Lawrence Shankland "will score goals wherever he plays", says Heart of Midlothian interim head coach Liam Fox, after the striker fired his team to a vital Scottish Premiership victory over Ross County.

Shankland scored twice and set up another as Hearts came from behind to all-but secure their top-flight status and consign their hosts to a sixth straight defeat.

Often deployed in a deeper role by Neil Critchley, sacked by the Tynecastle club last weekend, Shankland was fielded as Fox's main striker and proved the game's most threatening player.

"We did a lot of work this week on the structure of the team and how we want to create chances," Fox told BBC Scotland.

"Lawrence Shankland will score goals wherever he plays. I just felt we need him in and around the box to hopefully get him the chances he did today, because when he gets those, he usually hits the back of the net."

With Fox again in temporary charge, Hearts sit seventh, eight points above the bottom two, ending their five-game winless run and dispelling gnawing fears of being sucked into the play-off berth.

The troubled hosts, who led through Ronan Hale's snapshot, stay six points clear of basement side St Johnstone, and two behind Dundee, with a trio of league games remaining.

Hearts were the dominant force in a lively first half, Jorge Grant and Shankland spurning early opportunities, Adam Forrester having a crack from distance and Forrest hooking over from a promising position.

There was no harbinger of a home goal; County's attacking trident of Alex Samuel, Jordan White and Hale relatively bereft of possession and the midfield behind them outmuscled and picked open.

Then, one came.

For perhaps the first time, Nohan Kenneh outboxed Beni Baningime in the middle of the park, strode forward and slid in Hale, whose terrific first-time finish fizzed low beyond goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Hearts stirred, Shankland forcing a smart double stop from Jordan Amissah, then teeing up Forrest on the counter, who blazed over the stand.

Shankland, over a recent injury and restored to the number nine spot, looked sharp and the captain hauled his toiling team off the canvas, collecting a Baningime pass, stepping inside and slotting beneath Amissah.

Hale menaced again soon after the break, a ricocheting ball diverted into his path and his volley superbly stopped by Craig Gordon at close range.

However, it was Shankland who struck, prodding home from Kenneth Vargas' pull-back.

The skipper's fingerprints were all over the killer third, seizing upon an Akil Wright slip and squaring for Forrest to convert. He nearly bagged a hat-trick late on but was denied by Amissah from point-blank range.

Points safe. And Hearts might well be too.

On their losing streak, the Highlanders had scored only two goals, so little wonder Don Cowie named a frontline bristling with danger.

Their early openings were limited to long balls, hoping one of the front three would pluck a rabbit from a hat.

Hale's snapshot imbued them with some belief, but again, they were unable to capitalise further on momentum or maintain their lead for more than a few minutes. Defensively, they were unpicked by Hearts' wide men too easily and too often.

For all County's endeavour and competitiveness, this bleak run of form will deeply concern those in Dingwall.

Dundee's late loss to Motherwell gives them some hope ahead of a monumental bottom-two showdown in Perth next weekend.

These are grim times in Gorgie, the sacking of Critchley, the unsightly media interactions at the club's player of the year awards night and the creeping spectre of a relegation battle.

When Hale slammed County ahead, the ire of the away fans was once again poured all over Ann Budge and the Hearts hierarchy.

Shankland, a maligned and out-of-sorts figure for much of the campaign, rode to their rescue.

Regularly played behind the striker, the Scotland frontman had scored only five goals this term, but his ruthless instincts re-emerged when utilised in a more advanced position with ample support from out wide.

Forrest, on the left, and Vargas, on the right, stretched County, and Shankland showed class is permanent with his clinical strikes.

On so many occasions last season, Shankland was Hearts' go-to man. His return to the goal trail looks to have come in time to ward off any fears of being drawn towards the Premiership trapdoor.

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We get the first goal, it's important we keep it at 1-0 going into half-time.

"We concede, the game is still in the balance, concede a poor second, but we are still in the game, then we make a mistake and are punished.

"It's fine margins. Ronan has a great opportunity at 1-1 and doesn't take it. There is no point feeling sorry for ourselves, we have to get ready for a massive week next week.

"I've got belief in the group and myself, but we've got to get act upon it."

Interim Hearts head coach Liam Fox: "We are delighted after a difficult week for the club.

"There's natural disappointment when County scored, but we were asking them to be brave and pass the ball and, in moments like this, that can be difficult, but I am delighted with the response."