Team news

Davidson gets taste for international football St Johnstone's Murray Davidson has targeted further involvement with the Scotland team after making his international debut in midweek.

The midfielder earned his first cap as a late substitute as interim national team boss Billy Stark secured a 2-1 win in Luxembourg on Wednesday night.

Davidson's appearance may have lasted only a few minutes but was the first time a Saints player had represented Scotland for 80 years.

He told the SPL's official YouTube channel: "I'm delighted to get the cap.

"There has been a lot of support from St Johnstone - the fans, the players and people working here - so I'm thrilled.

"Eighty years is a long time and it makes you feel proud. Fingers crossed I can do it again." Saints boss Steve Lomas said: "It's great for Murray to get a little taste of it.

"It's a reward for all the hard work he's put in since he came here from Livingston as a midfield enforcer.

"We think there's still a lot more to come from Murray.

"We want him to be a goalscoring midfielder, it's something we have asked him to try to improve and he's trying to do that.

"It's great for him and it's decent that Billy Stark has looked at clubs like Inverness and ourselves.

"It's reward for players doing well. It's given Murray a taste and that's the carrot - if he works hard, the Scotland manager is looking." Saints secured an impressive 1-1 draw against Celtic last week and are hoping for maximum points when Ross County come calling in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday.

Lomas has been impressed by Derek Adams' men so far in their season in the top flight.

He said: "All credit to Derek and his team, they've done very well. They've come up and been very competitive.

"They are very well organised and they've got good team spirit. That - with a few decent players - can hurt you.

"But we're at home and we want to get three points and we'll be aiming to do that." Grant Munro insists Ross County will not be on a revenge mission when they face St Johnstone The Highlanders saw their impressive 40-game unbeaten run come to an end at the hands of Saints, who claimed a 2-1 victory the last time the two sides met in September.

Instead, Munro believes County should be looking to emulate the Perth club as they aim to survive their first season in Scottish football's top-flight.

Asked if revenge will be a motivating factor at McDiarmid Park, the defender said: "I never think that way.

"Football is a funny game. That day, we deserved more out of the game than we got but the couple of goals we lost were very poor, especially the winner." He added: "They're the benchmark. You've got to look at St Johnstone and the way they've performed over the years in the SPL.

"They've always been in the safety margin.

"It looks like they want to push on this year and it was a fantastic result for them on Sunday against Celtic so they'll be confident.

"Hopefully we can impose ourselves on the game and keep their dangermen quiet.

"They have got a lot of dangermen and they seem to be doing well this season." County will be without the suspended Rocco Quinn, while Russell Duncan misses out due to a knock and Martin Scott (ankle) remains on the sidelines.

St Johnstone vs Ross County

Last modified 17:28 17/11/12

Craig clanger boosts County Liam Craig's own-goal gifted Ross County a share of the spoils in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game with St Johnstone.

St Johnstone captain Dave Mackay put the hosts in front with a neat finish five minutes into the second half at McDiarmid Park, but Craig diverted Iain Vigurs' shot into his own net 20 minutes from time.

Home manager Steve Lomas made two changes to his side, with Steven Anderson returning to the defence after missing the previous week's 1-1 draw at Celtic.

He replaced David McCracken, who suffered a broken cheekbone early in that game, while Gregory Tade was also handed a start in place of the benched David Robertson.

Visiting manager Derek Adams made one enforced change following last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Kilmarnock, with the suspended Rocco Quinn's place in the starting XI being filled by Sam Morrow.

St Johnstone created the first chance of the game on three minutes when Tade failed to connect properly with Nigel Hasselbaink's cross and put it harmlessly wide. Anderson then headed over from Craig's free-kick.

Stuart Kettlewell tried his luck on 11 minutes with a shot from outside the area after Vigurs' initial close-range shot had been blocked by home goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

Mark Fotheringham tried his luck from even further out a moment later, his diagonal strike from well outside the left corner of the box arrowing just over the opposite corner.

Craig linked well with Tade down the left on 15 minutes, but County defender Grant Munro swept the ball clear in the box before the home striker could connect.

Visiting captain Richard Brittain volleyed wide of the left-hand post on 25 minutes after his side did well to retain possession in the box, while moments later Craig came equally close at the other end, heading off target at close range from Callum Davidson's pass.

Steven MacLean worked his way into a good position in the box shortly before the break, but twice delayed shooting in the box with defenders in the way and then failed to find Tade with a pass.

The best effort of a goalless first half came just before the break when MacLean unleashed a rising shot from outside the box which Michael Fraser had to stretch to tip over the bar.

St Johnstone took the lead five minutes into the second half when Mackay met MacLean's pass and cut inside Marc Fitzpatrick on the right side of the box and tucked a neat finish in at the near post.

The hosts almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Tade cut inside on the left and linked well with MacLean, but his shot was blocked on the line.

Brittain then deceived the home defence with a quick free-kick to Vigurs on the left of the box, and his shot deflected in at the near post off the outstretched leg of Craig as he attempted to clear.

Tade was prevented from putting St Johnstone back in front just three minutes later by a crucial tackle from substitute Ross Tokely, while Mackay took a 30-yard free-kick 10 minutes from time which went straight into Fraser's arms.