Match ends, Ross County 1, Hibernian 0.
Ross CountyRoss County1HibernianHibernian0
Ross County secured their Premiership safety after Richard Brittain's penalty gave the Dingwall side victory over Hibernian.
The midfielder crashed the ball beyond Ben Williams after Jordan Slew had been brought down by Scott Robertson.
County had the best chances with Yoann Arquin and Jordan Slew going close.
The Dingwall men now cannot finish in the relegation play-off spot but Hibs, who face Kilmarnock at home on Saturday, remain in danger.
And with Killie and Partick Thistle playing on Wednesday evening, Hibs may go into the final weekend in the dreaded 11th place.
County started in nervy fashion and were guilty of a string of slack passes as the visitors dominated possession.
Jason Cummings had the first sight of goal after a fine through-ball from Danny Handling, but the Hibs hitman's effort from just inside the box was well saved by Mark Brown.
That was the only flurry of excitement in the final third in the opening exchanges, but the home side finally threatened after 20 minutes.
A corner kick was flicked on by Yann Songo'o but, after it fell to the feet of Arquin, Liam Craig slid in to block his effort.
County almost hit the front when Brittain's free-kick from the right was superbly headed on by Arquin, only for the ball to bounce back off the post.
That sparked a response from Hibs and Craig had a glorious chance to open the scoring from a corner, but he could not direct his six-yard header on target.
The hosts had the first chance of the second half when Filip Kiss fed Melvin de Leeuw down the left and he hung up a delightful back-post delivery for Brittain, whose header was well saved by Ben Williams.
Rocco Quinn came on for Stuart Kettlewell before the hour as Staggies boss Derek Adams signalled his intent to push for the opener.
And a few minutes later County got it from the penalty spot.
De Leeuw and Arquin linked up superbly down the left and when the ball was fired into the centre, Slew was downed by Robertson.
Brittain took the responsibility and made no mistake, drilling the ball into the corner of the net with Williams well beaten.
Slew then had the chance to double the hosts' lead but after some great work to get himself free in the box he was unable to beat Williams.
James Collins came on for Handling as Hibs stepped up their bid for a leveller, but it was County who looked the more dangerous.
Slew then fired a left-foot effort over the bar after bursting into the box following a fine through-ball from Alex Cooper.
Hibs almost made County pay for that miss but Cummings nodded just wide of target.
The visitors applied some late pressure and Collins went close with a header, but they could not muster an equaliser and their Premiership fate will now be determined when Kilmarnock visit Easter Road.
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Brown
- 2Cikos
- 5Boyd
- 11De LeeuwBooked at 53minsSubstituted forCooperat 64'minutes
- 3Gordon
- 28Songo'o
- 8Brittain
- 4KettlewellSubstituted forQuinnat 57'minutes
- 25SlewSubstituted forCareyat 89'minutes
- 27ArquinBooked at 90mins
- 7Kiss
Substitutes
- 10Quinn
- 14Maatsen
- 16Cooper
- 20Fraser
- 21McLean
- 23Carey
- 26Oikonomou
Hibernian
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Williams
- 18Maybury
- 16Stevenson
- 10Craig
- 3McGivern
- 19HandlingSubstituted forCollinsat 72'minutes
- 7HarrisSubstituted forWatmoreat 64'minutes
- 8RobertsonBooked at 63mins
- 35CummingsSubstituted forHaynesat 84'minutes
- 26Stanton
- 23Forster
Substitutes
- 6McPake
- 11Cairney
- 14Collins
- 17Tudur-Jones
- 21Murdoch
- 22Watmore
- 33Haynes
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 3,850
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamHibernian
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 1, Hibernian 0.
Post update
Filip Kiss (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Danny Haynes (Hibernian).
Post update
Foul by Graham Carey (Ross County).
Post update
Scott Robertson (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Yoann Arquin (Ross County) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Graham Carey replaces Jordan Slew.
Post update
Yann Songo'o (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Forster (Hibernian).
Post update
Attempt missed. James Collins (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jordan Forster (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Erik Cikos (Ross County).
Post update
Danny Haynes (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Danny Haynes replaces Jason Cummings.
Post update
Attempt missed. Samuel Stanton (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Slew (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Duncan Watmore (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Cooper (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. James Collins replaces Daniel Handling.
