Ross County 3 St Johnstone 1: Charles-Cook hits double to move clear in scoring charts as County pull away from bottom
REGAN CHARLES-COOK gave Ross County the recipe for success once again.
The Staggies hero reclaimed his place as the Premiership’s top scorer as his double took his tally to 13.
County winger Joseph Hungbo then grabbed the killer third as Malky Mackay’s side took a huge step towards safety.
The Staggies were 1-0 down after Callum Hendry’s opener - but staged an impressive fightback against St Johnstone.
Mackay’s men are now seven points clear of Saints and have a nine-point gap on Dundee.
The Verdict
Ross County: Laidlaw 7, Randall 7, Baldwin 7, Watson 7, Iacovitti 7, Paton 7, Tillson 7, Charles-Cook 8, Callachan 7, Hungbo 8, White 8
Subs: Burroughs (Hungbo) 3, Samuel (Charles-Cook 85) 2, MacKinnon (Paton 90) 1
St Johnstone: Parish 6, Cleary 5, Gordon 5, McCart 5, Sang 6, Hallberg 6, Butterfield 5, Gallacher 5, Crawford 5, Middleton 5, Hendry 6
Subs: Nadir Ciftci (Gallacher 61) 3, Charlie Gilmour (McCart 72) 3, Theo Bair (Butterfield 72) 3, Michael O'Halloran (Crawford 88) 1
MAN OF THE MATCH
REGAN CHARLES-COOK continues to have the season of his life for Ross County.
The forward is now on 13 goals for the Premiership season and was lethal for the Staggies with a double.
Both goals were top drawer and there will be a queue of clubs trying to sign him this summer.
County were excellent after going behind but Charles-Cook stood out.
Joseph Hungbo was also excellent on the right wing.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
NICK WALSH needed a calm head for this match between two teams battling for safety and was happy to let a few early tackles fly in.
Callum Hendry took it too far for a booking and Alex Iacovitti saw yellow for a flailing arm.
Saints sub Charlie Gilmour was also booked for a cynical trip soon after coming on as a sub.
But there was little controversy for the whistler, with the game over long before his full-time whistle.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
MALKY MACKAY has built a good side at County and this could be a huge result for their season.
They are now nine points clear of Dundee at the bottom and seven in front of Saints - and it would take a major collapse for them to finish bottom.
Callum Davidson's Saints got off to a good start but they were beaten by a more dangerous side and couldn't contain County in the second half.
Dundee's defeat was the only consolation.
All the talk has been about survival but County should now be looking to catch the teams above them.
In Charles-Cook they have a Player of the Year contender, but this was another collective effort.
Saints had some good spells but lacked a spark in the final third when they were on top.
🚨 Follow our LIVE blog for all the latest news from Rangers and Celtic
Most read in Football
Hendry’s fourth goal in six games put them in control but Callum Davidson’s side never built on it.
Dundee’s defeat to Livingston was perhaps some consolation - but the Saints boss will be concerned by the display after taking the lead.
Mackay made two changes to his County side after the 2-0 defeat to Hibs last weekend.
Keith Watson replaced Jake Vokins in defence, while Hungbo came in for Dominic Samuel on the left.
Saints gaffer Davidson made one enforced change from the 2-1 win over Hearts - with Jacob Butterfield in for the absent Murray Davidson.
The Perth side brought a decent travelling support with them and had the first attempt in four minutes.
Tony Gallacher picked up a loose ball 20 yards out but Ross Laidlaw made a comfortable save.
Glenn Middleton blazed a free-kick over the bar from a good position as Saints made a strong start.
County had a few breaks through Hungbo and Charles-Cook - but chances were scarce.
Saints were defending well and limited the home side to long-range efforts.
Hungbo copied Middleton with a wild free-kick before Hendry nodded Saints ahead in 24 minutes.
Tom Sang deserved huge credit for the assist - cutting back on his left foot and whipping in a dangerous cross.
Hendry looks sharp these days and managed to get a run on the County defence to glance a header beyond Laidlaw.
Saints were up for it and the goalscorer was booked for a late tackle on Jordan White.
But the Staggies have a good home record and always carry a threat through Charles-Cook.
Saints had managed to stifle him for 35 minutes but he just needed one chance to level it.
Harry Paton won possession and nudged a pass to him on the corner of the box and Charles-Cook did the rest.
The County star stepped inside and curled a terrific shot beyond Elliot Parish, who didn’t have a hope.
It had been a half of few chances - but both sides had been ruthless at key moments.
News of Dundee’s crushing home loss to Livingston was filtering through by the break, adding extra importance to this one.
Saints were desperate to move further clear of bottom spot and put pressure on County.
But the Staggies almost took the lead in their first attack of the second half.
Hungbo created space for himself on the angle of the box and was so unlucky with a curling effort.
There was more purpose about County and Charles-Cook grabbed his second in 53 minutes.
Jack Baldwin’s long throw travelled all the way to the back post and the Staggies talisman hooked a brilliant volley into the corner.
BETTING SPECIAL - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS AND FREE BETS
Charles-Cook produced his usual ‘stirring’ celebration but County were hungry for more.
Saints threw on Nadir Ciftci for left-back Tony Gallacher - but they couldn’t get up the pitch.
And County then made it 3-1 in 66 minutes as Hungbo got in on the act with another top finish.
The ball was played up to Jordan White and his flick created space for the Watford loanee to bury a finish into the corner from the edge of the box.
Saints continued to battle as they looked to salvage something from the game and forced a few corners.
Ciftci missed a half-chance with a header but County keeper Laidlaw didn’t have much to do as they saw the game out.
WHAT THEY SAID
DON COWIE insists Ross County haven’t given up hope of keeping Regan Charles-Cook.
The Staggies star is now on 13 for the season but is out of contract in the summer.
Charles-Cook will have plenty of interest but County No2 Cowie would love him to stay.
He said: “It’s still live as Regan is playing for Ross County.
“He’s on fire, he’s the top scorer in the league and it will come down to Regan and where he wants his career to go.
“We’d love him to stay - we love working with him every day.
“He comes in smiling and happy, and he’s been a breath of fresh air.
“We really believe in Regan and he’s really building. The goals are great but he works so hard.
“Anything he gets he deserves and we just hope he keeps playing like this until the end of the season."
County beat St Johnstone 3-1 and now sit just four points off the top six.
But Cowie revealed Malky Mackay’s side have been looking up for months.
He said: “No disrespect to any team in the league but we have felt that way for the last two months.
“We have been in good form, the results have been good and we are now in a group where there is a lot to play for.
“The boys treated the game in the right way and the heads didn’t go down when we went behind.
“It was a setback but we showed great energy and character.
“We got the equaliser and we were very good to get a massive three points.
“That now allows us to join that group looking to join the top six.
“We now have to build on this and take it into the next games.”
CALLUM DAVIDSON questioned St Johnstone’s hunger after falling seven points behind Ross County.
The Perth side went 1-0 up in Dingwall - before collapsing against the Staggies.
But Saints boss Davidson was raging at the second 45 minutes - and let rip at his players as their survival hopes were hit.
He said: “For me, it didn’t seem like the players were hungry enough.
“That’s maybe a bad accusation to level at them, as they’ve been good.
“But we didn’t do enough - to stop their goals and create.
“I just want them to be positive. There are five games to the split and we need to start winning games and being positive.
“I’d rather go down being positive and getting beaten, rather than what we showed for the second half.
“The fans were great but we didn’t give them anything to shout about and I need to apologise.
“We will go again on Wednesday night, and we will be at it in a tough game against Rangers but we need to show more.
“The second half disappoints me - the way we lost the goals.
“”The first half was good but then we were a shadow of what we have been recently.
“This was such a massive game.
“It wasn’t the pressure but we are fragile when we lose a goal and we didn’t respond at all.
“We didn’t defend well, we didn’t track runs and we were 3-1 down.
“But what disappointed me most was how we reacted to that.
“You have to play forward, be positive and try to make things happen.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“Instead, we went safe and went into our shell.
“I was really disappointed we didn’t put County under more pressure because we should have.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page