Hearts 2 Ross County 2: Last-gasp Sutton issues McGlynn's men with share of spoils

Chris Tait

HEARTS' sales pitch needs a little work.

Fans are being urged to support a share issue by the Tynecastle club, but the more discerning among them may choose to wait given that the return for their backing yesterday was a point at home to Ross County.

Hearts fans have already invested so much in their club – patience and loyalty have been given freely even if they have not always been rewarded – but it took until the final seconds of stoppage-time before they were assured of avoiding defeat Dingwall side. Even then a draw seemed paltry recompense for their influence on the game.

Arvydas Novikovas squeezed a shot into the far corner to give Hearts the lead after 40 minutes, despite the best efforts of County goalkeeper Michael Fraser. Richard Brittain equalised with a penalty 10 minutes into the second half and Stuart Kettlewell put the visitors ahead with 13 minutes remaining, leaving John Sutton to save the day.

Hearts were purposeful in front of goal but all too often their forays seemed timid, the lack of assurance personified by Callum Paterson, the teenager who started the season as a promising full-back but who has been required to reinvent himself as a lone striker.

His pace and enthusiasm suggest he has at least two of the traits necessary to be an effective frontman, but Paterson is still finding his feet in the position, leaving him with an unenviable task against the robust defending of Grant Munro, who was booked for a bustling challenge on him after 75 minutes, and Scott Boyd.

One occasion midway through the second half summed him up; Paterson, looking to drive in behind the County defence only succeeded in being unsettled and outmuscled, leaving him to prod a tame shot wide.

Hearts had nearly prospered from an Andy Driver shot and Ryan McGowan header in the first half – both were beaten away in quick succession by Fraser – while Darren Barr had firm headers cleared off the line in both halves.

"Despite the ratio of chances we are creating, we are not getting the goals and our opponents are making fewer chances, but are getting the same amount as goals as we get," said Hearts manager John McGlynn.

There is a certain temptation to treat County as simply dogged – and at times this season they have been – but their ambitions extend beyond simply finishing with sufficient points to avoid bottom spot this season.

The visit of Hibernian last weekend had brought a first home win and County went further towards proving they belong in the top flight during their afternoon in Edinburgh yesterday.

The Highland side were not made to work for their equaliser – Brittain converted from the spot after 54 minutes after Andy Webster barged Kettlewell over inside the penalty area – but their second goal was more telling of County's ability to live in the SPL.

Another Hearts attack was rebuffed, allowing five County players to break forward. They only needed one. The ball was fed to Kettlewell outside the box and he was given enough room to guide a low shot into the bottom corner.

It was a neat finish but one spoiled by the late intervention of Sutton. Danny Grainger lofted the ball forward and Marius Zaliukas fluffed a volley of his own before the ball broke to the striker, who fired home.

County manager Derek Adams was disappointed that his side were unable to hang on for a win, but said: "We are from a different planet from Hearts. We are from a wee village up in the Highlands. In the end it was two points dropped, but Hearts did put us under a lot of pressure."

Taken from the Herald