Ross County as soon as once more left it late to safe a outcome towards Hibernian as they drew 1-1 within the Premiership.
The Hibees had taken the lead shortly earlier than half-time courtesy of Dylan Levitt, not lengthy after Jordan White had missed from the spot for the hosts, however an 86th-minute penalty from Ronan Hale levelled the scores.
Within the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, it was not a sport for the purists because the climate had taken its toll on the International Vitality Stadium turf.
That was mirrored within the dearth of possibilities early on, with solely a wild Dwight Gayle volley flying a good distance over the bar for Hibs and a tame Noah Chilvers effort from the sting of the field registering on the shot depend.
Nevertheless, simply earlier than the half-hour mark a seemingly innocuous cross from Chilvers was cleared away, just for referee David Dickinson to be despatched over to the monitor by VAR Matthew MacDermid.
It was adjudged that Hibs winger Nicky Cadden had handballed, with White given the prospect to attain from the penalty spot – an opportunity he missed as goalkeeper Jordan Smith made an excellent save.
And 5 minutes earlier than the break, the guests took the lead when County did not take care of a nook kick.
The ball fell to Levitt on the sting of the field, and he slammed previous Jordan Amissah into the underside nook to present Hibs the benefit.
Nicky Cadden might have doubled Hibs’ lead getting ready to half-time when he acquired a cross from his twin brother Chris in acres of house, however Amissah was out shortly to deflect the shot behind for a nook kick as a substitute.
Instantly after the restart Josh Campbell had a go at purpose for the guests, however though he struck his effort effectively it was all the time rising over the bar.
The sport remained locked at 1-0 with neither goalkeeper having a lot to do till Amissah was wanted to punch Martin Boyle’s shot away from hazard within the 74th minute.
Nevertheless, the sport burst again into life within the eighty fifth minute when County had been awarded one other penalty as substitute Kieran Phillips was taken down contained in the Hibs field.
With White off the pitch, Hale stepped up and despatched Smith the unsuitable option to equalise for County.
Though each groups tried to trigger chaos within the opposition field, neither might discover a additional breakthrough to say all three factors.
What the supervisor mentioned…
Hibernian supervisor David Grey felt that each penalties awarded towards his aspect had been questionable as they had been held to a 1-1 draw at Ross County.
“Nobody appeals for the first one at all, and actually I think it’s really poor defending for us as Nicky switches off at the back post initially,” he mentioned.
“There’s nobody coming in behind him, the ball’s just going to go out of play and clear the box. The letter of the law is his arm is away from the body, but you need to take these considerations into account as well.
“The penalty within the second half, once more, I believe is delicate. I’ve requested the referee about it and he felt the goalkeeper got here out in a reckless means and did not win the ball, in order quickly as he does that and there’s a little little bit of contact, VAR are usually not going to 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 does make it a wee bit more frustrating that we came away with just a point when, if we get through that moment, it’s three points and down the road and job done.”
For Ross County boss Don Cowie, Hale’s penalty was additional proof of a message he’s decided to maintain urgent on his gamers: that the complexion of matches can change on the drop of a hat.
“It stresses the importance of the message that the game can change at any moment,” he mentioned.
“At certain stages this season we’ve let ourselves down by allowing games to 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 exploit us, but we made sure that wasn’t the case.
“The sport adjustments on a second of high quality from first Andrew MacLeod, then George Robesten’s cross to Kieran Phillips getting throughout the entrance put up which obtained us the penalty.”
