It would be fair to say County were glad to see the back of Dunfermline after last night’s William Hill Scottish Cup replay in Dingwall.
The team from two leagues below again provided the sternest of tests for the Premiership Highlanders before Raffaele De Vita’s second-half strike secured a fifth round meeting with Forfar or juniors Linlithgow Rose.
But it proved another tense occasion as the League One leaders again performed impressively, as they had done in the 2-2 draw on Saturday.
Pars manager Allan Johnston said: “Over two legs, we were the team who deserved to go through. The only criticism we could have is we never took our chances in the game.
“But we showed our quality and kept them going right to the end, pushing Ross County hard. I thought we were the better team.”
County boss Jim McIntyre, a former Pars player and manager, admitted to relief at progressing.
He said: “We are delighted to be through. Again, we didn’t play well but we are happy to get the win.
“Dunfermline have guys who have been at a higher level for a reason and they are capable of bringing that kind of performance.
“When a team is on a run like Dunfermline they are ahead in the league and are scoring goals it brings confidence. That goes a long way in football. You fancy your chances even as an underdog and you step up to the plate.”
The Highland team had been lucky to escape Fife with their cup ambitions intact and McIntyre demanded better.
Johnston sent out an unchanged team and they didn’t disappoint in early attacking intent.
In an action-packed first 15 minutes, Faissal El Bakhtaoui broke on the right and swept in a terrific cross but Joe Cardle’s attempt struck Marcus Fraser.
County’s Michael Gardyne dispossessed Josh Falkingham inside the Pars’ penalty area and found Stewart Murdoch to shoot against goalkeeping namesake Sean. Brian Graham closed in, but Dunfermline defender Ben Richards-Everton cleared the danger.
The Staggies threatened again after 12 minutes with Alex Schalk releasing Jonathan Franks but keeper Murdoch saved the winger’s fierce, low strike.
The best chance saw a weak Franks’ free-kick break to Graham, only for the big frontman to prod over the bar.
El Bakhtaoui drew a parry from Scott Fox after 35 minutes.
County removed right winger Franks at the break and threw on De Vita.
Fraser fluffed a glorious chance as play resumed, knocking the ball over from inside the six-yard box.
It grew increasingly ragged and messy but Dunfermline had a decent chance after 69 minutes.
Michael Moffat’s sharp pass eased El Bakhtaoui into space inside the area but home keeper Fox parried the attempt.
Just a minute later, the Pars were ruing that missed opportunity when Gardyne’s cross took a deflection on its way to De Vita, who had time to smash a volley past keeper Murdoch.
There was high tension as the home side held against steady late pressure.
Attendance: 2,041
Ross County: Fox, Fraser, Robertson, Davies, Foster, J Franks (De Vita 46), Murdoch, Irvine (McShane 68), Gardyne, Schalk (Quinn 75), Graham. Subs not used: Woods, Reckord, Boyd, Morrison.
Dunfermline: Murdoch; Rooney, McKay, Richards-Everton (McCabe 76), Talbot, Falkingham, Geggan, Paton, El Bakhtaoui, J Cardle (Hopkirk 66), Moffat (Wallace 79). Subs not used: Gill, Byrne, Potter, Wallace, Antoine-Curier.
Referee: Alan Muir.