After Sunday’s League Cup triumph, the Ross County players would have been easily forgiven for losing focus for this evening’s encounter against St Johnstone.
But the Staggies showed they want more than a first major trophy come the end of this campaign.
The effects of their cup final exertions were evident in the first half when a David Wotherspoon goal gave St Johnstone a richly deserved half time lead over a sluggish County.
But the Staggies showed their desire for a top six finish after the break by coming back into the game thanks to a Brian Graham penalty after Liam Boyce was tripped by Steven Anderson on the day he became the Perth club’s record appearance holder.
There was little to separate these teams prior to kick off. They were locked on the same points, had scored the same number of goals and had even conceded the exact same total.
The Staggies made three alterations from the side that started Sunday’s League Cup final with Richard Foster, Liam Boyce and match-winner Alex Schalk making way for Jonathan Franks, Brian Graham and David Goodwillie.
After an excellent start to the season, St Johnstone, who were missing manager Tommy Wright through illness, have fallen off the pace in recent times. Their 1-0 victory against Caley Thistle last week was only their second win in 14 matches.
Defender Steven Anderson matched the all-time appearance record for the Saints. The 30-year-old, who captained the side in the absence of the injured Dave Mackay, tied goalkeeper Alan Main on 361 games for the Perth club.
County, who lined up in the same 3-5-2 formation they used in the cup final, made a positive start and should have taken the lead after only eight minutes. Martin Woods picked out Graham, who displayed neat footwork to evade Brian Easton, before rifling just wide of the post.
The Staggies were made to pay for that profligacy only three minutes later. Former Aberdeen defender Joe Shaughnessy crossed for Wotherspoon who took one touch to control the ball before smashing the ball high into the roof of the net with his second.
The visitors tried to muster an immediate response but Northern Ireland international Alan Mannus was equal to Michael Gardyne’s curling effort.
St Johnstone were enjoying the better of play with Danny Swanson the tormentor in chief for the hosts, thriving in the space on the left flank between Marcus Fraser and midfielder Franks.
County were doing their best to stem the Saints pressure but Goodwillie cut an isolated and frustrated figure in attack with his side rarely venturing into the final third.
They almost equalised on one rare foray forward eight minutes before the break. Ian McShane launched a long searching free kick into the penalty area which was met by captain Andrew Davies but his looping header finished the wrong side of the crossbar.
At the other end, Anderson’s attempt to mark his record-equalling appearance with a spectacular goal ended in disappointment as he sliced wildly over from 35 yards as a fairly drab first half came to an end.
St Johnstone were back on the front foot after the break with Ross County goalkeeper forced to make two quick-fire saves, first to deny Chis Kane’s low drive before parrying away Wotherspoon’s long-range attempt.
The pressure was all heading in one direction with a menacing cross from Shaughnessy causing bedlam in the County penalty area before Wotherspoon blazed over.
The Staggies needed a jolt to get them back into the game so top scorer Boyce entered the fray at the expense of Goodwillie.
The changed worked immediately.
Only four minutes after coming on, Boyce was hacked down in the penalty area by Saints captain Anderson, leaving referee Steven McLean no option but to point to the spot.
Graham won the argument with Boyce over who should take the spot-kick and calmly rolled the ball beyond Mannus to restore parity.
Two more penalty appeals were to follow in quick succession. Staggies substitute Schalk felt Anderson had used a hand to deny him a goalscoring opportunity before Steven MacLean tumbled under pressure from Davies but referee McLean was unconvinced on both occasions.
St Johnstone could have won the match as time ticked down but MacLean dragged his effort wide from a tight angle.
Instead County held on for what could be a valuable point.