Ross County squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Kilmarnock at Victoria Park last night.
First-half goals from Christopher Routis and Jason Naismith put the Staggies in command at the interval, however the Dingwall men were put through a nervy finish to the match when Eamonn Brophy pulled a goal back in outstanding fashion just after the hour mark, and Steve Clarke’s men eventually grabbed a share of the points three minutes from time through Kris Boyd’s deflected header.
Despite the setback, the result was enough for County to leapfrog Dundee into 10th place. The Staggies came into the game without a win since their 3-2 triumph against Motherwell on November 4, facing a confident Killie side.
County began the game brightly but were mainly restricted to efforts from distance, with Chris Eagles and Davis Keillor-Dunn denied by goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, while Jamie Lindsay struck well wide.
The Staggies kept Killie’s threat to a minimum but the Ayrshire men came closest to scoring in the early stages, with Eamonn Brophy’s low drive from 20 yards forcing a superb save from County goalkeeper Scott Fox.
County came close on 25 minutes when an effort from Craig Curran flew narrowly over from just inside the box following a lay-off from Jamie Lindsay. The Staggies were not to be denied on 31 minutes however, as they took a spectacular lead when Eagles’ corner picked out the unmarked Routis to thump home a first-time volley at the far post.
The Staggies doubled their lead four minutes before half-time, with Eagles this time sending a free-kick into the middle from the right flank, and Naismith rising to nod home his first County goal with a glancing header past MacDonald.
County went in search of the killer third goal at the start of the second-half, with French midfielder Routis coming close with a free-kick which flew inches over the bar on 54 minutes.
Killie pulled a spectacular goal back just after the hour mark however, when Brophy let fly with a 25-yard effort which flew past Fox and into the right-hand corner.
That set up a nervy finish at Dingwall, with Boyd securing a draw in the dying minutes.
