ROBBIE NEILSON, the Hearts manager, last night hailed the performance of new Gorgie hero Abiola Dauda – and promised even better once he is fully fit.

The 28-year-old Nigerian striker, freshly-signed from Vitesse Arnhem, produced two memorable finishes late on in only his second appearance to kill Ross County's resistance and push Hearts closer to European qualification.

Victory, in a bizarre match often controlled by Ross County until a freakish opener, sent Hearts 11 points behind second-placed Aberdeen and 11 above last night's opponents in fourth.

"County probably had the better of the first half. In the second half, we got a little bit of luck with the goal but then we brought Dauda on and he changed the game for us with his quality," Neilson said. "That's why we brought him here. He's probably not 100 per cent fit.

"The first goal is different class – a top finish. Nobody is expecting him to hit it. The back lift takes it into the bottom corner and that's the sign of a quality striker.

"It was a big game for us tonight coming here. It sent out a statement that gap is there for us to defend."

This was a night for new signings. David Goodwillie was free to make a debut start after being cup-tied for the Linlithgow Rose match.

Seventeen-goal Liam Boyce, with a contract extension announced last night through to summer 2018, made a first start since breaking his hand against Kilmarnock at the end of December.

Hearts, not to be outdone, handed a debut to ex-Dundee United defender John Souttar, while Don Cowie, still a cast-iron hero around these parts, earned his first start since returning north from Shrewsbury after extensive English travels.

From the 12th minute, it was County who began to get the measure of a slippery surface and impress. After 14 minutes, Cowie fouled Martin Woods 25 yards out. McShane's free-kick, with some venom, swerved just beyond the top of Neil Alexander's left-hand post.

From another dangerous McShane delivery, Jackson Irvine bounded clear in the box but smacked a six-yard header just over a goal there for the taking.

The County pressure continued. Jackson Irvine's midfield interception sparked the danger and he found Goodwillie twisting and turning inside the right side of the penalty area. Goodwillie had time to switch onto his left foot and his determined attempt was deflected only just over the bar by the leg of Souttar.

County initially picked up where they had left off in the second half with Boyce cracking the crossbar from 20 yards.

But Hearts won their first corner of the match after 52 minutes – and, against all momentum in the match, took the lead.

Cowie's corner swerved at pace into the six-yard box and Irvine's clearance ricocheted cruelly against Jamie Walker and into the County net.

It was all over when Nigerian substitute Dauda found space to cut an angled shot past Fox from the left of the box, into the far corner. Three hundred Hearts fans sang with glee then saw Dauda do it again with a late 20-yard curler past unlucky Fox. The hosts were disbelieving.

An aggrieved Jim McIntyre conceded catching Hearts in the chase for third place was now a distant prospect.

"It will be a tall order to catch Hearts now. Eleven points between now and the end of the season is a lot to make up," McIntyre said.