hjelde. McGrath dispatched the penalty low into the bottom right-hand corner. Harry Paton fired over as County tried to rally, but MacPherson nearly made it two only to put his curling effort the wrong side of the post. Not since 1985 have St Mirren finished in the top half of the top flight, but it is just one defeat in seven games now, and a third clean sheet in five. Ross County struggled to create much in the first 45 minutes and it took a string of changes to get them going. While Hughes said they "carried a bit of luck" against Celtic, it deserted them this time. St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "I've not watched the penalty back. I thought Quaner got goal side of the defender but it was minimal contact. But it's a terrible time to be a defender, it's not a stick on stonewaller, but we've had a few dodgy ones given against us so to get a dodgy one for us we're pleased, But I'd rather have won it in other terms." Ross County manager John Hughes: "The referee is paid to make these decisions. I know it's a hard job, but this time of year, what's at stake, he's got to get it right. It was never a penalty, it wouldn't even be a free-kick in open play. It's just another sore one we have to take. "In the second half I thought we created the better chances a little lady luck deserted us."