Scottish football round-up: Alex Schalk strike sinks Hearts
Wednesday 1 March 2017 23:03, UK
Ross County moved clear of the Scottish Premiership relegation places after Alex Schalk’s goal gave them a 1-0 win away to Hearts.
The home side had laid a new pitch at Tynecastle following their draw with Inverness but they continued to struggle to create clearcut chances, although they twice hit the crossbar from long range.
Schalk inflicted a third consecutive defeat on the Jambos when he made the most of some loose play from Alex Tziolis in the 51st minute, dispossessing the Greece midfielder before drilling the ball into the corner of the net.
The defeat will increase the pressure on Hearts boss Ian Cathro, who has guided his side to just four victories in 15 games since he took over from Robbie Neilson.
Elsewhere, Dundee's recent resurgence came to an end as they went down 1-0 at home to Partick.
The Dark Blues went into the game unbeaten in their last four league games, a run that included a 2-1 win over Rangers and a 5-1 drubbing of Motherwell.
But they were undone by an own goal from Julen Etxabeguren after half an hour, the centre-back putting through his own net as he tried to clear Kris Doolan's low cross.
Partick leapfrog Dundee into sixth in the table, with the win giving them a confidence boost ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen.
Hibernian's promotion push suffered a slight blip as they suffered their first Scottish Championship defeat in 11 matches as they lost 2-0 away to St Mirren.
Stelios Demetriou scored both goals for the Buddies, one either side of half-time, to keep alive their hopes of survival.
His opening goal, his first since joining the club in January, came when he converted a superb through-ball from Stevie Mallan (35).
The 25-year-old then added another after the restart with a right-footed strike that went in via the post.
Hibs, who gave a debut to on-loan Celtic defender Efe Ambrose, remain seven points clear of second-placed Dundee United, although they have played a game more than their promotion rivals.
