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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 38
May 18, 2025 at 3pm UK
Global Energy Stadium
ML

Ross County
1 - 1
Motherwell

Hale (29')
Kenneh (15'), Randall (53')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Ebiye (83')
O'Donnell (90+5')

Preview: Ross County vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Ross County vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and Motherwell, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

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

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.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:


Team News

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.




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic5320112268692
2RangersRangers523080413975
3Hibernian512262501258
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd51044554-953
5Aberdeen51044861-1353
6St Mirren52305359-650
Relegation Group
1Hearts54015247552
2Motherwell53114663-1749
3Kilmarnock53024564-1944
4Dundee52125777-2041
5Ross County50233765-2837
RSt Johnstone51043868-3032
 
First Phase
CCeltic33263497227581
2RangersRangers33206768353366
3Hibernian331411854411353
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd33148114140150
5Aberdeen33148114549-450
6St Mirren33125164554-941
7Hearts33117154344-140
8Motherwell33116163756-1939
9Kilmarnock3398163858-2035
10Ross County3398163356-2335
11Dundee3397175071-2134
RSt Johnstone3385203358-2529
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