Are Livingston favourites in play-off with County?
Scottish Premiership Play-off final, first leg: Livingston v Ross CountyVenue: Home of the Set Fare Arena, Livingston Date: Thursday, 22 May Kick-off: 20:00 BSTCoverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & BBC Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app, highlights on BBC Scotland & iPlayer from 23:00
The top-flight team has generally had the edge when it comes to Scottish Premiership play-off finals, but is it true this time round as Ross County travel to face Championship runners-up Livingston in Thursday's first leg?Which side goes into this as favourites?"At this moment in time, I've got to say Livingston," says Cammy Bell, who tasted Premiership play-off final defeat with Rangers against Motherwell back in 2015."Livingston are winning games. They are used to winning this season. Ross County have gone nine games without a win. That's a long period of time."
It must be spirit sapping for County to be going into this tie on a run of seven defeats and two draws as they finished second bottom, four points adrift of Dundee. Livingston, in contrast, are flying into the final after a convincing 4-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Partick Thistle, having narrowly lost out in their title race with Falkirk.While the Highland side are aiming to extend their six-year stay in the top flight, Livingston are aiming to bounce back at the first time of asking after relegation last season.One comfort for County is that history is certainly on the side of the Premiership team.There have been 10 Premiership play-off finals. Only three Championship sides have triumphed to make that leap upwards.However, Livingston have experience as one of those three promoted clubs. They were winners in 2018, replacing Partick Thistle in the top flight.The size of the gap between Premiership and Championship sides is an oft-debated topic.Although it has been a tough season for County, their players have been honing themselves against a generally higher grade of player all season and that must count for something.Livingston, though, can point to plenty of players within their ranks who have plenty of years of rich Premiership experience – the likes of Stevie May, Ryan McGowan, Danny Wilson and Scott Pittman have all impressed in the top flight over the years.When it comes to recent on-field evidence of contests between the two divisions, Livingston lost 1-0 at home to St Johnstone – who finished bottom of the Premiership – in their Scottish Cup quarter-final back in March.Tellingly, however, Livi beat County in the same competition back in January. That was a 3-2 victory in Dingwall as Andrew Shinnie scored the winner in the final minute of extra time.Former Dundee captain Cammy Kerr knows the territory when it comes to both Premiership and Championship.The Queen's Park defender believes Livingston pose a major threat to the Premiership side."Livingston have a clear identity," Kerr told Sportscene. "They go at teams, they have been a lot more attacking this season in the Championship. "For me, it is a mentality thing. Livingston are on the up. Ross County are the total opposite. It does play a part."The 16 goals from Ronan Hale in all competitions will give County hope. The Northern Ireland striker has also scored in their past two matches.Defence is more of an issue. It was 1 March the last time the Dingwall side kept a clean sheet.As for Livingston, continuity has been the theme with the same 11 starting the past five matches.However, could experience in this particular fixture be key for County?This will be their third Premiership play-off final in a row.Back in 2023, they virtually rose from the dead against Thistle. The Glasgow side were 3-0 up on aggregate with only 20 minutes of the second-leg still to play.In one of the greatest comebacks ever seen in Scottish football, the Staggies regrouped to score three goals before delivering the knockout blow on penalties.Last season was a far more comfortable affair for County as they thumped Raith Rovers 6-1 on aggregate.However, that Rovers team looked like a side that had run out of steam. The same cannot be said of Livingston.
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