Test of nerve as County & Livi fight for top flight

BBC News

26-05-2025

The mood music amongst the Ross County fans was decidedly gloomy before the Scottish Premiership play-off first leg.Various doom-laden voices spilled forth on to the airwaves of BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme. Sombre predictions of various shades of footballing disaster was the general consensus.In the end a 1-1 draw was a relatively positive result to head back to Dingwall with. It would be interesting to gauge the key of the mood music now.Livingston looked like they had edged it for large parts in West Lothian. The Lions had more possession, more shots at goal and were putting their bodies in the way of all the probing and prodding the Staggies could muster.But the football Gods work in mysterious ways and Livingston's Danny Wilson would be their plaything.
The 33-year-old central defender has had quite the football journey. Rangers starlet, big money move to Liverpool, Championship-winning captain at Hearts. Add to that a transatlantic adventure in Major League Soccer and Scotland caps along the way and the boy's done good.Wilson has been a rock at the back for his hometown club, who have a defensive record to be proud of this season.In recent weeks he has also chipped in at the other end. A goal against Partick Thistle at Firhill in the semi-final, he would find the net again in the final against County. His deflected effort put Livi in front on the stroke of half-time.But how crucial could his late tug on the jersey of County striker Jordan White prove to be? VAR has been nowhere to be seen throughout the Championship season, but suddenly it was front and centre as - rightly - it awarded the Premiership side a lifeline.The resulting penalty from Ronan Hale was dispatched with power and expertise. A 17th goal of the season in all competitions for the striker who looks like the shrewdest bit of business done in Dingwall last summer. The tie was suddenly level.Hale's verve, invention and eye for goal will be the big hope again for County on Monday evening. At times in West Lothian they went direct in the hope that second balls would break to the Northern Irish livewire in his favoured territory, 20 yards or so from goal.The former Cliftonville man is the sort of player who makes things happen and seems unnerved by big moments."He has ice in his veins," is how BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart put it as we talked through the Sportscene highlights on Thursday night.Those in charge at Ross County would always have had hope in this tie but the first-leg draw gives that hope a more positive hue.
'Night of mountainous drama lies ahead'
The talk of Livingston being favourites seems more hushed now. Suddenly there is anticipation about what happens next.Livi boss David Martindale was clearly disappointed at the final whistle on Thursday. His players would have felt the same way after giving away the lead.Martindale felt key decisions went against them. But he was also mindful to maintain an upbeat tone. The drum needs to keep beating before the journey to the Highlands.Livingston have their own reasons for hope. For spells in the first leg they looked the more likely side. This well-drilled, experienced, streetwise team in yellow certainly knows how to win football matches.As for the Staggies, they now regroup on familiar territory knowing they have viewed this landscape twice in the past two seasons and prevailed.Indeed this challenge resembles a mere Munro to the Everest that was the Partick Thistle ascent two years ago when they trailed by three goals on aggregate with 20 minutes left of the second leg.Blend into the mix a noisy home support with the canny nous of an away side that you can never, ever write off and this is a tough one to call. A night of mountainous drama lies ahead.