Moses Ebiye celebrates a goalSNS

Moses Ebiye's header earned Motherwell a late point in Dingwall

Jamie Lyall
BBC Sport Scotland

Ross County have a "real opportunity" in the Scottish Premiership relegation play-off should they replicate Sunday's first half against Motherwell, says boss Don Cowie.

County led their must-win fixture 1-0 until Moses Ebiye levelled with seven minutes to play, which, coupled with Dundee's victory at St Johnstone, consigned them to 11th place for the third year running.

Cowie's side take on Livingston over two legs, with the first in West Lothian on Thursday.

"If we perform the way we did first half, it gives us a real opportunity," the manager told BBC Scotland.

"If we perform when we're not quite connected against Livingston, they'll take advantage. We have played against them before in the cup and they beat us after extra time.

"We're in the play-off not because of today, but because of the last two months. I was really keen for us to get that victory.

"We know the challenge but what's important is we have the right mindset and get ready for Thursday night."

County's winless streak extends to nine matches as they enter a third-straight play-off duel with morale and momentum sapped.

A heavily rotated Motherwell, long assured of Premiership survival, finish the campaign eighth.

This has been a wretched period for County, whose top-flight berth seemed stable as recently as March, before their disastrous run left them mired near the bottom.

Knowing the stakes, the Dingwall side tore at Motherwell, Hale and Michee Efete going close and Will Nightingale's header being grabbed by Ellery Balcombe, before Ronan Hale shattered the deadlock.

Played through by Akil Wright, the Northern Irishman lashed beyond Balcombe at his near post. County have scored 37 goals this season; Hale has 12 of them.

The flow of navy blue traffic was maintained, punctuated by brief Motherwell forays, Luke Armstrong with the best of them when prodding wide on the spin.

Hale continued to lead the home charge - a close-range shot blocked, a free-kick bent wide - before Nohan Kenneh whacked one over from distance early in the second half.

With Dundee in command at McDiarmid, though, County's dominance waned.

Motherwell rallied as Michael Wimmer used his squad, Callum Slattery knocking home after Kai Andrews struck a post, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The shift in impetus became an onslaught, Ebiye leaping to head in, extinguishing any embers of Highland hope.

Ebiye could have won it on the break, swaggering past two defenders before rolling wide. Tawanda Maswanhise nearly did the job too, his shot saved by Jordan Amissah, bobbling along the line and cleared. Then Tom Sparrow almost had the final say but powered his diving header straight at Amissah.

Motherwell's season ends here.

County's fight for survival rages on, with familiar vulnerabilities to the fore.

Martindale's Lions licking their lips

How much will County, and Cowie, take from an hour of positive football? He'd have ripped your arm out its socket had you offered him three points just a little earlier, when his team embarked on their inexorable slide to 11th place.

Their toothlessness has long been a problem. Even St Johnstone, bottom of the league since late December, have outscored them.

Hale leads the line brilliantly with his persistence and creativity but far too much rests on the shoulders of their fulcrum.

Again, their inability to convert pressure into goals plagued them. Again, their frailties were exposed when the game turned and the visitors placed them in the thumbscrews.

They've been here before, of course. The staggering comeback against Partick Thistle in 2023. The far less frenetic dispatching of Raith Rovers last year.

They head to this play-off without a win since 1 March, form abysmal and confidence shredded.

Livingston have won eight of their past 10 matches.

David Martindale and his Lions will be licking their lips.

Seminal summer window beckons for Wimmer

This threatened to be a drab affair for those in claret and amber, nothing tangible to play for and no real spark to speak of for much of the contest.

Then, they stirred. Wimmer's substitutions, coupled with County's dwindling resistance, turned the game, to the point when the final 10 minutes became a near-siege.

Wimmer has been in post only four months, but has a significant summer ahead, with 18 players out of contract or with loan agreements expiring.

Lennon Miller is widely expected to move on too - the supersonic young talent gave his shirt to a fan and lingered with supporters long after full-time in what looked every inch a farewell.

The German has a substantial, and potentially defining, window to negotiate.

What they said

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "In the end, we were fortunate to come away with a point but first half we were very good, and deservedly in front.

"We are just really disappointed we didn't manage to build on it in the second half.

"Motherwell made a lot of substitutions, had a carefree style, and put us under a lot of pressure."

Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer: "I didn't expect us to need such a long time to come into the game.

"We were a little lucky to be only 1-0 behind at half-time, but the reaction was brilliant.

"We finish the season with confidence and bring that into the new season."

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