Hibs 2-2 Ross County: Hibs given hell by highlanders

But Hughes would also readily admit his side must get better, much, much better if they are to take advantage of the second chance afforded them when they make the long journey to Dingwall and Ross County's Victoria Park a week tomorrow.

For the time being, however, everyone at the Edinburgh club will be happy simply to have another go at disposing of the Staggies, goalkeeper Graham Stack's beetroot-red face testimony to how close the First Division outfit had come to causing a major upset.

Having seen Ian Murray take Martin Scott's net-bound shot off his own line, Stack bravely threw himself down as the County midfielder pounced on the rebound, the ball smacking off the goalkeeper's face before being hustled to safety.

With the clock at his back showing less than two minutes to play, a third goal then for Derek Adams' side would have sent Hibs crashing out of the competition yet again.

As it is, Hughes was able, while admitting to disappointment and frustration, to adopt that old default position of stating: "We are still in it."

Hibs most certainly are, and although many will now see County as favourites to march on to the semi-finals for the first time in their history, Hughes insisted his players were still "optimistic" that they can make the return journey down the A9 with their dream of glory intact.

He would say that, of course, but Murray, having played that vital part in ensuring a second bite at the cherry, echoed his manager's words.

He said: "We know it will be a hard game up there but we are still confident of progressing."

The Easter Road support, though, certainly don't seem so sure, the boos which rang around the ground on the final whistle reflecting their exasperation at seeing County outfight and outplay Hibs for much of the second half.

But while Murray felt that reaction was "a bit unjust" given Hibs remain in the Cup and are still very much in the race for third place in the SPL table, Stack admitted he understood just why the fans were so unhappy.

He said: "It's a player's worst nightmare to be jeered off but they were right to boo us.

"Maybe it is the wake-up call we need but we are still in the Cup."

If Stack's comment hinted Hibs – having enjoyed the luck of the draw again after previously beating Junior side Irvine Meadow and the Third Division's basement club Montrose – had possibly under-estimated their First Division rivals, Hughes insisted that was not the case.

He said: "I had seen them a few times and I said to the boys about the spirit in which they play, how they work for each other and that we were going to have to overcome that.

"All the credit goes to Ross County. They came down here and were possibly disappointed at being 2-1 down – they were possibly the better side."

Having said that, Hughes believed his team had created the better openings, Colin Nish presenting Hibs with a dream start as he dropped to his knees to guide an effort from skipper Chris Hogg over the line after just six minutes. A bizarre own goal, however, hauled County level, Stack superbly standing up to see Michael Gardyne's shot blast off his chest only for the ball to ricochet off Murray and into the net.

It was an unlucky break for Hibs but Hughes would have been dismayed at the space Gardyne was granted as he ran through the centre of his defence.

It was again posted missing 11 minutes from time as Gardyne displayed a wonderful touch as Paul Lawson's long ball forward dropped over his shoulder, dispatching a low shot across Stack and into the far corner of the net.

"It was amateur stuff," raged Hughes. "It's a high ball down the channel and for some reason no-one went over to cover it."

If a nervousness had descended on Easter Road prior to Gardyne's goal, sheer terror gripped the home fans thereafter, their anxiety, as Murray admitted, transmitting itself to the pitch with everyone all too aware that Hibs' cup hopes were on a knife edge as County sensed that their opponents were there for the taking.

Hughes said: "The last five minutes were a bit hairy for us. You are looking for someone to take responsibility, to get those clearances in, to put in the big header to take the game further up the park.

"I was really disappointed we didn't see the game out at 2-1."

Few, however, would have anticipated such an ending after Riordan, with his 13th goal of the season, had put Hibs ahead for a second time only three minutes after County's first equaliser, visiting goalkeeper Michael McGovern having already made amends for his mistake for the opening goal by twice denying the Scotland striker, smothering one shot at the second attempt and then getting his fingertips to another to touch it round the post.

John Rankin fizzed a free-kick just wide and County's Gary Miller just got his toe to the ball ahead of Nish to prevent Hibs getting a third goal which, in all probability, would have killed the match. But thereafter the Dingwall outfit pressed Hughes' players back, hemming them in and forcing the home side to hit on the counter attack.

They almost did so to devastating effect as Nish caught Scott Boyd ball-watching as Riordan knocked it over his head, the striker stretching to guide a delicate chip over McGovern only to see it ripple the top of the net rather than nestle in it.

County, though, kept pounding forward, Stack pulling off a terrific save low to his left to deny Iain Vigurs who had given young David Wotherspoon a torrid first half before Paul Hanlon slid in to knock Andy Barrowman's low cross out of the path of Gardyne.

Stack said: "I don't know what their manager said at half time but County came out fired up. Their work ethic and desire was greater than ours."

Those are words which will hurt any professional football player but Hughes remains confident that if his side can match Country's energy, enthusiasm, spirit – not to mention some super football – then they can emerge victorious.

He said: "I saw bits and pieces in the game which we have to improve on and if we can do that then we will be the better for it for the rest of the season and hopefully that trip to Hampden will come."

As kind as successive draws have been in this year's competition, after more than a century of waiting, every Hibs supporter knows deep down that regardless of who the opposition might be, the Hibees have a tendency to do things the hard way.

And that's the way it's likely to be in eight days' time.