ROSS COUNTY ganied what could prove to be a valuable point in their hunt for European football after securing a goalless draw at Tynecastle. With Dundee United winning at Motherwell, the point keeps them within touching distance of fourth and creates a one-point gap between them and the Steelmen in sixth.
For the home side the lack of urgency in the performance and from the crowd had a real end-of-season air to it, with the biggest cheers of the afternoon reserved for Hearts stadium announcer Scott Wilson, who took charge of the mic for the final time in Gorgie after a 20-year stint.
The Gorgie side were also missing a number key players, though these final few matches may prove crucial as to who lines up for the side against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final next month.
“We huffed and puffed a wee bit,” said manager Robbie Neilson. “But I thought once we got some control in the game we had opportunities to score, opportunities to play that final pass – and we just weren’t quite there today.
“[Ross County] defended really well, to be fair to them. They had loads and loads of blocks round about the box. They didn’t create a lot of chances, they had wee counter-attacks here and there, but it’s up to us to score a goal.
“I’m sure [Ross County manager] Malky [Mackay] will be delighted with the point.”
Mackay, who guided County to their seventh draw against Hearts in the previous eight meetings between the sides, added: “I’m delighted with the result. A point down at Tynecastle is a terrific point. Playing against the third-best team in the country, a team in a cup final, with good players – and very good players coming off the bench as well.
“That’s three draws against that side this year. We’ve got to be happy with that.
“Performance-wise, we knew it was going to be a tough day for us but first half we gave as good as we got. I asked them to be brave in the second half and go and press – we did break on them, but that last pass, again, wasn’t there.”
On the hunt for a European spot, Mackay added: “The five [post-split] games are now down to three. Two of those are at home.”
Hearts enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half but all they could muster in terms of shots at goal was a timid Ben Woodburn effort. Ross County attacked less frequently but looked much more dangerous when they did. Former Jambo Connor Randall had the first effort of note, forcing Craig Gordon into a good but comfortable save after a low drive from outside the area. Soon after Blair Spittal saw the ball fortuitously drop to him in the penalty area but his goal-bound effort was blocked by Toby Sibbick.
Ten minutes before the break County thought they’d taken the lead when target man Jordan White diverted Spittal’s low cross past Gordon – the celebrations were cut short but a raised flag from the assistant referee.
After break Josh Ginnelly moved up front, with Liam Boyce dropping back into the No.10 position. Within a minute he’d fired over the bar, after Woodburn had cleverly found Nathaniel Atkinson down the right side, when he should have at least worked the keeper.
Gordon then saved with his legs from Ross Callachan as County grew more confident, taking advantage on a few passages of slack play from the home side and countering well. But they still lacked that cutting edge, while better decision-making from Callachan during another opportunity may have seen them take the lead, but his shot from distance was poor.
At the other end, Boyce could have done better with a one-on-one following a slipped through ball from McKay, but in fairness he was closed down by Ross Laidlaw, who did well to block the shot. Then a poor pass to Ginnelly took the momentum out of a 3v2 situation in the Hearts attack’s favour.
In the closing stages Hearts looked the most likely, with McKay firing just wide from the edge of the area and Boyce fluffing another good chance after Andy Halliday, who provided spark as a second-half substitute, slipped him through on goal.
