the long ball game without much success.

County's winner came virtue of a huge error by Greek international Tziolis. It looked a simple task for the midfielder to clear a cross inside his own box, but he played the ball straight to Schalk, who took full advantage from 12 yards.

The visitors might have been ahead sooner, but Alan Muir waved away shouts for a penalty when Tim Chow went crashing to ground inside the Hearts box.

Disgruntled Jambos

Hearts have now failed to win in five matches, and a hammering from Edinburgh rivals Hibernian seven days ago intensified the disquiet among the Tynecastle faithful, angered by what they perceive to be a lack of fight from Ian Cathro's players.

Ian Cathro has won just three of his 15 games as Hearts headcoach

And the home fans roundly jeered another lacklustre performance, and slapstick defending, against a Ross County team who were bidding for a first league win in the league since Hogmanay.

It was up front, though, where Cathro will be seeking a vast improvement. Apart from a first-half Arnaud Djoum curler that bounced off the bar - with Bjorn Johnsen blasting the rebound high into the Roseburn Stand - and Avlonitis' late effort, it was a relatively simple evening for the County rearguard.

County climb

The win will no doubt give County a huge lift as they strive to pull away from any relegation battle. Although they remain ninth, the Staggies are now five points clear of bottom club Inverness and three clear of Motherwell, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.

Cathro will