Ross County’s wait for a first point of the season continues after they went down to their fourth defeat in a row following a late winner for Dundee United at Tannadice.
The Staggies looked on course for a draw after Jake Jervis had cancelled out Nadir Ciftci’s opener for United but the home side took all three points thanks to substitute Chris Erskine’s late winner.
County manager Derek Adams made three changes to the team which lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock last weekend.
Tim Dreesen missed out due to injury while Melvin de Leeuw and Rocco Quinn dropped to the bench in place of returning captain Richard Brittain, Joe Cardle and Jim Fenlon.
United manager Jackie McNamara made one enforced change to the side which was hammered 6-1 by Celtic a week ago with Stuart Armstrong absent due to injury. His place was taken by Mario Bilate.
The Staggies went into this game having lost all three games so far in the campaign and they almost found themselves trailing again in the opening minutes as goalkeeper Antonio Reguero made a terrific fingertip save from United midfielder John Rankin, tipping his effort on to the crossbar.
But Reguero’s save only delayed the inevitable as the home side made the breakthrough in the 19th minute.
It was all too easy for United too as Paul Paton’s free kick into the box was met by the unchallenged Nadir Ciftic who rose high to beat Reguero with a looping header.
The Staggies goalkeeper made another fine save to deny Ciftci and get his side to the break only a goal down, and his team-mates made sure his fine work was rewarded as they scored an equaliser within minutes of the second half.
Graham Carey led a fine breakaway for County, exchanging passes with Cardle before crossing for Jake Jervis to sidefoot home the leveller at the back post with the United defence nowhere to be found.
The equaliser set the tone for an end to end finale and County wasted two great chances to win it as Yoann Arquin headed over from close range before Jervis volleyed over when in space at the back post.
Just as United were left to rue their missed chances, so too were the visitors as the Tangerines grabbed a late winner through substitute Chris Erskine, who came off the bench to fire home after County had failed to clear a Gary Mackay-Steven corner.