![\"mf8ntieeirx9n8s6yed5smurftmyznfypqba2lmns4h3jlyd.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/mf8ntieeirx9n8s6yed5smurftmyznfypqba2lmns4h3jlyd.png\")
\u00a0<\/p>
In the energy-sapping Paisley heat, St Mirren set up in a 352, stifling the visitors with a mid-block.<\/p>
By remaining compact and limiting the space between the lines, Saints encouraged County forward just enough to leave gaps in behind them to exploit through attacking transitions.<\/p>
<\/p>
This can be illustrated by viewing St Mirren\u2019s average positions across the 90 minutes, as shown in the figure below.<\/p>
<\/p>![\"yylgw0yetokq7utonmtx6n44x2e1wkssgk6jm8fzqdiffh0g.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/yylgw0yetokq7utonmtx6n44x2e1wkssgk6jm8fzqdiffh0g.png\")
\u00a0<\/p>
In this system, the defensive line must step up and be aggressive, maintaining a high line in order to minimise space for the opposition. The midfield must be switched on to the players looking to operate in the spaces in front of the defence, crowding out the crucial areas and providing protection in the centre of the pitch. By setting up this way, County\u2019s more creative players \u2013 who would typically look to operate between the lines - to affect the game.<\/p>
<\/p>
This setup also looks to secure greater coverage of space on the wings; something St Mirren did exceptionally on Saturday (consider the positions of #2 Richard Tait and #23 Ryan Strain in the above graphic).<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
Key to this style of play were three figures.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
Ryan Strain<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Saturday was perhaps Strain\u2019s best display since joining Saints from Maccabi Haifa in June.<\/p> <\/p> Deployed as a right-wing back, the 25-year-old effectively stretched the pitch, providing a constant passing option for his team to build and progress the ball around. Strain covered every inch of grass on the right-hand side of the pitch, touching the ball more than any of his teammates (72 times). Most notably, of these 72 touches, the majority (54) came in Ross County\u2019s half, as did the Australian\u2019s 4 attempted dribbles \u2013 while only being dispossessed once: a tackle in the opposition box.<\/p> <\/p> Strain\u2019s 52 passes (another team-high) showed the extent to which everything was going through him. Despite tiring around the 70-minute mark (as is expected from a player who has played just a handful of games in 2022), Saturday was an extremely impressive shift from a player who will prove key to our style of play this season.<\/p> <\/p> With the returning Declan Gallagher most likely to be Strain\u2019s defensive cover at the right of a back three (Gallagher himself not exactly shy to bring the ball forward either), we could have a formidable right-hand side going forward.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Jonah Ayunga<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Saturday was a masterclass in forward link-up play from Jonah Ayunga \u2013 with the striker winning five (100%) of his aerial duels in Ross County\u2019s half. To put that into context, County, as a whole, failed to win a single aerial duel in St Mirren\u2019s half.<\/p> <\/p> During his time at Morecambe, Ayunga was used both as a wide forward in a front three and as part of a two, and the striker brought the best parts of both disciplines to his performance on Saturday.<\/p> <\/p> At times, the partnership of Ayunga and Curtis Main would squeeze in, forming a box with midfielders Greg Kiltie and Keanu Baccus and overloading the central area of the final third.<\/p> <\/p> His time as an attacking winner also shone through, drifting wide, attacking the channels and aiding left-wing-back Richard Tait in doubling up on County right-back Callum Johnson (it was an Ayunga-Tait link-up that led to St Mirren\u2019s goal).<\/p> <\/p> Ayunga looks to be confident with the ball at his feet as well, as shown by his five attempted dribbles in Ross County\u2019s half, and was unlucky not to score in the first half- hitting the woodwork from range after picking up a loose ball driving forward at the County back line . However, the fact that only two of the five were successful illustrates that the forward may still be getting used to the pace of the Scottish game (a bigger adjustment than many give credit).<\/p> <\/p> The big man looks to be a player who completely understands his role in Robinson\u2019s team. If he fulfils his early potential (7 goals involvements in 7 games), we could be looking at a real find.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Keanu Baccus<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Despite his lack of any discernible<\/span> pre-season (visa issues meant the Australian was not able to join up with the squad until the end of July), Keanu Baccus has looked like a real gem of a signing since joining St Mirren.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Once again on Saturday, the 24-year-old dominated the midfield from start to finish \u2013 with him and his midfield partner Erhahon eating County\u2019s Ross Callachan and David Cancola alive.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Combative yet measured, Baccus\u2019 agility and drive was key to Saints\u2019 transitional play (Tait\u2019s goal came from the midfielder driving forward into the opposition\u2019s box). The ex-Western Sydney Wanderer looks adept at getting through a midfield press, either with passes or driving through with the ball himself.<\/p> <\/p> We only have to look Baccus\u2019 stats from Saturday to see just how important he is already proving himself to be to his side:<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Accurate passes \u2013 27 (77%)<\/p> Chances Created - 3<\/p> Touches - 51<\/p> Successful dribbles - 2 (67%)<\/p> Passes into final third - 8<\/p> Accurate long balls<\/p> Tackles won - 3 (100%)<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> With Ethan Erhahon\u2019s composure and calmness complimenting the combative ball-carrying Aussie\u2019s style well, we could be looking at a midfield pairing that will turn its fair share of heads this season.<\/p> <\/p> After battering Motherwell and losing, and impressing for twenty minutes in Aberdeen before being hamstrung by a red card \u2013 it was endlessly satisfying on Saturday to see performance and result match finally. We look like a side on the brink of clicking.<\/p> <\/p> With a trip to struggling Dundee Utd in waiting on Saturday, we have an opportunity to build a bit of momentum and go some way to show just what this St Mirren side is about.<\/p>","urlTitle":"county-frown","url":"\/blog\/county-frown\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/county-frown\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/county-frown\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1660759668,"updatedAt":1660761865,"publishedAt":1660761865,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sscgpdvheux4mvbjfo8xwytahpn0eeqjxjkzym03v5dxrio2.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sscgpdvheux4mvbjfo8xwytahpn0eeqjxjkzym03v5dxrio2.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sscgpdvheux4mvbjfo8xwytahpn0eeqjxjkzym03v5dxrio2.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":46069,"title":"Perth-ect Stranger","url":"\/blog\/perthect-stranger\/","urlTitle":"perthect-stranger","division":106606,"description":"Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie remembers The Rasmus, has another wee dig at Aberdeen and previews St Mirren's upcoming league match with St Johnstone.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atw3zxq8bb04wpaxfstwycyksyarzbktryekk224sheuc3or.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atw3zxq8bb04wpaxfstwycyksyarzbktryekk224sheuc3or.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":36294,"title":"The Back Five #3","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-3\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-3","division":106606,"description":"Welcome to The Back Five, where Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie takes you thorough the past seven days in the life of the country's most box-office football club: St Mirren FC.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/00vw8adw4k2j5vvxh6gkzqrbyt7ynv2skxnrrxlznacvubi4.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/00vw8adw4k2j5vvxh6gkzqrbyt7ynv2skxnrrxlznacvubi4.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":19382,"title":"Ethan Erhahon: The Key to Unlocking Stephen Robinson\u2019s St Mirren","url":"\/blog\/ethan-erhahon-the-key-to-unlocking-stephen-robinsons-st-mirren\/","urlTitle":"ethan-erhahon-the-key-to-unlocking-stephen-robinsons-st-mirren","division":106606,"description":"After an underwhelming ninth-placed finish last season, St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson is in the midst of a huge overhaul in Paisley. With the League Cup (a tournament we kicked off with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Arbroath) essentially replacing pre-season there is no time to waste in laying the groundwork for potential improvement. One area of the summer rebuild is a midfield that has recently lost fan favourites Jamie McGrath, Alex Gogi\u0107 and Connor \u201cDon\u2019t Fall In Love With Loan Players\u201d Ronan","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/iofk9qpz4xditgrdrixsljaoqda8v65r2u6znvwj2ci1qpmd.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/iofk9qpz4xditgrdrixsljaoqda8v65r2u6znvwj2ci1qpmd.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}![\"upsrxmsoqyv8xh9zzsaex02xcfrjeun9zvn40fllczmgkga8.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/upsrxmsoqyv8xh9zzsaex02xcfrjeun9zvn40fllczmgkga8.png\")
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