Ross County 2 Hearts 2: Staggies make it five games unbeaten thanks to late leveller

3 Feb 2013 00:01

IAIN VIGURS hit an injury time equaliser as Ross County moved 15 points clear of the bottom spot with a battling display.

DEREK ADAMS has warned Aberdeen and Hibs to beware a Highland uprising as Ross County continue to prove they’re the real SPL deal.

A dramatic late leveller by Iain Vigurs stretched the Dingwall club’s purple patch of unbeaten form to five games.

But boss Adams felt a draw was the least his men deserved from a stirring show that put them 15 points clear of bottom side Dundee.

And now his focus is on catching teams above them.

Adams said: “We’re trying to catch the likes of Hibs and Aberdeen and we’re a point closer today – with a game in hand on them.

“We have done exceptionally well. We’ve played 24 games now and are closer to those clubs than we were.

“I’m not surprised, I thought we’d do well. We’ve a good group of players.

“We always knew what we would do in January after consolidating ourselves in the SPL and now, hopefully, we can keep pushing on.”

A pulsating 90 minutes in the far north looked set to end in victory for John McGlynn’s League Cup Finalists before midfielder Vigurs strode in to smack home his last-gasp equaliser.

The Edinburgh side had stormed back from a Rocco Quinn opener to lead 2-1 through new cult hero Michael Ngoo and a brilliant Jamie Walker header.

Jamie Walker runs off to celebrate his goal

But County’s never-say-die attitude was evident again as they battled right to the death.

Hearts carved out the first real chance after seven minutes. Billy King set up Jason Holt whose low shot was parried to safety by Mark Brown.

Ryan Stevenson shot wide and Marius Zalkiukas headed off target from Fraser Mullen’s corner as Hearts kept up the pressure but the first goal came at the other end after 20 minutes.

Paul Lawson’s corner was only half cleared, giving him the chance to set up Rocco Quinn whose first-time shot took a deflection before beating Jamie MacDonald.

But Ngoo squared matters with a great individual piece of play. Stevenson’s measured ball through the middle after 31 minutes sent the Englishman speeding clear.

The gazelle-like Liverpool loanee needed no further invitation, showing poise and pace in escaping Grant Munro before beating keeper Brown.

Hearts went ahead just after ther hour. Mullen battled for space on the right and when he delivered his fierce cross, Jamie Walker leapt in front of his marker to execute a brilliant six-yard header.

A third Hearts goal would have settled it and a tremendous interchange with 15 minutes left almost delivered.

Ngoo and Danny Wilson combined to set up Stevenson for a low shot that Brown did brilliantly to palm away.

And he came to the rescue again when he tipped an Andy Webster strike over the bar.

Such saves proved vital when Vigurs stormed in to net the leveller just after the 90-minute mark.

The pressure on the away goal had reached fever pitch and when Scott Boyd’s dig was blocked, Vigurs showed alertness to stride in and score.

Taken from the Daily Record