Ross County’s hopes of finishing in the top-six suffered a severe blow after they went down 2-1 at home to Kilmarnock.
County looked to have secured at least a point when Liam Boyce cancelled out Conor Sammon’s opener for Killie, however the visitors grabbed the win late on through Kris Boyd’s strike.
County made two changes from the side that defeated Hearts 1-0 in their last outing at Tynecastle, with Paul Quinn and Michael Gardyne drafted in to replace Andrew Davies and Jay McEveley. The Staggies were forced into another switch just before kick-off however, when goalkeeper Scott Fox was injured in the warm-up, being replaced by Aaron McCarey who made his first league start.
County started brightly, with Alex Schalk striking over from close-range, while Martin Woods also came close with a free-kick, however it was to prove the midfielder’s final intervention before he limped off to be replaced by Christopher Routis.
Kilmarnock made the perfect start to the second-half when a quick throw-in released Sammon to rifle past McCarey just three minutes after the break.
County restored parity in impressive fashion just 10 minutes later though, when leading scorer Boyce picked the ball up on the edge of the box before whistling a shot past Killie goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
County rallied for a second goal, with Kenny van der Weg striking the bar following a corner, however it was Killie who struck seven minutes from time courtesy of predatory forward Boyd, who lifted the ball over McCarey to secure a vital three points for the Ayrshire side.