Staggies late-show breaks Jambos' hearts
ROSS County left it late but just scraped past Hearts with two late goals with a 2-1 win over the basement boys.
Staggies boss Derek Adams made two changes from last weekend's dismal defeat to Dundee United, skipper Grant Munro was replaced at centre-half by Scott Boyd, while striker Kevin Luckassen was ruled out with a calf injury, giving youngster Steven Ross the chance to make his mark.
County looked the most likely in the first ten minutes, with a Graham Carey cross almost finding Ross with a ball in after two minutes, and Rocco Quinn releasing Ivan Sproule who burst down the right, before Kevin McHattie made a terrific covering challenge as the Irishman prepared to pull the trigger.
Against the run of play Hearts took the lead in the 22 minute when McHattie's in-swinging cross from the right hand side was volleyed home unchallenged at the near post by Callum Paterson.
The Jam Tarts didn't really threaten again throughout the half, with pot shots from Jamie Walker and Danny Wilson as good as is got for the visitors.
While they had a lot of the ball, County struggled to make an noteworthy impression going forward.
Carey whipped in a few dangerous crosses but Steven Ross and Ivan Sproule couldn't get on the end of them, while Stuart Kettlewell nodded a Carey corner narrowly over the bar after 34 minutes.
Quinn and Richie Brittain tried their luck from distance, but Brittain's early effort flashed past Jamie MacDonald's upright while Quinn's wild effort was way wide just before the break.
After the break Paterson almost grabbed his and his teams second but fluffed his lines, slicing wide when presented with as golden chance from 8 yards by Jason Holt.
A minute later the Staggies broke back and Carey had two rasping left-footed drives blocked superbly by Brad McKay.
County went close on 74 minutes when Brian McLean rose to meet Ivan Sproule's corner but the ex-Dundee United man's header was too close to MacDonald.
Scott Robinson went close for the Jambo's late on with a driven effort from 20 yards which was fantastically parried away by Brown.
County drew level three minutes from time when skipper Brittain's cross was met by substitute Melvin De Leeuw at the back post who powered a header past MacDonald and into the back of the net.
The same combination then struck again to earn the Staggies three vital points when this time De Leeuw crossed for Brittain to nod back across goal and into the net for the winner
The finish with a flourish ensured the Staggies remain in ninth, but are only two points shy of a place in the top six.
Ross County: Brown (GK), Kovacevic, Gordon, Kettlewell, Boyd, Sproule, Brittain, Quinn, Ross, McLean, Carey. Subs: Fraser (GK), Micic, De Leeuw, Munro, Maatsen, Glen, Saunders.
Hearts: MacDonald (GK), Hamill, McHattie, Wilson, McGowan, Robinson, Paterson, Walker, Holt, McKay. Subs: Ridgers (GK), Carrick, King, Tapping, Nicholson, Oliver, McGhee.
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 4,059
