SUBLIME FINISH
Hendry makes another impact from bench to earn point
CALLUM HENDRY lived up to his supersub billing as the striker rescued another point for St Johnstone.
But Perth boss Tommy Wright raged that his side shouldn’t have been behind – because Ross County goal hero Iain Vigurs should have been sent off before his strike.
The Staggies striker, making his first start since September, was lucky not to pick up a second yellow card just minutes before he scored.
But the Staggies did finish with 10 men when Brian Graham saw red in stoppage time.
It was then left to Hendry to come on and score for the fifth time as a sub this season.
The forward, son of Colin Hendry, is carving out a niche as an impact sub as he helped make it five games unbeaten for Saints from Matty Kennedy’s delivery.
That result maintained the status quo and ensured that County remain in eighth with Saints one place and a point behind going into the break.
But Wright looked far from a man heading on holiday as he bemoaned the decision from Bobby Madden to let Vigurs off.
He said: “The goal came from someone who probably shouldn’t have been on the pitch – Vigurs had two clear fouls that went unpunished.
“We could have done better for their goal and the final ball let us down a bit but the boys showed character and totally dominated.
“A point was the least we deserved but I’m pleased with the reaction and pleased to keep the unbeaten run going.”
And the gaffer had special praise for Hendry’s impact and revealed Saints are close to a new deal for the man who set up his goal despite interest from elsewhere.
Wright said: “Callum gets one chance and takes it. What he needs to do is when he gets starts become a 90-minute player.
“We want to get Matty tied down to a deal and there’s a meeting next week. Hopefully it will get over the line.
“St Mirren have been in contact. It shows they’re ambitious.”
A dull early spell saw County struggle to get out while Saints wingers Kennedy and Wright got into good positions but couldn’t
produce that final bit of quality this game was screaming out for.
County suffered a blow when Ross Stewart went off with a hamstring issue just before the half-hour and Graham replaced him. The sub had an early chance when Jason Kerr sliced Josh Mullins’ cross but he couldn’t get his effort on target.
The home side looked a different side after the interval and came back out with a lot more purpose.
There were bookings for Vigurs, for dissent, and Liam Fontaine for a late tackle from which Kennedy curled a free-kick just wide.
County were on the back foot and a poor mistake from Harry Paton saw Kennedy race forward and crack a shot off the bar.
Jason Holt went into the book
while Hendry was sent on for Kane for the final 25 minutes.
There was a feeling Vigurs should have picked up a second booking for a foul on Holt but he got away with it as Saints went on the counter.
Graham was also booked for his part in a tussle before County snatched a shock lead. Mullins found Billy Mckay and he fed it to Vigurs whose powerful shot went in off a post in 73 minutes.
But Saints ploughed on and levelled six minutes from time when Kennedy turned provider and Hendry glanced a header past County keeper Nathan Baxter.
There was late controversy when Baxter held the ball and an indirect free-kick was given. May took it quickly and Murray
Davidson rolled the ball home but ref Madden pulled it back as he was lecturing the keeper.
Hendry cracked a free-kick off the wall and claimed handball but was left disappointed.
Graham was then sent off in stoppage time after a booking for foul on Kerr.
Honest County co-boss Stuart Kettlewell said: “We got more than we deserved. St Johnstone were the better team throughout.
“Vigurs is a top pro and that got him through – even though he was riding his luck on the booking.”