Ross County vs Hibernian. Scottish Premiership.
Global Energy StadiumAttendance3,856.
Match report as Ross County move out of the drop zone with a 2-1 victory at home to Hibernian
Monday 6 May 2024 09:58, UK
Ross County moved out of the cinch Premiership relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Hibernian at the Global Energy Stadium.
Jordan White came off the bench to score an 88th-minute winner after Myziane Maolida opened the scoring for Hibs and Simon Murray equalised before half-time.
Hibernian started on the front foot in Dingwall, playing around the County press well and forcing their opponents into making long balls forward into the channels.
They would get their reward in the 15th minute when Martin Boyle's corner fell to Rocky Bushiri, who hit a post, and the ball rolled along the goal line for a tap-in as Maolida scored in his third successive game against the Staggies.
Bushiri would be involved in the next goal too, but through a mistake at the other end.
He failed to clear Michee Efete's cross into the Hibs box, allowing Murray to run onto the ball and finish first time into the bottom corner for his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.
The rest of the first half became a back-and-forth affair, with Ross Laidlaw needed to make two good saves to deny Emiliano Hansen and Maolida, but Eamonn Brophy headed wide of the mark at the other end and Murray hit a post as the interval approached.
Murray would again hit the goal frame within 10 minutes of the restart, heading Yan Dhanda's cross into the ground with the ball bouncing out of JosephWollacott's reach and onto the crossbar.
Hibs would very nearly regain their lead immediately afterwards, though, with Boyle taking advantage of Ryan Leak's mistake to go one-on-one with Laidlaw; the Staggies stopper again made an important save.
With three points having a bigger impact on County's season than for their visitors, it was perhaps no surprise that it was the home team pushing more strongly for a winner as the clock ticked down.
White would go close with a header that found the side netting, but he would go even closer in the 88th minute when he put County in front.
A poor pass from Wollacott was intercepted inside the Hibs half by George Harmon, and suddenly the Staggies had the numbers advantage in the final third.
Harmon picked out White, who did well to hold off his marker and turn before firing into the back of the Hibernian net for the winning goal.
Ross County interim manager Don Cowie: "I felt it was a very open game, and both teams had plenty of opportunities.
"We probably should have scored more between us, but we're in a situation where we want to win football matches.
"We're on a really good run at home, and credit to Jordan for coming on and scoring the winning goal.
"I wouldn't expect anything else. I've got a squad with plenty of options, so I always pick a team to start that I feel will get us a result we need, then it's about the subs coming on and doing their job.
"I'm sure there are a lot of people who are frustrated, but it's not about the individual, it's about the group.
"That's the mindset we need to achieve what we want to achieve."
Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery: "It's easy for me to say we should have won the game.
"We had 20 shots on goal and created a lot more openings, had one-on-ones with the goalkeeper, but if you don't put those chances away you know you are going to have to deal with stuff.
"I thought we played really well in patches, but we've been here too many times before. We got punished for a late mistake in the game, and not taking our chances.
"It's not fair for me to come out here and point at individuals. Both goals were more than avoidable.
"The first is a cross that we know Ross County do, and we just have to clear it. At 1-0 up, we should have been further ahead, but suddenly it's 1-1.
"In the second half, we created chance after chance and then a mistake ultimately costs us the game in the end. It's a game we shouldn't have lost, but I've said that too many times this season."
Ross County return to action next Saturday when they host Motherwell before a trip to St Johnstone on May 15 and end their season at home to Aberdeen on May 19.
Hibernian's final three games of the season see them host Aberdeen next Sunday and Motherwell on May 15 before a trip to Livingston on May 19.
