Hearts 4 Ross County 2

But even HE admitted he struggled to see it coming in a game that County bossed for long spells.

Derek Adams’ men looked good for the three points when Steffen Wohlfarth’s stunning first-half strike put them ahead.

Michael Ngoo levelled three minutes into the second half but Wolhfarth put the Staggies back in control in the 53rd minute.

The Highlanders were then left rocking in a crazy five-minute spell where all their good work was undone.

Jason Holt levelled the game with a 78th-minute volley and Jamie Walker then put Hearts in front 60 seconds later.

Ngoo claimed his second goal of the game with seven minutes left to hand his side the unlikeliest of wins.

Locke was without Andy Webster so Ryan Stevenson took the captain’s armband for the first time.

Hearts started brightly with youngster Dale Carrick going close with two minutes gone.

Brad McKay then headed over from a Kevin McHattie corner with eight minutes on the clock.

Walker fired in a shot at Michael Fraser in the 19th minute as Hearts continued to press.

Callum Tapping was booked by ref Alan Muir a minute later after an off-the-ball incident that was spotted by assistant Stephen Mitchell.

County moved ahead in sensational circumstances with 22 minutes gone. McKay was only able to head on Mihael Kovacevic’s long ball into the path of Wohlfarth.

The German still had plenty to do when he picked up the ball on the left hand touchline.

First the striker beat McKay then raced by Jamie Hamill and into the Jambos box.

The defender chose not to challenge him for fear of giving away a penalty and from a tight angle Wohlfarth curled the ball past Jamie MacDonald and into the top-left hand corner.

Having got the lead County should then have gone two ahead six minutes later.

This time Ivan Sproule robbed McKay midway inside the Hearts half and raced for goal.

MacDonald did well to sprint off his line and narrow the angle before blocking the former Hibs star’s shot with his legs. Carrick drilled a low shot wide after collecting Tapping’s through ball on the half hour.

More dithering in the Jambos’ backline allowed Rocco Quinn a sight of goal soon after.

MacDonald could only hold his effort from the edge of the area at the second attempt.

Hearts almost levelled after breaking up another County attack two minutes later.

McHattie read Richard Brittain’s pass as he tried to set Sproule away down the right.

He strode forward and launched a long-range effort that flew just wide of Fraser’s goal.

MacDonald had to save again from Sproule in the 37th minute, this time denying the winger from close range.

Jambos boss Locke decided to change things by making TWO subs at the half-time break.

Tapping and Mehdi Taouil stayed indoors after poor first-half performances. They were replaced by Holt and Arvydas Novikovas.

The switch seemed to have the desired effect as Hearts got back on level terms in the 48th minute.

Scott Boyd played his side into trouble by running the ball out.

Stevenson took a quick throw to McHattie, who crossed to the back post, where Ngoo rose above Grant Munro to power a header past Fraser and level.

It was the striker’s fourth goal since his move on loan from Liverpool in January.

He was booked shortly after for a deliberate handball on the edge of his own box.

County wasted little time in moving back ahead in 53 minutes.

McHattie had to clear the ball out for a corner under pressure from Wolhfarth.

Vigurs took it and the German was given too much space to head past MacDonald.

Sub Holt blasted past Fraser’s right-hand post and McKay headed over from a McHattie corner as Hearts tried to respond.

Wilson then headed over from a Novikovas cross soon after before a McKay mistake let in Vigurs for a shot that flew just over at the other end.

County would go on to rue that miss as Hearts staged their stunning late fightback.

The Jambos levelled in the 78th minute when Holt smashed a stunning left-foot volley in from the edge of the box after County failed to deal with a corner.

A minute later they were ahead when Ngoo’s pass picked out Walker, who fired home despite Evangelos Oikonomou’s attempt to clear off the line.

It got even worse for them with seven minutes left.

Munro gifted the ball to Sutton who played in striker Ngoo and he fired low past Fraser to put the seal on an unlikely win.