County should be ‘grateful’ for survival chance

John Hughes says former club Ross County will be grateful to still have two chances to stay in the Premiership as their survival fight goes to the wire.

The Staggies’ 3-3 draw at home to St Johnstone on Wednesday was packed full of drama, which leaves them in the relegation playoff spot.

Malky Mackay’s men must win at Kilmarnock to trade places with their hosts on the final day of the league season this Sunday.

Dundee United, who lost 3-0 against Killie in midweek, are as good as down, as they require an eight-goal swing in their favour to drag County down to the bottom.

County stormed back from 2-0 down against the Perth Saints in Dingwall to take a 3-2 lead before Ryan McGowan’s stoppage-time goal denied them a win, which would have sent Dundee United down and moved them to within one point of Killie.

That late goal didn’t change matters for the Staggies as, with Kilmarnock winning, they still need to get three points at Rugby Park to secure safety without a doubleheader play-off.

The team finishing 11th, currently County, will face Partick Thistle or Ayr United in the Premiership play-off final. Thistle take a 3-0 lead to Somerset Park tonight.

Hughes’ six-month stint in charge of County was successful as he kept the toiling side in the Premiership automatically in 2021 after replacing Stuart Kettlewell.

He feels County will be grateful they have the opportunity to remain in the top-flight, by defeating Killie or winning the playoffs.

He said: “If it means the playoffs and you get the chance to stay in the Premiership, you grab it with both hands.

“That’s the position Ross County are in. It was all touch-and-go on Wednesday night and Ross County could have found themselves like Dundee United, but thankfully they got the draw which keeps it alive. The late St Johnstone goal didn’t change their need to win at Kilmarnock.

“Ross County woke up on Thursday knowing they are still in there fighting, whereas Dundee United know it’s probably done and dusted for them.”

Hughes, who works as a BBC Scotland pundit, explained the loss of Dundee United will be a sore one at Tannadice.

He said: “Despite that late goal, Ross County will be delighted they have at least cemented their place in the playoffs unless something miraculous happens and Dundee United overturn the eightgoal deficit.

“For a club like Dundee United, there are a lot of good football people there. It is one of the biggest clubs in Scotland.”

Ross County defender Jack Baldwin.