Heart of Midlothian 2-2 Ross County

From Hearts Media at Tynecastle.

John Sutton rescued a point for Hearts with the last kick of the ball as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Ross County on Saturday afternoon.

Arvydas Novikovas had put the Jambos ahead shortly before the interval, but a Richard Brittain penalty and a strike by Stuart Kettlewell looked to have handed The Staggies a shock win before Sutton levelled the scores in stoppage time.

Hearts named an unchanged line-up for the third consecutive game as John McGlynn looked to build on last Sunday's win over Motherwell.

The Jambos enjoyed a decent start to the tie and nearly took the lead in the 15 minute when the County keeper failed to clear an Andy Driver volley, prompting Ryan McGowan to attack the rebound with a trade mark diving header, only to be denied by a goal line clearance.

Brittain then forced a fine save from Jamie Macdonald up the end shortly after, before the home side were once again denied by a goal line block as Darren Barr put his head to a Ryan Stevenson corner.

The Gorgie side were then rewarded for their endeavour five minutes from time as Marius Zaliukas embarked on a run from deep inside his own half, resulting in a defence splitting diagonal ball which found the unmarked Novikovas. The winger's burst of pace enabled him to poke the ball past Michael Fraser into the far corner.

The Lithuanian nearly doubled the lead minutes into the second half with a close range effort, but Hearts failed to maintain their momentum and The Staggies soon pulled themselves level.

Referee Craig Charleston awarded a penalty after Andy Webster brought down Iain Vigurs on eight yards following a dangerous cross from the right, and Brittain made no mistake from spot as he slotted the ball into the left corner.

The home side continued to press forward in search of a second, with Paterson bursting clear through the middle only to lose his feet just as he looked to stroke the ball past Fraser.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, however, a sloppy diagonal ball from Mehdi Taouil enabled Iain Vigurs to initiate a counter attack down the left channel. He drifted forward to the edge of the box, laying the ball off to Kettlewell who took a touch before dragging a low shot past the outstretched Macdonald.

Hearts responded by introducing striker Gordon Smith, but it was fellow substitute Sutton who proved decisive as he pulled his side level with seconds remaining.

Danny Grainger lifted a ball into the box from the left which initially fell to Zaliukas; the Captain's volley hit the ground before falling into the path of Sutton who, on seven yards, hit a low shot on the turn into the bottom left corner.

Hearts now have a few days to regroup before making the trip to Tayside for the Scottish Communities League Cup Quarter Final tie with Dundee United on Wednesday evening.

Hearts: Macdonald; R.McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Driver, Taouil, Barr, Novikovas (Sutton 68), Stevenson; Paterson (G. Smith 83). Subs not used: Enckelman, D.McGowan, McHattie, B. King, Robinson.

Ross County: Fraser; Fitzpatrick, Munro, Boyd, Kovacevic; Kettlewell, Vigurs (Tokely 88), Brittain, Fotheringham, Quinn (McMenamin 71); Glen (Scott 81). Subs not used: Brown, Ross, Dingwall, Porritt.

Referee: Craig Charleston

Top man: Marius Zaliukas

Hearts World