Raffaele De Vita was the hero for Ross County as the Staggies extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a well-deserved 2-1 success against Dundee United.
Jackson Irvine headed County into the lead after 12 minutes before Nadir Ciftci restored parity from the penalty spot eight minutes later after Marcus Fraser brought down Aidan Connolly.
But De Vita showed superb composure to slot home the winning goal after 72 minutes after another Irvine header had struck the post.
Jim McIntyre’s men have now taken 19 points from a possible 21 to open up a 10-point gap over bottom of the table St Mirren.
Dundee United, by contrast, remain without a win in the league since January and were jeered off the pitch by their supporters following a poor display.
Ross County were without attacking midfielder Michael Gardyne who was ineligible to play against his parent club with the fit-again Marcus Fraser returning in his place.
United made a storming start to proceedings with Nadir Ciftci denied an early opener when his blistering finish after three minutes was ruled out for offside.
County also settled well in an engaging start to the match and were on the scoresheet after 12 minutes.
A venomous Liam Boyce effort was tipped over by Radoslaw Czierniak but the United stopper was helpless to prevent Irvine heading home a perfect Martin Woods delivery from the resulting set-piece.
The visitors should have been awarded a penalty after 18 minutes when United captain Sean Dillon tripped Raffaele De Vita but referee Steven McLean, the closest man to the incident, was unmoved.
McLean was, however, pointing to the spot within 60 seconds when Aidan Connolly was bundled over by Fraser and Ciftci calmly rolled the ball home from 12 yards.
After such a frenetic start, there was little for the supporters to get excited about until six minutes after the restart when Paul Dixon pulled down Boyce as he advanced on goal.
The Staggies players surrounded referee McLean demanding a red card for preventing a goalscoring opportunity but the under-pressure whistler allowed the United defender to escape with only a booking.
County, to their credit, were continuing to push forward in search of the next goal with Irvine teeing up De Vita with a delightful crossfield pass which was volleyed wide by the Italian.
The visitors were again frustrated after 68 minutes when another Irvine header from a Woods corner was ruled out for a foul by Boyce on Czierniak.
However the incessant Ross County pressure paid off four minutes later when Filip Kiss crossed for Irvine’s whose downward header struck the post and De Vita slammed home the rebound.