Match ends, Ross County 0(4), Hibernian 0(3).
Ross CountyRoss County0HibernianHibernian0
Ross County win 4-3 on penalties
Ross County beat Hibernian to claim a League Cup bonus point after a penalty shootout was needed to separate the sides following a goalless 90 minutes.
County had won their first two Group D games and Hibs had taken full points from their only other game.
But, despite some exciting play, especially in the opening half, chances came and went in the first group game to involve two Premiership sides.
Michael Gardyne fired the deciding spot kick after Oli Shaw's was saved.
The extra point puts County, who had gone into the game seeking their fifth win in a row and 10th unbeaten following a good end to last season, in control at the top of the group.
Hibs, promoted as Championship winners last season, had arrived in Dingwall unbeaten in their last five games away from home.
And they gave debuts to summer signings Steven Whittaker and Danny Swanson, while Efe Ambrose was in the back line for the first time since making his move permanent from Celtic and a mix-up that led to a delayed return for pre-season training.
However, it was the starting place handed to Marvin Bartley that gave Hibs early dominance as the big Englishman shrugged off the challenges to dominate midfield.
His ball winning allowed John McGinn and Martin Boyle licence to bomb forward and continually worry the County rearguard with their thrusting runs towards the edge of the penalty box.
County were hampered by the loss to injury of forward Craig Curran after only seven minutes as Ambrose made his presence felt with a hefty challenge.
It meant that summer signing Thomas Mikkelsen made a swift return to the home line-up after Alex Shalk was handed a starting place ahead of the former Dundee United striker.
County were left reeling and goalkeeper Scott Fox, back in the side after young Aaron McCarey was given a workout against Montrose, was tested early by a couple of grass cutters from Dylan McGeouch and Simon Murray.
The home side, though, regained their composure and confidence after an Andrew Davies header that was beaten away by Hibs goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.
A Gardyne drive and a Ryan Dow cross almost deflected into his own net by Lewis Stevenson followed, while the Hibs full-back and McGinn flashed shots just wide as a high-tempo first half drew to a close.
County are obviously still adapting to the summer sale of Liam Boyce, last season's Premiership to scorer sold to Burton Albion, while it was too early for Hibs' latest addition, Lithuania striker Deivydas Matulevicius, to have more than a spectator's seat in the stand.
With defences tightened after the break, the game was crying out for a finisher and Hibs head coach Neil Lennon hauled off Simon Murray and sent on former County striker Brian Graham.
Yet it was a mistake from Fox, who let a deflected Boyle cross slip between his legs and just wide of the post, that came close to providing a killer moment.
Fox then denied Boyle at point-blank range and a Darren McGregor header struck the underside of the bar in stoppage time as Hibs paid the price for not finding the target before the game was decided from the penalty spot.
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Fox
- 3Naismith
- 2Fraser
- 15DaviesBooked at 21minsSubstituted forat 90+4'minutes
- 6Kelly
- 7Gardyne
- 18LindsaySubstituted forRoutisat 58'minutes
- 8ChowBooked at 57mins
- 9DowSubstituted forO'Brienat 73'minutes
- 10Schalk
- 11CurranSubstituted forMikkelsenat 7'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Routis
- 19Mikkelsen
- 25O'Brien
- 28van der Weg
- 31McCarey
- 42Tumilty
- 43Morrison
Hibernian
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Marciano
- 3Whittaker
- 24McGregor
- 25Ambrose
- 16Stevenson
- 10McGeouchSubstituted forShawat 86'minutes
- 6Bartley
- 7McGinnBooked at 66mins
- 11SwansonBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMurrayat 77'minutes
- 17Boyle
- 15MurraySubstituted forGrahamat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gray
- 5Fontaine
- 21Laidlaw
- 29Graham
- 32Shaw
- 33Murray
- 36Porteous
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 2,065
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamHibernian
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home8
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Ross County 0(4), Hibernian 0(3).
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(4), Hibernian 0(3). Michael Gardyne (Ross County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Post update
Penalty saved! Oli Shaw (Hibernian) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(3), Hibernian 0(3). Marcus Fraser (Ross County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(2), Hibernian 0(3). Fraser Murray (Hibernian) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(2), Hibernian 0(2). Alex Schalk (Ross County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(1), Hibernian 0(2). Martin Boyle (Hibernian) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0(1), Hibernian 0(1). Jim O'Brien (Ross County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 0, Hibernian 0(1). John McGinn (Hibernian) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Penalty saved! Christopher Routis (Ross County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the top right corner.
Post update
Penalty saved! Steven Whittaker (Hibernian) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Ross County 0, Hibernian 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Hibernian 0.
Post update
Marcus Fraser (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Brian Graham (Hibernian).
Post update
Darren McGregor (Hibernian) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Tim Chow.
Post update
Andrew Davies went off injured after Ross County had used all subs.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Scott Fox.
