Ross County 1 - 1 Dundee: Heroic Higgins equaliser bails out Craig and dents Dundee hopes

JOE Malin is tipping Steven Craig to end his goal drought and provide enough firepower to make Ross County certain of their First Division place beyond the summer.

The former Aberdeen and Motherwell striker set the First Division ablaze with eight goals up until his injury in October. But since returning to fitness, Craig has only one more goal – in the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone in February – to his name.

The 27-year-old had one chalked off early in the draw against Dundee and clutched his head in frustration as a handful of clearcut chances also went begging. It was a familiar story for Ross County who have created a high number of chances in recent games without end reward.

However goalkeeper Malin, in fine form himself since replacing the injured Derek Soutar, believes Craig's luck has to turn soon.

"If you look at what Steven is doing in games, he is getting in all the right positions," said Malin. "The goals just won't go for him at the moment but even the best strikers in the land go through lean spells like that.

"Steven showed earlier in the season just what he is capable off and once he gets one I reckon he'll go on a wee run again and end the season on a high."

Dundee led through Mickael Antoine-Curier's 66th-minute opener. But sendings off for Paul McHale and Gary MacKenzie helped County glean late reward for their perseverance as Sean Higgins struck with a stunning free-kick in stoppage time.

Having tormented former club Dunfermline with a gem of a winner on Tuesday night, County striker Craig Brewster was sidelined with a heavy cold. Despite missing the veteran's influence, County looked in the mood.

The hosts had the ball in the net in the third minute when Mark McCulloch's superb curved cross saw Craig stabbing past Rab Douglas from eight yards. Craig was adjudged offside, and further frustration was to follow.

After six minutes, McCulloch's second telling delivery was headed against the crossbar by giant Dutchman Dyron Daal and Craig nodded the rebound high over from a few yards.

At the other end, Dundee were not without menace and, from a Mark Gilhaney corner, Curier's attempt was cleared off the line by Paul Lawson.

McHale, who earned what would be a costly first booking after 13 minutes, then whisked a 20-yard drive just inches wide. Craig missed another sitter three minutes from the break, hacking over the bar after Douglas failed to hold a dig from Lawson.

Into the second half, luckless Craig ripped a left-foot shot towards the corner from the edge of the box but Douglas managed to turn it behind.

Dundee then took the lead midway through the half. Mark Gilhaney dinked the ball across to Antoine-Curier and he slipped it past Malin from six yards.

The Dark Blues were almost caught out soon after when substitute Richie Hart sent his first touch crashing against the bar from 30 yards.

With County pressing hard, Dundee went down to ten men in the 85th minute when McHale picked up a second booking for a tackle on Higgins.

There was further drama right at the death when Gary MacKenzie was shown a straight red for a tackle on Craig as he bore down on goal. Higgins took the kick and bent it around the wall and low into the net for the equaliser.

For Jocky Scott, with so much at stake in the chase on St Johnstone, the late blow was a bitter pill to swallow.

"That's two weeks in a row we've been in front only to be pegged back right at the end," said the Dundee manager. "It's a bit galling. We've got to learn the lesson – one goal is never enough."