Date	Saturday, 10 April 2021
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Kilmarnock 2:2 Ross County
Venue	Rugby Park
Attendance
Referee	Nick Walsh
Comments	Match Report Report by Nick McPheat for the BBC. Played Behind Closed Doors Kilmarnock 2 Ross County 2 Ross County fought back twice against Scottish Premiership relegation rivals Kilmarnock to maintain a one-point advantage over Tommy Wright's side. In a frantic opening 16 minutes, Michael Gardyne cancelled out Chris Burke's volley before Mitch Pinnock restored the hosts' lead. But Alex Iacovitti powered home a second-half header to earn County a deserved point. The draw means the hosts remain 11th, while County stay 10th. But defeat for Hamilton Academical at home to Dundee United means both sides increase their advantage on the league's bottom club. Hamilton are now two points adrift of 11th-placed Kilmarnock, while John Hughes' men sit three points above the foot of the table. The previous fixture between these sides last month served up a thriller, when County ran out 3-2 winners in Dingwall and it only took five minutes to realise this encounter would throw up more of the same. Aaron McGowan's cross from the left could only be headed as far as the penalty spot by the County defence, allowing Burke to charge in unopposed and control a volley into Ross Laidlaw's bottom-right corner. The lead would last less than two minutes, as Jason Naismith's punt upfield was won in the air by Billy Mckay, who provided Gardyne on the right of the box to cut inside his man and guide a neat finish low into the near corner. But just over 10 minutes later, the pendulum would swing again. This time it was Zech Medley's turn to lump it forward, and once more County's defensive clearance wasn't far enough as Pinnock was able to control in the area and drive a shot through Laidlaw. The visitors pushed for a leveller. Gardyne saw a strike drag narrowly wide before the break, as both Jordan White and Ross Draper went close with headers early in the second half. However, Iacovitti would make no mistake when he outjumped everyone in the Kilmarnock box to power home the equaliser from Iain Vigurs' corner. Either side could have won it, as Gardyne miscued an effort just past a post before Burke's low drive forced Laidlaw into a smart stop down to his right. The hosts turned up the pressure in the closing stages, but Hughes' men held on to ensure they remain above the relegation play-off spot with four games to play. Kilmarnock manager Tommy Wright: "Fair play to both sides. It was competitive. We didn't impose ourselves on the game the way we would've liked. "Ross County deserved to get back in the game. The character of the players isn't in question. The ability is there. I'd have just liked to see us play better for longer in the game." Ross County manager John Hughes: "We had to dig deep to come back and take something from the game. Credit to the players, they showed great spirit and willingness. "I'm disappointed the three points aren't on the bus coming back with us to Dingwall. I felt we created a number of chances."
Ross County
Manager	John Hughes
Starting 11	1: Ross Laidlaw, 3: Carl Tremarco, 6: Ross Draper, 7: Michael Gardyne 1, 9: Billy Mckay, 11: Iain Vigurs 1, 15: Keith Watson, 16: Alexander Iacovitti 1, 22: Jordon Tillson 1, 23: Jason Naismith 1, 26: Jordan White
Bench	21: Joseph Hilton, 8: Oliver Shaw, 14: Jermaine Hylton, 17: Regan Charles-Cook, 18: Stephen Kelly, 19: Charlie Lakin, 24: Harrison Paton, 25: Coll Donaldson, 44: Matthew Wright
Kilmarnock
Manager	Tommy Wright
Starting 11	Colin Doyle, Aaron McGowan, Zech Medley, Kirk Broadfoot, Brandon Haunstrup, Alan Power 1, Gary Dicker, Rory McKenzie 1, Chris Burke 1, Mitch Pinnock 1, Kyle Lafferty 1
Bench	Danny Rogers, Clevid Dikamona, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Calum Waters, Youssouf Mulumbu, Diaguely Dabo, Greg Kiltie, George Oakley, Danny Whitehall