Ross CO 1 – 1 Hibernian


Ross County once again went late to secure a result against Hibernian as they drew 1-1 in the premiership.

HIBEES soon took the lead before half-time through Dylan Levitt, not long after Jordan White had missed from the spot for the hosts, but an 86th-minute penalty from Ronan Hale leveled the scores.

After Storm Eowyn, it wasn't a game for purists as the weather took its toll on the global energy stadium turf.

This was reflected in a lack of chances early on, with only a wild Dwight Gayle volley flying a long way over the bar for Hibs and a tame effort for the boots of Noah from the edge of the box registering for the count.

However, just before the half-hour mark, the mark appears to be an opaque left-handed cross, only for referee David Dickinson to be sent to Var Matthew Macdermid's monitor.

Hibs Winger Nicky Cadden was adjudged to have handballed, with the Whites giving him the chance to score from the penalty spot – a chance he missed as goalkeeper Jordan Smith did well to save.

And five minutes before the break, the visitors took the lead when the district did not deal with a corner.

The ball fell to Levitt on the edge of the box and he slammed past Jordan Amsah into the bottom corner to seal the lead.

Nicky Cadden could have doubled the chase on the brink of half-time when he received a cross from twin brother Chris in acres of space, but Amissah made a quick clearance to clear for a corner.

Immediately after the restart Josh Campbell had a goal for the visitors but although he hit his effort it always rose over the bar.

The game remained locked at 1-0 and neither did the keeper with much to do until Amssah was needed to beat Martin Boyle out of danger in the 74th minute.

DINWALL, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 25: Ronan Hale of Ross County celebrates as he saves a penalty to make it 1-1 during the William Hill Premiership match between Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Dingwall, Scotland. (Photo byb Casey / SNS group)
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Ross County's Ronan Hale celebrates scoring from the face to make it 1-1

However, the game burst into life in the 85th minute when the Counties were awarded a second penalty as substitute Kieran Phillips was brought down inside the HIBS box.

With white from the field, Hale stepped up and sent Smith the wrong way for County's equaliser.

Although both teams tried to wreak havoc in the opposition frame, neither could find a further breakthrough to claim all three points.

What did the manager say…

Hibernian the manager David Grey I felt both penalties awarded against his side were questionable as they held on to a 1-1 draw at Ross County.

“Nobody complains about the first one at all, and actually I think it's really bad defending for us because Nicky gets shut down at the back post at first,” he said.

“There is no one behind him, the ball is only going to go out of play and clear the box. The letter of the law is that his hand is away from his body, but you should also take it into account.

“The penalty is in the second half, I think it's soft. I asked the referee about it and he felt that the goalkeeper came out in a reckless way and did not win the ball, so it is as soon as he does it and there is little contact, Var will not intervene.

“I'm not going to sit here and make excuses because there are other things we can do to make it better, but it makes it a little bit more frustrating that we only came by that point when we got through that moment, it's three points and down the road and job done . “

For Ross County the boss Don Cowie, Hale's penalty was further evidence of the message he is determined to continue to press into his players: that the complexion of matches can change at the drop of a hat.

“It emphasizes the importance of the message that the game can change at any moment,” he said.

“At certain stages this season we let ourselves go and let games get away from us. It would have been easy to go gung ho in the second half and allow a very good Hibs team to take advantage of us but we dealt with that wasn't the case.

“The game changes for a moment of quality from first Andrew MacLeod and then Cross George Robesten to Kieran Phillips crossing to the front post which won us a penalty.”

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