Hibernian vs Ross County. Scottish Premiership.
Easter RoadAttendance13,930.
Match report as goals from George Harmon and Alex Iacovitti help Ross County climb out of the Scottish Premiership's bottom two with victory at Hibernian
Wednesday 9 November 2022 06:11, UK
George Harmon and Alex Iacovitti were on target as Ross County climbed out of the Scottish Premiership's bottom two with a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Hibernian on Tuesday.
The Easter Road side had most of the ball and the bulk of the chances but it was the Staggies who were most ruthless on the night as they made it back-to-back league victories for the first time this season.
Hibs, who could have gone back up to third with a win, were booed off after suffering a fifth defeat in six matches.
Home boss Lee Johnson made two changes to the side that started Friday's 4-1 defeat at Aberdeen as Kyle Magennis and Marijan Cabraja dropped out, with Elias Melkersen and Demi Mitchell coming in.
There were also two alterations to the County team that started Saturday's win at home to St Mirren as Keith Watson and David Cancola replaced Jack Baldwin and Jordy Hiwula.
Hibs started brightly and Mykola Kukharevych saw a powerful strike charged down by former Easter Road defender Watson in the sixth minute.
Four minutes later Mitchell got on the end of a cross from Ryan Porteous just outside the six-yard box but the wing-back was unable to keep his volley on target.
For all the possession they enjoyed in the early stages, Hibs struggled to create any clear opportunities. In the 25th minute, Kukharevych had a half chance when he threw himself at a Mitchell cross, but his near-post header sailed harmlessly over the bar.
The Hibees were forced into a change in the 38th minute when Mitchell went off injured and was replaced by Lewis Stevenson.
County started to grow into the game as it wore on and they had a great chance to take the lead in the 42nd minute when Owura Edwards' cross broke to Jordan White on the edge of the six-yard box but the striker's shot was deflected over by Paul Hanlon.
The visitors were not to be denied, however, and they went ahead in first-half stoppage time when Harmon got the slightest of touches on Yan Dhanda's low cross from the right and diverted it into the net.
Hibs boss Johnson responded by making a double change at the start of the second period, with Elie Youan and Josh Campbell replacing Kukharevych and Nohan Kenneh.
The hosts had a good chance to level in the 52nd minute when Joe Newell's corner fell kindly to Rocky Bushiri but the centre-back shot straight at keeper Ross Laidlaw from inside the six-yard box.
The Edinburgh side started to crank up the pressure around the hour and Ewan Henderson, Melkersen and sub Jair Tavares all threatened within the space of a few minutes. Porteous then saw a powerful strike from outside the box beaten away by Laidlaw.
But it was the Staggies who struck again in the 79th minute when centre-back Iacovitti was perfectly placed to slot home from eight yards out after being teed up by a Harmon cutback from the left.
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson: "It was nowhere near good enough. I'm disappointed. It was a very young team we put out but I put that team out to be bright, energetic, technical.
"We had control but what's control without goalmouth action? When we got into the final third we were schooled by two old school centre-halves and we've conceded two goals from situations we had opportunities to be organised from. If you do that it ends up costing you.
"But there were a lot of things that cost us. We deserve the criticism that will come our way, we were rightly booed off. Against St Mirren recently, if you were doing your marks in the paper, most of them would be getting sevens and eights but tonight it would be threes or fours. All we can do is rally and try and build a platform. The next performance is going to have to be dogged."
Ross County boss Malky Mackay: "In the first 10 or 15 minutes we had to withstand a bit of pressure, but then I thought we sorted ourselves out. For the rest of the first half I thought we were excellent.
"We kept a lot of the ball, to the point Hibs changed shape and actually had to do a press on us to stop Victor Loturi getting the ball. In the second half it was about being tactical and making sure we stayed in good shapes and didn't let their lines come between us.
"Hibs are good in that area, but Ross Laidlaw was quiet in terms of getting shots at him. We picked their pocket again and I'm delighted with the performance and the way the boys kicked on from Saturday. They showed the bravery of being on the ball, especially at Easter Road against a good team."
Hibernian have one fixture remaining before the Scottish Premiership pauses for the World Cup - a trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm.
Ross County also have just one game remaining before the tournament in Qatar, with champions Celtic hosting Malky Mackay's side on Saturday - kick-off at 3pm.
