Ross County came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Hearts at Victoria Park.
The Staggies fell behind early in the second-half through Kyle Lafferty’s free-kick, however a superb low strike by defender Jason Naismith secured a deserved point for Owen Coyle’s men.
The result moves County to within two points of second-bottom Hamilton Accies, who face Rangers on Sunday.
Coyle named an unchanged side from the team that defeated Dundee 4-1 a fortnight ago, with the Staggies aiming to keep their momentum going.
Hearts, who were on a superb run of just one defeat from their previous 15 games, offered the first attacking threat on 12 minutes when Joaquim Adao tried his luck from long-range, with his low drive palmed wide by Scott Fox.
County found chances hard to come by, with Jason Naismith blazing an effort wide after being set up by Davis Keillor-Dunn, however the Staggies enjoyed a decent flurry towards the end of the half.
Neat play from David Ngog set up an opportunity for Jim O’Brien on 43 minutes, however his shot was blocked by John Souttar, while moments before the interval Alex Schalk saw a shot hit the roof of the net.
Hearts started the second-half brightly, with Souttar thwarted by Scott Fox after getting on the end of Don Cowie’s corner, however the Jambos made the breakthrough on 53 minutes, with Lafferty’s 25-yard strike curling into Fox’s bottom right-hand corner.
Coyle introduced on-loan Aberdeen midfielder Greg Tansey for his debut just short of the hour mark, with the Staggies spurning a glorious chance to equalise moments later when Christopher Routis’ cutback picked out the unmarked Keillor-Dunn at the far post, but he ballooned his effort over the bar with the full goal to aim at.
County did restore parity on 76 minutes however, with the ball breaking for Naismith after when the ball ricocheted into his path following Cowie’s challenge on Schalk, with the right back drilling a superb low effort past Jon McLaughlin from 14 yards.
The Staggies applied some late pressure in their search of a winner, with McLaughlin saving Routis flick from a corner, before substitute Ryan Dow saw a low shot blocked on the goal-line, however they were unable to find a breakthrough.
