Ross County break Hearts with last-minute equaliser

A NINETIETH-minute strike by Iain Vigurs saved the day for Ross County as they pegged back Hearts at the death.

The SPL being as tight as it is this year, the salvaging of the point is sure to be celebrated by 10th-placed County.

Although Hearts enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and had more shots on target at the Global Energy Stadium, it was the home side which took trhe lead in front of a 3,903-strong crowd in chilly Dingwall.

Rocco Quinn’s long range gambit around the 20th-minute found the net, much to the delight of the home support.

But Hearts striker Michael Ngoo, who proved quite a handful for the County defence, levelled it up after 31 minutes, finding the top right hand corner from inside the box.

It all seemed to be going wrong for County when Jamie Walker headed Hearts ahead in the second half. Derek Adams reacted by a double switch with Sam Morrow giving way to Steffen Wohlfarth and Gary Glen replacing Alex Cooper.

The big German’s header missed the target eight minutes before time. But then Vigurs came good just as the game entered four minutes of injury time.

There was no place in the squad for midweek goal hero Ivan Sproule who was rested following an injury.

With Scottish Cup ties being played – Inverness Caledonian Thistle getting dumped by Kilmarnock and Rangers humbled by Dundee United – the County v Hearts fixture was the only SPL match of the day.

Ross County will be looking to climb the table when they meet basement battlers Dundee next Friday.