Ross County 0-1 Hibernian

Paul Hanlon's early goal gave Hibernian their third league win of the season at Ross County.

Hibs were rewarded for their early attacking intent when Hanlon swept home John McGinn's corner.

The visitors continued to dominate but were wasteful with their chances, and Michael Gardyne fired a warning when he hit a post for Ross County.

Hibs' Anthony Stokes and County's Alex Schalk forced good saves in a frantic finish.

Ross Laidlaw took over in goal from Ofir Marciano for Hibs against Livingston in midweek and kept his place at Dingwall with a view to the fact he will definitely feature at Celtic Park next Saturday.

Manager Neil Lennon has allowed the Israel international to miss the match so he can observe the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

Laidlaw did not have much to do in the first half as, even when Ross County controlled possession for spells after falling behind, they were rarely able to penetrate the Hibs defence.

The only real chance the home side created before the break ended with a half-hearted shot from Billy Mackay that Laidlaw dealt with comfortably.

Ross Laidlaw started in goals for Hibernian

However, a combination of brilliance and luck denied the Staggies a leveller after 62 minutes.

Michael Gardyne will feel he should have scored after being sent clear by Mackay's cross from the left, but Laidlaw got a touch on his shot and the ball bounced back to him off the post.

Ross County were fortunate to still be in touching distance at that point after an impressive start to the second half by Hibs with Simon Murray and Anthony Stokes denied by fine saves from Scott Fox.

Steven Whittaker, in for injured full-back David Gray, sent a shot flying wide of the far post from the junction of the six-yard box as Hibs continued to look dangerous every time they went forward.

Stokes was thwarted twice in the space of two minutes by Fox on his return to the starting line-up.

Laidlaw brilliantly tipped Schalk's shot round the post 11 minutes from time to earn Hibs their first clean sheet of the season.

Stokes beat Fox with a 20-yard free-kick late on but the ball hit a post, and at the other end Ross County substitute Jamie Lindsay's shot from the edge of the penalty area narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Reaction

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre and Hibernian boss Neil Lennon

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre: "That sums up our season. It's the place we are in at the moment where we are getting punished for every wee mistake that we make.

"The endeavour the players are showing is fantastic but we are not getting that we break in front of goal and our quality has got to better as well at times in key areas.

"We know we need more ruthless as I have been banging on about that for a couple of weeks but we are not capable of doing that.

"I just want the players to keep being brave and they showed that in the second half as we kept believing.

"It will turn at some point but we want to make sure it's as soon as possible."

Hibernian manager Neil Lennon: "It got a bit frustrating at the end because we missed some very good chances to put the game beyond Ross County and at 1-0 up you are never really comfortable.

"We were very good today and good value for our win in what was an important result in the context of our season.

"That gets us back on the right path and keeps us in the top six, which is really important for the club and it will be a good week now.

"I'm especially delighted with the clean sheet as it's the first for us in the league this season and Ross Laidlaw only really had one save to make."