Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell frustrated by ‘wholly unacceptable’ aspects of Challenge Cup defeat by St Johnstone

Stuart Kettlewell fumed at “wholly unacceptable” aspects of Ross County’s defeat to St Johnstone.

County bowed out of the KDM Evolution Trophy 2-0 with a meek display in Perth.

Kettlewell made eight changes to the team that sparked his Dingwall reign with an encouraging league win over Partick.

The new manager said: “I’ve learned lots from Friday and from this as well.

“It was very much a fact-finding exercise for myself.

“We’ve got a big group of players and I wanted to give them a chance to play, to show us what they’re about and get a look at everyone against good opposition.

“Lots of parts are wholly unacceptable, just from the simple parts of the game.

“Basic desire, getting about the pitch, making contact with the opposition, being a real competitor, giving yourself a foundation to play.

“I feel we came up very short in large aspects.

“What we need to do is work quickly through this window to make sure we’ve got the best, most committed group of players to the cause.

“It’s a difficult situation we’re in and everyone that’s here must contribute and must be able to offer something – either off the bench or in a starting line-up.”

James Scott spurned a sixth minute chance to put County ahead.

Kettlewell added: “We had a good chance early to go ahead, but St Johnstone thoroughly deserved their victory.

“They are a very good side, you can see quite clearly the manager has been working with them for well over a year.

“How they play and how they are structured with and without the ball, they do both sides very well.

“But, yes, goals change games of football and we scored two early ones the other night.

“And you can see there’s something to hold onto, there’s some belief and confidence that hadn’t been there.

“So, I would suggest if we convert that opportunity, we can make the game different.

“But I think you’re still going to have to ride out some difficult moments from a strong and very good St Johnstone side anyway.

“The game became more competitive when we made changes in the second half.

“We had a look at a different system and players played in some different areas.

“It was more a 50-50 split but St Johnstone were 2-0 up and probably had a chance to take the foot off the pedal.”

Saints ran out deserved winners

The Staggies had caused problems for Saints this season, despite the gulf in league positions between the relegated clubs.

The only goal scored in three previous meetings was a late Uche Ikpeazu winner in Dingwall on the second weekend of the campaign.

Yet there was no stifling Simo Valakari’s side last night.

Josh McPake scored his 15th goal of the season on 19 minutes.

Louis Lloyd got off the mark for his Saints career three minutes into the second half to discourage a visitors comeback.

Kettlewell made eight alterations from the side that defeated St Johnstone’s promotion rivals Partick 2-0 last Friday.

Len O’Sullivan, Dylan Smith and Alex Iacovitti kept their starting spots.

The hosts brought in two comeback men from long-term injury.

Welsh forward Lloyd made his first Saints start after suffering a pre-season foot fracture.

In his first outing for 11 months Bozo Mikulic, partnered by Cheick Diabate, was up against James Scott in the County attack.

Scott passed up a terrific chance in the sixth minute.

The on-loan St Mirren forward was released by a splendid defence-splitting pass by Scott Fraser.

Perhaps too much thinking time was dangerous.

Scott, without a goal since May 2024, appeared in two minds and opted to square the ball instead of unleash a shot.

He failed to find Miller Thomson and Saints cleared.

Saints take control of tie

That missed opportunity enabled Saints to settle, gain control and, typically, enjoy the advantage in first-half possession.

However, it was pinching the ball deep in County territory that led to the home side striking on 19 minutes.

Sam Stanton swiftly broke and teed up McPake to lash a lethal left-foot shot into the bottom corner past Bradley Foster.

Staggies bumped into a stronger Saints team than may have lined up when the game was meant to be played last week.

Their manager Valakari ensured most of his regulars started.

Last Saturday’s Championship visit to Queen’s Park was postponed and they’re inactive this weekend after a Scottish Cup exit to Cove, so this became a bigger deal.

Diabate hammered a header off the crossbar with Foster beaten on 28 minutes.

The back-up keeper blocked well at his near post from Matty Foulds.

O’Sullivan then closed down a Lloyd shot as County kept it close heading towards the break.

And County threatened briefly on 39 minutes.

Thomson turned to fizz the ball across goal and a risky, sliding intervention from Diabate came close to testing his own goalkeeper Toby Steward.

County survived an early second half scare when, after a Dylan Smith slip, McPake tried to do it all himself.

He narrowly missed with an ambitious effort from an angle while Lloyd begged for a tap-in at the far post.

Lloyd only had to wait a minute for a proper chance, however, and took full advantage.

A delightful Liam Smith delivery set up the striker, who got free from County’s two centre backs to steer a first-time shot home from seven yards.

Kettlewell made a quadruple substitution on the hour.

On came Jordan White, Jay Henderson, Kieran Phillips and Connor Randall.

Ross Docherty made it five changes by 70 minutes, arriving as a makeshift centre half.

County, with Dean Cornelius moved to the middle of the park, improved on the ball.

But a fifth clean sheet in a row for the Perth men was never in danger.

Kai Fotheringham should have made it 3-0 in the final minute but dragged a right-foot effort wide from 12 yards.

ST JOHNSTONE (4-2-3-1) – Steward 7; Smith 6, Diabate 7, Mikulic 7 (Boyes 61), Foulds 6; Holt 7, McAlear 7; Mallan 6 (Fotheringham 61), Stanton 8 (Griffith 78), McPake 7 (Baird 89); Lloyd 7 (Ikpeazu 61). Subs not used – Thomson, Tumilty, Sprangler, Franczak.

ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1) – Foster 6; Cornelius 7, Smith 6, Iacovitti 6, O’Sullivan 7; Fraser 6, Wells-Morrison 5 (Randall 60); Thomson 6 (Docherty 70), Clark 4 (Phillips 60), Mackay-Steven 4 (White 60); Scott 4 (Henderson 60). Subs not used – Carson, Duncan, Williamson, Lindsay.
Referee – Grant Irvine
Man of the match – Sam Stanton

[Source: Press and Journal]