Ross County dropped back to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference after they fell to a 2-1 against Hearts in Dingwall.
Dundee United’s 1-0 home loss against Motherwell on Saturday nudged the Taysiders below County on goal difference, but this result puts the Staggies back down to 12th.
Jordan White’s early opener was wiped out by goals from Lawrence Shankland and Andy Halliday as the Jambos led 2-1 inside 20 minutes.
For all their efforts, Malky Mackay’s side could not find a leveller, with the Edinburgh team are now in sixth spot, two points adrift of St Mirren.
Just one win in their last eight league games cranked up the pressure on County to get a result with just three games to go before the break for the World Cup after the clash with Hearts.
A hamstring injury sustained by influential midfielder Ross Callachan in last week’s 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock will keep him out until after the Qatar competition.
As expected, home manager Malky Mackay brought Yan Dhanda in to replace him.
Hearts bowed out of the Europa Conference League on Thursday, despite a 2-1 home against Latvian opponents Rīgas FS.
Jambos boss Robbie Neilson, whose side are low on numbers due to their own injuries, made two changes from their European tie.
In came Robert Snodgrass to a four-man midfield with a 4-1-4-1 set-up, with Connor Smith slotting into the back-line, replacing the injured Stephen Kingsley.
While County were in dire need of a win, one point from their last four league games had also left Hearts seeking three points to push them back up the division.
VAR agony… before White’s opener
This was the first game with VAR (video assistant referee) in place at Victoria Park and it was called into use after just six minutes.
Callum Johnson’s fierce drive was beaten away by Craig Gordon, but Jordy Hiwula knocked home the follow-up.
A check by referee David Dickinson, which took around two minutes, led to a no-goal announcement and a Hearts free-kick.
However, on 11 minutes, the Highlanders were ahead. Dhanda was alert and decisive on the right and his tempting delivery was steered low past Gordon by striker White to get the home fans on their feet.
Hearts double up to grasp 2-1 lead
The advantage lasted a mere four minutes, however, as Shankland pounced to drive the ball low past Ross Laidlaw after his initial effort was saved by the goalkeeper.
It was a cruel blow for the Staggies, but was Shankland’s 11th goal of the season and his fifth in three outings.
It worsened for the hosts on 20 minutes when Halliday hooked a superb header beyond Laidlaw after Snodgrass steered in a corner from the right. County had to find a way back, but time was on their side.
Owura Edwards provided a scare for Hearts on 31 minutes with a powerful low shot, but Scotland shot-stopper Gordon got down smartly to turn it around the post. A close-range shot from White was also quickly smothered as County probed.
A late Jordan Tillson header on the stroke of half-time lacked direction and it flew left of the left-hand post.
Staggies lacking killer touch in box
County had the best of the early stages of the second half, without finding a real moment of quality to unpick their opponents.
When Hiwula was cleverly picked out by Edwards in the box on the hour mark, a timely tackle from Snodgrass prevented a shot on target.
Moments later, Johnson saw his near-goal effort fly just over the top, with only Gordon to beat.
Hearts had the ball in the net on 65 minutes when Shankland struck from a Cochrane pass, but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Substitute Alan Forrest came nearest to adding a third for the Gorgie men, but his angled shot whizzed past the left post.
County’s quest for more crucial points continues when they host St Mirren next Saturday before back-to-back away games against Hibs and Celtic.
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1) – Laidlaw 6, Cancola 6 (Loturi 56), Baldwin 6, Iacovitti 6, Owura 6 (Samuel 83), Dhanda 6, Johnson 6, Harmon 6 (Watson 83), Hiwula 6 (Olaigbe 76), Tillson 6 (Sims 83), White 7. Subs not used – Eastwood (GK), Akio, Munro, Smith.
HEARTS (4-1-4-1) – Gordon 6, Michael Smith 6, Kiomourtzoglou 6, Shankland 7, Halliday 6 (Neilson 61), McKay 6 (Henderson 76), Cochrane 6, Sibbick 6, Connor Smith 6 (Forrest 61), Ginnelly 6 (Grant 61), Snodgrass 6. Subs not used – Stewart (GK), Clark (GK), Darge, Denholm, Pollock.
Referee – David Dickinson.
Attendance – 4,438.
Man of the match – Owura Edwards.
Conversation