Ross County moved off the bottom of the Premiership table as they leapfrogged Partick on goal difference thanks to an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Jags at Dingwall.
Alex Schalk’s hat-trick and a goal from Ross Draper brought the Staggies a much-needed victory in their most important match of the season.
The result provided co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson with their first win since replacing Owen Coyle.
Following a bright start to the game, County took the lead on 34 minutes when leading scorer Schalk drilled a superb low shot into the net from the edge of the box.
County got the all-important second six minutes later through Ross Draper before Schalk put the points beyond doubt in the second half with his second and third goals.
The Staggies now host Hibs on Saturday, although they will once again do so without skipper Andrew Davies who is suspended following his red card for a lunge on Celtic skipper Scott Brown in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Parkhead.
Although Scottish FA compliance officer Tony McGlennan will make a decision on whether to cite Davies for further punishment by the end of this week, the lack of precedent makes it highly unlikely, meaning the Englishman should be available for the Staggies’ post-split run-in.
As well as leapfrogging Partick, County’s victory moves them to within four points of Dundee and five of Hamilton, who lost 3-1 to Hibs at Easter Road.
At the other end of the table, Aberdeen moved three points clear of Ran-gers in second after a 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.
Goals from Kari Arnason and Kenny McLean were enough to defeat the Steelmen – who Derek McInnes’ men play in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden next weekend.
In the Championship, Caley Thistle cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over bottom-side Brechin at Caledonian Stadium.
A double from Joe Chalmers and goals from Coll Donaldson and George Oakley gave John Robertson’s men victory but the result does not reduce the gap between Inverness and the play-offs, with the Highlanders trailing Dundee United and Dunfermline by 11 points, with three games in hand over the Pars.
l Match report and reaction, P52-53
