Hibernian 2 - 2 Ross County: Painful burden of Scottish Cup history weighing heavily on Hibs

This season, however, it appears many of the Easter Road club's followers had bought in all too willingly to the persuasive notion this is finally the year when their name will be inscribed on the old trophy again. The aggressive jeers which greeted the final whistle in Leith on Saturday were certainly symptomatic of a gathering which had been rudely abused of the idea that the fates had decreed a straightforward path to Scottish Cup glory for Hibs in 2010. It is difficult to imagine how hostile the reaction would have been had John Hughes' team lost this quarter-final tie to Ross County, rather than just be forced into a replay in Dingwall on 23 March.

While the Hibs fans had cause to be less than impressed with their team's performance against First Division opponents who were unfortunate not to win the match, they should have known better than to expect things to ever run smoothly in the Scottish Cup.

The draw may have been kind to them so far this season, handing Hibs three successive home ties against lower league teams, but winning the tournament for the first time since King Edward VII was on the throne is never likely to be achieved without some difficulties along the way. It seems the burden of their painful Scottish Cup history is weighing heavily on Hibs on and off the pitch as a maiden campaign of such promise under Hughes threatens to turn sour. There were fractious scenes at the full-time whistle on Saturday, the catcalls from the crowd provoking scowls of bewilderment among many of the home players.

Ian Murray responded angrily, berating some supporters as he left the field. A dyed-in-the-wool Hibee, the defender felt he and his team-mates did not merit the opprobrium heaped upon them.

"I felt it was harsh," said Murray. "It's not as if we were walking off the park having lost the game or not having given our all. We were as disappointed with the result as the fans were and their reaction was a little bit disappointing. We are pressing for third place in the SPL, we are still in the Scottish Cup and it's been a decent season so far. I think we deserved a little better. On the flip side, we have a duty to try and entertain the fans and perhaps we didn't. But I still think it was a little bit unjust.

"Maybe everything surrounding Hibs in the Scottish Cup is having an effect. To be honest, we haven't played that well in the tournament at all so far this season. We beat Irvine Meadow 3-0, which flattered us a little, and against Montrose we just played okay. But it's not all doom and gloom. Ross County fully deserved their draw but they also know they will be in for a hard game when we go up there."

County, backed impressively by a 1,500-strong travelling support, would doubtless have settled for a replay before kick-off on Saturday. But their over-riding feeling at full-time must have been that they had missed an outstanding opportunity to secure a semi-final place at the first attempt. In a hugely enjoyable cup tie from a neutral perspective, Derek Adams' side were in the ascendancy for lengthy periods. Martin Scott and Paul Lawson convincingly won the midfield battle for the visitors as Hibs toiled desperately to find any cohesive passing rhythm. Although they led twice, Hibs' work never carried any sense of conviction.

Colin Nish put them in front for the first time after just six minutes, nodding home from close range after County goalkeeper Michael McGovern made a complete mess of trying to clear a Derek Riordan corner. The Victoria Park outfit equalised ten minutes later, Michael Gardyne's powerful shot blocked by Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack before ricocheting off Murray into the net.

Riordan restored Hibs' lead in 19 minutes with a terrific turn and left foot shot beyond McGovern from the edge of the penalty area and while the tie continued at a frenetic pace, with chances at both ends, it was not until 11 minutes from time that County secured the draw which was the very least they deserved. Gardyne seized on flat-footed defending to latch onto Lawson's through ball and clip a low shot beyond Stack with the outside of his right boot. Sensing the momentum was firmly with them, County had Hibs on the rack in the final stages with the home goal enjoying an astonishing escape when two shots from Scott and a follow-up from Gary Miller were blocked by Murray, Stack and the unwitting Gardyne in quick succession.

"I couldn't have hit the second shot any sweeter," said the outstanding Scott. "The Hibs keeper didn't know anything about it. It just hit him square on the face.

"Most other days, one of those shots would have gone in. We are pleased and disappointed at the same time. Hibs were on the ropes at the end and we had the chances to win it. But to get a draw at an SPL club is great for our club."