Ross County were defeated 1-0 by Hibernian at Victoria Park in a result which leaves them second-bottom of the Premiership.
In a thrilling Dingwall encounter which saw chances aplenty for both sides, Hibs skipper Paul Hanlon’s first-half goal proved decisive.
The Staggies have now failed to record a victory in their last seven games in all competitions, and are now just a point ahead of bottom-placed Kilmarnock who they face next week.
County manager Jim McIntyre made four changes, handing a recall to goalkeeper Scott Fox in place of Aaron McCarey, while there was also a first start for Billy Mckay, who was drafted in along with Reghan Tumilty and Craig Curran, with Sean Kelly, Alex Schalk and Davis Keillor-Dunn dropping out.
Hibs made the better start, and had the first meaningful effort of the match on nine minutes when Martin Boyle drove a shot just over.
The visitors took a deserved lead on 13 minutes though, as the Staggies defence failed to cut out John McGinn’s corner, which fell to defender Hanlon to bundle home from close-range.
County responded well to the early setback with good periods of play, but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with their nearest attempt of the first-half coming when Mckay steered the ball straight at goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw after Michael Gardyne had directed Tumilty’s cross into his path.
Hibs were restricted to mainly long-range shots for the remainder of the first-half, with Steven Whittaker shooting over and Simon Murray seeing a shot deflected into the arms of Fox.
McIntyre made a half-time change by bringing on Keillor-Dunn in place of Tumilty, however Hibs continued to threaten at the start of the second-half, with Murray seeing a low drive held by Fox, who moments later did superbly to tip Stokes’ free-kick wide.
County created a superb chance on 61 minutes when Mckay’s cross from the left made its way to Gardyne, whose effort was met by a superb save by goalkeeper Laidlaw.
Whittaker saw another drilled effort deflected wide before Fox had to perform heroics to keep County in the game, first of all saving a one-on-one attempt from Boyle before doing brilliantly to twice deny Stokes.
County applied late pressure in search of an equaliser, their best attempt coming when substitute Schalk saw his effort thwarted by another save from Laidlaw.
Another Stokes free-kick struck the outside of the post, before at the other end Jamie Lindsay saw a long-range effort land on the roof of the net, however the Staggies could not find a way through.