Kilmarnock slipped to 10th in the Premiership table after being hit by a late goal in defeat to Ross County.
George Harmon’s goal four minutes from time separated the sides in what was a drab affair where both sides failed to provide any real attacking threat or fluency in their play.
The left-back rolled the ball home from close range after being teed up by Noah Chilvers.
Derek McInnes elected to make four changes with Kyle Vassell and Liam Polworth out injured while Bobby Wales and Robbie Deas made way. Coming in were Innes Cameron, David Watson, Danny Armstrong and Liam Donnelly.
Unfortunately for Cameron his afternoon lasted only four minutes before being forced off with what appeared to be a muscle injury. He was replaced by Marley Watkins.
By that point, the hosts had already created a decent chance when a rampaging run from Brad Lyons eventually saw the ball played out wide to Fraser Murray. The winger’s whipped delivery was headed towards goal by Watson but it was comfortable for Jordan Amissah.
The hosts started the brighter of the two teams but almost shot themselves in the foot on 12 minutes as Corrie Ndaba made a hash of an attempted clearance that sent Aussie midfielder Josh Nisbet through on goal. Robby McCrorie came to his team-mate’s rescue with a terrific save as the Staggies looked certain to open the scoring.
The away side grew into the game and dominated much of the remainder of the first half as Killie produced a disjointed display. McCrorie was called into action once more when skipper Connor Randall looked to curl one into the top corner from 20 yards with the keeper at full stretch to tip the effort over the bar.
Unfortunately, the second half produced even less quality with both sides struggling to string more than a couple of passes together. It took 21 minutes after the restart for there to be anything resembling goalmouth action with the hosts forcing a couple of half chances as first Watson and then Bruce Anderson looked to turn home Murray deliveries from the left flank.
Just as the game appeared to be heading to the goalless conclusion it probably deserved, the visitors grabbed three points as Harmon rolled the ball home four minutes from time.
A neat pass from substitute Ronan Hale played in Chilvers down the left flank and his cut back found the unmarked Harmon who nabbed his second goal of the campaign with a composed finish into the bottom corner to seal the win.
Kilmarnock: McCrorie; Lyons, Mayo, Wright, Ndaba; Armstrong (Mackay-Steven 84), Watson, Donnelly (Magennis 63), Murray; Anderson, Cameron (Watkins 4, Wales 63). Subs not used: O’Hara, Burroughs, Deas, Brown, Bainbridge.
Ross County: Amissah; Brown, Wright, Lopata, Randall; Kenneh, Nisbet (Loutri 75), Grieves (Hale 59), Harmon; Chilvers (Telfer 88), White. Subs not used: Hamilton, Ja. Reid, Allardice, Sheaf, Brophy, Jo. Reid.
Goal: Harmon (86)