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County condemned to relegation play-off against Raith
St Johnstone reach safety with final-day win
Livingston 1-1 Hibernian - Maolida with opener but Anderson hits back
Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone - Clark converts delicious Carey cross & Sidibeh heads in second; Bair misses penalty against former club before Moses nets
Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen - Murray gives hosts lead but Sokler & McGrath hit back; Dhanda levels from spot after MacDonald sent off
That's all from us on the day St Johnstone survived and Ross County were condemned to the Scottish Premiership play-off final for the second year running.
They'll take on Championship runners-up Raith Rovers, with full coverage across the BBC of their clashes on Thursday and Sunday.
What a league season it's been, exemplified by madness today.
Cheers as always for your company and take care.
FT: Livingston 1-1 Hibernian
Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "It was an even game. Chances for chances, it was about even and I don't think there was much more in the game. A draw is a fair reflection.
"I came to the unluckiest club in Scotland. We finish fifth, miss Europe. Finish sixth, miss Europe. Two top-six finishes, missed out on the top six by the last kick of the ball and on matchday 38.
"The last two years, the gap between Livingston and the rest of the league has been growing and it's been harder year on year to be competitive.
"I'd walk away with my head held high. From when I came to into the football club to where we were to where we are now - two promotions, two relegations, a Cup final and Premiership football for six years, you'll break the record transfer fee and three or four players who've come through to play for Scotland - you'd take that."
"It's common knowledge that I'm in with the people at the football, in with the bricks and mortar, and if that changes I'm happy to shake everybody's hand and move on.
"I'm lucky I've got a degree, a background I can fall back on. I never thought I'd be manager of Livingston, I go away and complete my UEFA Pro Licence. I'd like to still be here but it's out of my hands."
Image source, SNSFor one last time in the top flight (for now), let's hear from Livingston boss David Martindale...
FT: Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone
Another season over at Fir Park.
Stuart Kettlewell will be hoping to build on a stronger end to the campaign.
But it's not been short of drama. 46 goals for. 51 against. The Premiership's entertainers.
Image source, SNSFT: Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen
Could the Aberdeen talisman have been saying goodbye to the travelling Dons support this afternoon?
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Image source, SNSFT: Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen
Ross County interim manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "Congratulations to Craig [Levein] and St Johnstone. They did the job that they needed to do.
"Unfortunately, we came up short in terms of us getting the victory. But, again, I'm extremely proud of the group. They kept fighting right until the end.
"We've got to be ready for two very important [Premiership play-off final] games. Raith [Rovers] are a very good team, they're going to be feeling good about themselves. We're going to have to be at our best. We know what it takes but it's going to be a real challenge."
Image source, SNSFT: Livingston 1-1 Hibernian
Hibs stalwarts Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson both bowed out on a score draw in West Lothian after experiencing an underwhelming final season at the club.
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Image source, SNSFT: Livingston 1-1 Hibernian
Hibernian caretaker manager David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "Credit to Livingston, David [Martindale] will be happy with their start and they got a reaction, started the better team and threw a lot at us.
"They force you to defend from everywhere, but we were poor on the ball for the first 15 minutes and showed good resilience. Both teams didn't want to lose, rather than wanted to win it. Did we do enough to win the game? Maybe. But a point each is probably fair.
"I believe I am ready. I'd always back my ability. That's not what matters at the moment, what matters is what the club decide. I've been asked to do a job, which is now done. Over the next few days, we'll find out what's happening.
"I feel I've gained a lot of experience, always in difficult situations. I've also had the benefit of four different coaching styles. I was learning the whole time, piecing it all together and implementing what a successful Hibs team could look like.
"What I've done previously has no bearing move forward, I would never want that to be the case."
Image source, SNSFT: Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone
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Image source, SNSFT: Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound
Ross County need to use their experience of the relegation play-off.
They've done it before and they can do it again.
FT: Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "I'm delighted and extremely stressed out. At the end, when the Motherwell fans celebrated after the game finished just to wind us up, I had to take an extra couple of heart tablets.
"It was a good performance by the boys today. We deserved to win. We've been good the last week or so in the last three games.
"We've managed to get ourselves in the position where we'll be in the Scottish Premiership next year.
"We had a lot of good performances today. There were a couple of minutes we had to defend manfully to stop Motherwell getting their first goal.
"The boys were throwing themselves in front of shots with blocks and tackles. That's the kind of team spirit that gets you a result like this.
"I've never really been in a relegation battle as a manager and I didn't want to start now. It was a bit stressful and there was a lot of cajoling, some pats on the back and stern words at times to get the players into the position where they're surviving.
"All credit to them, I thought they were fantastic today."
Image source, SNSAfter a dramatic final day, St Johnstone are staying in the Scottish Premiership.
How about some reaction from manager Craig Levein then...
FT: Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen
Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven tells BBC Scotland: "It was tough at the end but we knew Ross County had to throw everything at it. The boys showed great character and dug it out, got the point.
"I thought we were comfortable and then obviously with the red card [for Angus MacDonald] we had to change shape. I've seen the [Ester Sokler offside] goal back, that's very tight.
"I'll speak to [incoming manager Jimmy Thelin] next week, hopefully, and talk about the squad."
Image source, SNSFT: Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone
Graham Carey is another man St Johnstone have a lot to thank for.
His wonderful assist today was his ninth in the Premiership this season. Saints only scored 29 goals this league campaign (wild).
So by my shoddy maths, that's 32% of their tally created by one man.
FT: Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Adama Sidibeh has scored three goals in his last three games in the Scottish Premiership.
What a pivotal signing he turned out to be. From English Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands, mind.
An unlikely hero.
Image source, SNSFT: Ross County 2-2 Aberdeen
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Image source, SNSWonder what's going through this man's mind right now.
His Raith Rovers side, the Championship runners-up, are two games away from the top flight.
Ross County now how to escape the play-off though, just ask Partick Thistle fans.
Should be fascinating.
And there it is. The final Scottish Premiership table for the 2023/24 season.
St Johnstone avoid the relegation play-off on goal difference. What a league.
So, the Premiership play-off final is set.
Ross County v Raith Rovers for a spot in the top flight next season.
First leg on Thursday. Second leg on Sunday. Both legs live on BBC Radio Scotland and online with highlights on Sportscene.
Cannae wait.
FT: Motherwell 0-2 St Johnstone
St Johnstone hero Nicky Clark tells BBC Scotland: "It's just relief. I don't know what happened at the end. Somebody said Ross County had scored.
"The boys have been brilliant. We needed it. We've been much better.
"Two goals before half-time puts us in a great position. I'm delighted and relieved."
Image source, SNS| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 95 | 30 | 65 | 93 |
| |
| 2 | 38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 87 | 32 | 55 | 85 |
| |
| 3 | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 54 | 42 | 12 | 68 |
| |
| 4 | 38 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 46 | 44 | 2 | 56 |
| |
| 5 | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 46 | 52 | -6 | 47 |
| |
| 6 | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 49 | 68 | -19 | 42 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 48 | 52 | -4 | 48 |
| |
| 2 | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 46 |
| |
| 3 | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 56 | 59 | -3 | 43 |
| |
| 4 | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 29 | 54 | -25 | 35 |
| |
| 5 | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 38 | 67 | -29 | 35 |
| |
| 6 | 38 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 70 | -41 | 25 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 80 | 26 | 54 | 78 |
| |
| 2 | 33 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 72 | 23 | 49 | 75 |
| |
| 3 | 33 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 34 | 12 | 62 |
| |
| 4 | 33 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 43 | 34 | 9 | 51 |
| |
| 5 | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 43 | -5 | 43 |
| |
| 6 | 33 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 44 | 54 | -10 | 41 |
| |
| 7 | 33 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 44 | 51 | -7 | 39 |
| |
| 8 | 33 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 37 |
| |
| 9 | 33 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 35 | 49 | -14 | 35 |
| |
| 10 | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 24 | 46 | -22 | 31 |
| |
| 11 | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 56 | -24 | 30 |
| |
| 12 | 33 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 22 | 59 | -37 | 18 |
|
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Craig Levein
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Craig Levein
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
All three league meetings between Motherwell and St. Johnstone this season have been drawn; the last fixture to be drawn four times in a Scottish top-flight campaign was Dunfermline Athletic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2011-12 (Dundee v Kilmarnock could also be drawn four times this season).
St. Johnstone have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with Motherwell (W3 D4), and are unbeaten in their last three such away visits (W2 D1).
After their 4-1 win over Livingston, Motherwell are looking to win back-to-back home league games for just a second time this season, after doing so in their first two such matches.
St. Johnstone must win this match and hope Ross County fail to beat Aberdeen to avoid a place in the play-offs. The Saints have, however, lost 19 league games this season, last losing 20+ in a top-flight campaign in 2001-02 (27), when they were last relegated.
St. Johnstone’s Craig Levein has lost each of his last four MD38 games in the Scottish top-flight, twice with Dundee United (2007-08, 2008-08) and twice with Hearts (2017-18, 2018-19). He last avoided defeat on the final matchday in a season in the top tier in 2006-07, when his Dundee United side drew 0-0 with Motherwell, while his last such win was also over Motherwell with Hearts in 2003-04 (3-2).
