Shaw thwarts County to keep Hibs in hunt
SHATTERED Ross County were denied back-to-back Premiership wins for the first time this season by a last-gasp Oli Shaw equaliser.
Leading through a Billy Mckay first-half goal, County were within touching distance of a second home win in five days, following their four-goal demolition of relegation rivals Partick Thistle.
But Hibs, chasing second spot, refused to throw in the towel and their persistence paid off when substitute Shaw struck in the 90th minute.
Despite being forced to settle for a draw, County at least managed to move a point clear of bottom side Thistle and to within four of Dundee and Hamilton in the battle for survival.
Co-caretaker manager Stuart Kettlewell said: ‘While there is huge disappointment that we have drawn after what the players put in, I saw a very resolute Ross County side that worked together.
‘Our defensive organisation and willingness to put our bodies on the line was there for all to see.
‘We are under no illusion how big a victory it would have been for us, but this could be a huge point for us going forward.
‘I’m sure the players will be pretty positive from the fact that we’ve picked up four points from the last two games, which were difficult and high pressure.’
Kettlewell refused to hit back at Celtic skipper Scott Brown following his attack on the two-game ban handed out to Staggies skipper Andrew Davies after his horror red-card tackle on the midfielder.
He added: ‘As far as we’re concerned, the matter is done. We have taken our medicine and accepted the ban.’
In reality, it was a point gained for County rather than two lost, given the chances Hibs created.
Had their finishing been sharper, they would have been a couple of goals to the good before Mckay struck. Efe Ambrose, Scott Allan and John McGinn took it in turn to test home keeper Scott Fox after Florian Kamberi had also headed a chance wide for the visitors.
However, Dutchman Alex Schalk, rewarded for his tenacity with a hat-trick for County in midweek, created space for himself down the right side in the 28th minute and delivered a low cross into the centre of the box.
It appeared initially that Mckay had lost his chance when he failed to control the ball properly, but the Hibs defenders were slow to react as he regained his footing and steered the ball into the net.
The visitors had a chance to equalise shortly before half-time but Paul Hanlon headed Allan’s corner kick down and over from five yards out.
Hibs began the second half with real intensity and County had a narrow escape when Jamie Maclaren’s diving header missed the target by a foot or so.
Schalk also went close to extending the home side’s lead but it was Shaw who provided the clinical finish.
Hibs manager Neil Lennon said: ‘I felt we should have won and I’m disappointed. But I was pleased with the application and effort.
‘We missed some clear-cut opportunities to score early on and County scored with pretty much their first attack.
‘But Rangers won and Aberdeen got beat, so it could be an important point in the run-in.
‘We are only three points behind and there are five matches left, so we are looking forward to it.’
Lennon was back in the dugout after serving a three-match SFA ban for mocking referee Kevin Clancy during a match at Rugby Park.
But he risked fresh punishment when he booted the ball away in rage after McGinn had been the victim of heavy challenges by Ross Draper and Chris Routis in quick succession, for which both earned cautions.
But after being reprimanded by referee Bobby Madden, he said: ‘Two of them had a go at him and I’ll say it again — someone is going to get hurt.’