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06 Sept 2025

Ross County will need another play-off success to retain their top-flight status

Ross County will need another play-off success to retain their top-flight status

Ross County will have to win a third play-off in a row to preserve their Scottish Premiership status after drawing 1-1 with Motherwell.

The Staggies took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Ronan Hale, with Motherwell equalising late on via Moses Ebiye. However, the result in Dingwall ended up not mattering as Dundee got the result they needed at St Johnstone.

County broke forward with pace in the third minute, with Alex Samuel releasing Michee Efete to try to pick out Hale in the middle. However, he could not get a clean shot away.

Dan Ashworth’s delivery was also causing issues at corners but the visitors grew into the contest and started getting into the final third more often as the half went on, with Andy Halliday testing goalkeeper Jordan Amissah in the 27th minute.

Although it soon became apparent Dundee had taken the lead in Perth, Staggies supporters would soon have something to celebrate themselves.

Wright stepped into midfield to make a good interception, feeding in Hale who finished into the top corner to give his side a 29th-minute lead.

The remainder of the half remained even, with John Koutroumbis seeing a deflected effort spiral dangerously close to the top corner before going over.

The visitors would then take an element of control after the restart, keeping the ball far better but still struggling to create genuine chances to score.

Even when they did, like a well-worked move on the hour mark that ended with Lennon Miller taking aim, it was an easy stop for Amissah to make.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment for County with just under 15 minutes left on the clock, as Callum Slattery hit a shot from outside the box that the Staggies stopper spilled, before Koutroumbis hit the post from the edge of the box.

Another chance in the same move saw Tom Sparrow turn the ball into the net via the post, but the offside flag went up in a decision confirmed by VAR Andrew Dallas.

The visitors kept pushing though, and would find an equaliser in the 83rd minute when Ebiye headed into the top corner.

The goalscorer could have won it for Motherwell straight from the restart. County committed men forward and left the Nigerian one-on-one with Eli Campbell, who he beat before shooting just wide.

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