Shaw’s redemption for Hibs as he grabs late point at County
ROSS COUNTY 1
McKay (28)
HIBERNIAN 1
Shaw (90) Neil Lennon insists yesterday’s Dingwall disappointment could still amount to a massive point gained in the race for top three places.
Relegation-threatened County led against the run of play and fought tirelessly to hold the lead after Billy Mckay’s 28th minute opener.
Approaching stoppage time, though, the Staggies’ resistance finally broke and two valuable survival points were torn from their hands.
Substitute Ollie Shaw’s strike left them four, rather than two, points beneath Dundee and Hamilton and one, rather than three, ahead of bottom side Partick Thistle.
Lennon felt it was the least Hibs deserved as the Leith side made it nine games unbeaten in the chase for European qualification.
The Hibs manager said: “I felt we should have won the game and I’m disappointed, but I was pleased with the application and effort.
“It was total domination from us but we missed some clear opportunities to score early on.
“County scored with pretty much their first attack and possibly the only time they troubled our goalkeeper.
“Rangers won and Aberdeen got beat so it could be an important point in the run-in.
“We can only take care of our own business, though, and it’s five cup finals now.”
Lennon made just one change from the team victorious against Hamilton on Tuesday night.
With McGinn free from suspension, the Scotland international made an immediate return forcing Steven Whittaker to the bench.
County caretakers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson went with the same team that routed Partick Thistle 4-0 on Tuesday evening.
The Easter Road team opened with confidence, but the hosts mostly restricted them to attempts from distance.
And it was the hosts who stormed ahead after 28 minutes with their first real attempt.
Dutchman Alex Schalk, another midweek hat-trick claimant, teased clear of Ambrose on the left and delivered a quality cross.
Billy Mckay, controlling under pressure, found the goal opening up for him and had time to pick his spot from eight yards.
County’s defensive assurance only grew after the opener but they were lucky not to lose an equaliser four minutes before the break.
The home defence failed to meet Allan’s corner from the right as it found Paul Hanlon smacking a diving header into the turf but up and over the bar.
The Edinburgh side went close again after 51 minutes with Stevenson’s swerving cross from the left headed wide by Jamie MacLaren under pressure from Liam Fontaine.
County, though, relieved the pressure with a rapid counterattack four minutes later.
Harry Souttar’s long clearance was pin-point for Schalk breaking on the left and the Dutchman controlled and went close with a 20-yard blast beyond the far post from the tightest of angles.
It was only a temporary reprieve, though, and County let the lead tumble on 90 minutes.
Just inside a crowded penalty area, Oli Shaw grasped on to the opening and swept the chance home from 16 yards.
Home caretaker manager Stuart Kettlewell said: “We are under no illusions how big a victory it would have been for us.
“There is huge disappointment after what the players put into the game.”