Kayne Ramsay headed home a late equaliser as Ross County roared back to draw 1-1 against Livingston to remain 10th in the Premiership.
The West Lothian side are notoriously tough opponents for the Dingwall club, having only lost five out of their 32 meetings before this one. The Staggies’ last triumph over them was in February 2020, eight matches ago.
Alan Forrest shot Livi in front early in the second half then defender Ayo Obileye smashed a penalty over the bar late on before sub Ramsay bundled home a last-goal leveller.
This result, allied with Dundee – bottom at the start of the evening – winning 2-1 against third-placed Hearts, means the Staggies remain above the relegation places in 10th, six clear of Dundee and eight ahead of new basement side St Johnstone.
County began the night with an outside chance of moving up to seventh if all results fell their way, but they are just two points behind now-ninth-placed Aberdeen, who lost 3-2 against Celtic.
Two sides feeling good about themselves
County had built a comfortable cushion over the bottom two at the weekend thanks to their 2-1 comeback victory at Dundee.
Livingston’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen had them in fine fettle going into this one, too.
David Martindale’s team had taken four points from both league games with County this season, scoring late both times, while an injury-hampered Staggies side lost 2-1 at Almondale in the Scottish Cup last month.
Home boss Malky Mackay named an unchanged starting 11, while Livi made three changes.
In came midfielders Odin Bailey and Scott Pittman, along with Joel Nouble, who was an on-loan sensation this season at Championship table-toppers Arbroath.
Cristian Montano’s red card against the Dons saw him drop out, with Adam Lewis and Bruce Anderson also named as substitutes.
Sides start under the snow showers
The steady pre-match lashings of snow continued as the action begun as the sides aimed to still make it a contest worthy of its billing.
The Lions made the brighter start, attacking the Jail End, Forrest drew a decent early stop from goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.
County responded with Jordan Tillson going close with a shot over the top before a Jake Vokins’ cross fell just too deep to cause panic at the back for Livi.
There were appeals from some Livingston players for a penalty when they yelled that a James Penrice cross struck an arm, but referee David Munro ignored those pleas.
Nouble was then not far off the mark with a header when he connected with a Penrice cross.
Forrest strikes to fire Livi in front
The Lions hit their goal five minutes into the second half. Stemming from a sweeping attack, Pittman fed the ball on to Forrest and he sent the ball beyond Laidlaw into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
It was a classy finish and follows on from his goal against the Dons at the weekend.
50' – SUPERB!
Scott Pittman bursts forward with the ball and gives it to Forrest who steadies himself and fires beyond Laidlaw into the bottom corner.
Brilliant finish! GET IN!
ROS 0-1 LIV | #LFCLive | #cinchPremiership https://t.co/hlOfo9YqAy
— Livingston FC (@LiviFCOfficial) February 9, 2022
County reacted though and left-back Vokins lashed a shot into the side-netting after Jordan White provided the assist.
Forrest almost put the match out of reach on 65 minutes when he pounced in the box, but Alex Iacovitti was on the line to block his effort.
The Lions then had a golden chance to cap it after being awarded a penalty when Regan Charles-Cook felled Penrice in the box.
Up stepped defender Obileye and he fired the ball high over the bar to the relief of the home fans.
After this scare, from a Spittal cross, Ramsay got in ahead of White to score to secure a last-gasp point for the Staggies.
With the Scottish Cup taking centre stage this weekend, County are idle and return to action on February 19 away to Hibs.
For Livi, they are off to Tynecastle on Saturday to tackle Hearts in the cup.
HOW THEY LINED UP
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1) – Laidlaw 6, Randall 6 (Ramsay 83), Vokins 6, Spittal 7, Callachan 6, Watson 6, Iacovitti 6 (Baldwin 77), Charles-Cook 6, Tillson 7 (Wright 83), Hungbo 6 (H Paton 62), White 6. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer (GK), A Samuel, Drysdale, B Paton, Mackinnon.
LIVINGSTON (4-3-3) – Stryjek 6, Devlin 6, Fitzwater 6, Obileye 6, Penrice 6, Omeonga 6, Holt 6, Pittman 6, Bailey 7 (Anderson 64), Nouble 6, Forrest 7 (Shinnie 81). Subs not used: Maley (GK), Longridge, Sibbald, Boyes, Lewis, McMillan, Kelly.
Referee: David Munro.
Attendance: 2224.
Man of the match: Alan Forrest.
