Ross County will have one final opportunity to avoid a third consecutive relegation playoff appearance when they face Motherwell at the Global Energy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts face the challenge of overcoming a two-point deficit and potentially a six-goal margin to ensure their survival, while the visitors aim to secure the top spot in the Scottish Premiership relegation round table.
Match preview
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Ross County, since returning to the Scottish Premiership as Championship winners in 2018-19, have consistently battled against relegation over the past six seasons.
Other than an anomalous sixth-placed finish in 2021-22, the Staggies finished 10th in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, and 11th (in the relegation playoff place) in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Don Cowie would have been looking to steer the Staggies clear of a third consecutive relegation playoff this season, but with the team currently sitting 11th and two points behind Dundee, they now face the very scenario they aimed to avoid.
Ross County have managed just nine wins, nine draws and 19 losses in their 37 league matches, totalling 36 points, and come into this game on a troubling run of eight winless games – seven defeats and one draw.
However, that draw was crucial in Ross County still being able to avoid the relegation playoffs, as Ronan Hale dramatically equalised in the 96th-minute of the 1-1 stalemate with Dundee last time out.
The Staggies must win on Sunday to avoid the relegation playoffs, while Dundee need to lose or draw – with Ross County needing to overturn a six-goal difference in the event of the Dark Blue taking a point – to ensure their survival.
While their opponents, Motherwell, have already confirmed their safety in the top flight, the Steelmen will still be aiming for all three points as they look to move ahead of Hearts and finish top of the relegation round table.
The Steelmen narrowly missed out on managing their first top-six finish since 2021-22 as they placed eighth in the regular season, narrowly trailing sixth-placed St Mirren by two points.
Motherwell were sixth with four games left, but two defeats and two draws in the closing stages saw them fall at the final hurdle, leaving Michael Wimmer – who replaced Stuart Kettlewell earlier in the season – embroiled in the relegation battle.
The Steelmen began the post-split fixtures just five points above the drop zone, but three wins and one defeat mean they now lead 11th-placed Ross County by 12 points.
Despite their safety being secured, Motherwell trail seventh-placed Hearts by just one point, and the Steelmen will be aiming to leapfrog the Jambos and finish top of the relegation round standings.
Team News
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Ross County are set to be without several players for this clash due to injury issues, including Aidan Denholm, Noah Chilvers, Ross Laidlaw, Ryan Leak and Scott Allardice.
After scoring a vital equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Dundee last time out, Hale is expected to retain his place in attack, potentially partnering Jordan White.
Elsewhere, a similar side that featured in that stalemate could start, including a defensive lineup of Akil Wright, Kacper Lopata and William Nightingale.
Motherwell will also be without a host of players, including Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Archie Mair, Jack Vale, Kofi Balmer, Liam Gordon, Paul McGinn, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson, Shane Blaney and Zach Robinson.
On the back of a 3-0 triumph against Kilmarnock, Wimmer is expected to name an a similar starting side, although Luke Armstrong could start after scoring twice from the bench.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Amissah; Wright, Lopata, Nightingale; Efete, Randall, Kenneh, Campbell; Nisbet; White, Hale
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Oxborough; Casey, O’Donnell, Seddon; Sparrow, Miller, Halliday, Wilson; Slattery, Watt, Armstrong
We say: Ross County 1-2 Motherwell
While Ross County will be desperate for a victory in an attempt to avoid an 11th-placed finish, Motherwell are certainly the favourites given the contrasting form of the two teams, leading us to expect an away win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
