Oisin Smyth's stunning late free-kick saw 10 man St Mirren pick up a festive three points away to Ross County.
Alex Iacovitti gave Saints a first-half lead against his former side. But the Staggies levelled immediately following the interval when Michee Efete scored to make it 1-1. The hosts then had a man advantage when Scott Tanser was shown a second yellow card for the Buddies. But despite the deficit in numbers, it was Saints who looked most likely to grab a winner and they did so in sensational fashion when Smyth fired home a wonderful free-kick on 89 minutes to give Stephen Robinson's men a 2-1 victory.
There were two injury enforced changes from the side that defeated St Johnstone last weekend. Captain Mark O'Hara missed out after a re-occurence of a thigh injury, while Conor McMenamin was also unavailable after a knock sustained in the win over the Perth Saints. That meant starts for Smyth and last weekend's winner Roland Idowu. Alex Gogic was back available following his suspension but had to settle for a place on the bench.
Conditions were tough at the Global Energy Stadium with 50 mile per hour winds and driving rain making it difficult for both sides. Elvis Bwomono trying to use the conditions to his advantage swinging in an early cross that swirled its way on to the head of Mikael Mandron but the forward was always on the stretch as he nodded over.
Mandron was involved again when Saints had their best chance of the opening stages. There was just 10 minutes of the clock when the forward sent Idowu scurrying forward on the counter. The hosts managed to get bodies back but Idowu held the ball long enough for support to join him and he picked out Killian Phillips with a low ball into the box. The midfielder couldn't get enough purchase on it and that allowed Jack Hamilton to gather comfortably.
Scott Tanser was first into the book after just 13 minutes following a late challenge on Scott Allardice. The full-back was penalised for another foul two minutes later after a push and that presented County with a good free-kick opportunity a little over 20 yards from goal. Noah Chilvers took but sent it well over. It was Chilvers who would have the game's next opportunity and he came closer to putting the home side in front this time when he sent his shot just wide of Ellery Balcombe's left-hand post.
Saints would hit the front with Iacovitti scoring against his former side on 27 minutes. A foul on Richard Taylor saw the Buddies presented with a free-kick opportunity on the left-hand side. Tanser and Smyth stood over it but it was the latter who went for the near post. It was pushed away by County goalkeeper Hamilton but only as far as Iacovitti who forced home to score his third goal of the season.
Saints looked hungry for more with Phillips having a powerful strike blocked on the half hour mark.
But Ross County drew level less than a minute after the restart. Taylor couldn't get enough on his attempted clearance of Efete's header which saw the ball fall straight back to the County man who slotted home from close-range to equalise.
Frustration grew for Saints when they were then reduced to 10 men just 10 minutes later as Tanser was shown a second yellow card. The wing-back had taken a heavy touch and when he slid in to win the ball back, Aidan Denholm went down under the challenge and referee Iain Snedden quickly produced the yellow to see the full-back given his marching orders.
But despite that setback it was the Buddies who looked the more likely to make something happen in the game. Smyth sent a free-kick over from 25 yards before Idowu came mightily close after brilliantly driving into the County box, only for his effort to be deflected wide.
Saints were denied a penalty on 73 minutes when Efete appeared to handle the ball to block Iacovitti's shot. Iacovitti screamed for a penalty and the stadium announcer confirmed that a VAR check was ongoing for a potential penalty. But VAR Greg Aitken decided there was nothing in it. It was then County's turn to have a penalty claim waved away by VAR when Eamonn Brophy went down under a challenge from Taylor.
Smyth came close to putting us in front on 78 minutes when he curled just wide of target. Two minutes later, substitute Jonah Ayunga's powerful shot forced a good save from Hamilton.
There was yet another strong penalty claim for St Mirren when Killian Phillips was bundled down inside the box as he was about to get his shot away. Again it was checked by the VAR but no penalty was forthcoming much to the bemusement of Stephen Robinson and his players.
But the deserved breakthrough would come in the final minute of normal time. Ayunga was fouled around 20 yards from goal and Smyth beautifully dispatched the free-kick over the wall and into the net to the delight of the travelling support.
Full-Time: Ross County 1-2 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Iacovitti, Taylor, Bwomono, Phillips, Smyth (Adeniran 90), Tanser, Idowu (Gogic 77), Mandron (Ayunga 77), Kiltie (Boyd-Munce 90)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Penman, Scott, Mooney
Ross County: Hamilton, Wright, Allardice (Denholm 46), Randall (c), Chilvers, Harmon (Brophy 69), Lopata, Nisbet (Reid 69), Hale, White
Subs Not Used: Amissah, Leak, Loturi, Sheaf, Grieves, Telfer
Referee: Iain Snedden
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Alastair Grieve
VAR: Greg Aitken
Attendance: 3,271
