St Johnstone's quest for a taste of Europa League football next season suffered a setback after they were held 2-2 by Ross County in a cracking contest in Perth.
County twice came from behind to claim a point with man-of-the-moment Richard Brittain netting two penalties to ensure they avoided a fourth consecutive league defeat.
Route One paid dividends for the opener as Gregory Tade headed on a long punt and Steven MacLean (6) skipped in behind the static County defence to head over the stranded keeper Michael Fraser.
County were level when Iain Vigurs (15) tumbled in the box under pressure from Chris Millar and Brittain - currently the centre of an ill-tempered tug-of-love between the two clubs - found the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
The visiting side then enjoyed a short spell of dominance but when the home side broke the shackles Fraser had to bat away a Dave Mackay thunderbolt.
But it was only a temporary reprieve as Murray Davidson (25) rose to meet Mehdi Abeid's free-kick from the right and plant a fine header beyond the flailing Fraser.
Rowan Vine went close with a snap-shot while Fraser was kept honest by Abeid before Ivan Sproule brought the best out of Alan Mannus at the other end.
Gregory Tade was inches away from applying the vital touch for a third while Steffen Wohlfarth wasted a glorious opening after a deft set up by Vigurs.
Tam Scobbie then needlessly sent Sproule sprawling in the box and Brittain (76) was as composed from the spot as he had been in the first-half to level it up again.
Tade was foiled by a stunning point-blank save from Fraser while Wohlfarth so nearly profited from hesitancy in the home defence, but could only find the side net as County held out.
