Key Highlights
- St Johnstone secured a 4-3 victory over Queen’s Park in a thrilling Championship match.
- The home side led 3-0 at halftime but faced a second-half comeback from the visitors.
- Ross County suffered another defeat, dropping to second-bottom as Airdrie won their first two games of the season.
- Ayr United secured a late point against Arbroath with Kevin Holt’s goal in the 87th minute.
St Johnstone Survive Scare at McDiarmid Park
The Scottish Championship witnessed an exciting encounter at McDiarmid Park on Saturday, where St Johnstone managed to hold off a late surge from Queen’s Park and secure a 4-3 victory. The match was anything but straightforward for the home side, who found themselves in a precarious position as the second half drew to a close.
St Johnstone got off to a strong start, with Jamie Gullan scoring twice before Sam Stanton added another goal early in the first half. These goals put St Johnstone on course for an easy win and moved them six points clear at the top of the Championship table.
However, the visitors managed to rattle the home side’s confidence by netting two quick goals just after the hour mark from Seb Drozd and Josh Fowler.
With their lead under threat, St Johnstone managerless team responded with Jack Baird scoring a powerful header in the 84th minute. The goal re-established a cushion for the home side, but Queen’s Park refused to give up and grabbed another equalizer through Rocco Friel just as full-time was about to be called.
Despite the late setback, St Johnstone held on to secure their third victory in three matches, maintaining their lead at the top of the table. The result came after a tough run for Queen’s Park, who had been winless for seven games before this match.
Ross County Struggle as Airdrie Triumphs
Meanwhile, the bottom of the Championship table saw Ross County suffer another defeat, now just one point ahead of second-bottom Airdrie. Airdrie achieved their first two wins in a season with a convincing 3-0 victory at Stark’s Park against Raith Rovers.
The hosts were led by interim player-manager Paul Hanlon following Barry Robson’s dismissal last week. They fell behind after only 38 minutes when Gavin Gallagher scored on the rebound, but their confidence was soon restored as Euan Henderson set up a swift counter-attack leading to Airdrie’s second goal from Chris Mochrie.
The third goal came early in the second half after Ross County failed to clear a free-kick, further compounding their misery. The win for Airdrie narrowed the gap to just one point behind Ross County and put them back on track with their first league victory since September.
Ayr United Stays Alive with Late Point
In other Championship action, Ayr United secured a 1-1 draw at Somerset Park against Arbroath. The visitors took the lead after just 12 minutes when Nathan Shaw fired past Trevor Carson from close range. However, the home side found an equalizer in the 87th minute through Kevin Holt’s powerful effort, ensuring Ayr avoided defeat and salvaged a valuable point.
The result leaves Ayr United still searching for their first win of the season but provides them with renewed hope as they look to climb the table. The draw ensures that Arbroath remains in the relegation zone after their second consecutive defeat.
With these results, the Scottish Championship continues to be a tightly contested league, where every point is vital for teams aspiring to reach the Premiership or avoid the drop.
