COLLIN Samuel revitalised St Johnstone's league campaign with a double as County crashed to defeat.
Saints took the lead just before the half hour. Gavin Swankie's free-kick wide left was met by the head of Samuel, diverting the ball past the keeper from inside the six-yard box.
The County half-time team-talk went out the window on 47 minutes
as Saints left them with a mountain to climb.
Samuel burst down the left flank, and cutting past Scott Boyd he smashed a drive from the 10 yards in-between the two covering defenders.
It could have been a different had Boyd netted after just four minutes. Richie Hart's free-kick was swept in towards the County defender but his header struck the post.
The County keeper made another save from Samuel inside the opening 10 minutes, as the Trinidadian slipped through the defence.
The former Dundee United man could have had a hat-trick had Swankie on 50 minutes not greedily attempted to score at the right post from a tight angle.
County striker Sean Higgins tried from the edge of the box just after the hour and clipped the bar, but Richard Brittain did pull one back in the 70th minute. Hart crossed to the former St Mirren midfielder and he netted from 20 yards.
County should have scored just four minutes later. Strachan crossed for Higgins wide left to head across goal and Steven Craig sliding in couldn't connect.
The full article contains 250 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
