St Johnstone and Ross County’s scrap to keep away from the cinch Premiership play-off will go to the final day after Saints striker Adama Sidibeh grabbed a dramatic last-gasp leveller at McDiarmid Park.
County’s attacking midfielder Yan Dhanda, on his option to Hearts in the summertime, thrashed in an outstanding objective after 28 minutes which seemed like it could safe the guests’ top-flight standing.
Nonetheless, Sidibeh headed in a leveller within the ninetieth minute to maintain Saints two factors behind the Tenth-placed Staggies.
St Johnstone play Motherwell at Fir Park of their remaining league sport on Sunday, whereas Ross County host Aberdeen on the identical day. Whoever finishes eleventh goes right into a play-off with Raith Rovers or Partick Thistle.
Neither aspect went into the sport in tremendous fettle.
Saints, who had final received a house sport in December, misplaced to a late Livingston winner in West Lothian on Saturday, whereas the Staggies, whose victory at Kilmarnock final September was the one away league win this season, had been thrashed 5-1 at residence by Motherwell.
Amid the anticipated frenetic begin, County striker Simon Murray’s right-footed drive was saved by Saints ‘keeper Dimitar Mitov who moments later made a a lot better save from George Harmon’s close-range header from a Murray cross.
The house aspect then had a few alternatives.
Within the sixteenth minute, Ross County centre-back Jack Baldwin miskicked altogether from distance, permitting Saints attacker Stevie Could to run clear on objective however a weak shot was simply saved by County ‘keeper Ross Laidlaw.
Then St Johnstone midfielder Dan Phillips slashed a shot over the bar from 14 yards after being arrange by Nicky Clark.
Nonetheless, it was Dhanda who got here up with a bit of magic to provide County the lead, working a one-two with Jordan White and waltzing into the Saints field earlier than thundering a left-footed shot excessive previous the helpless Mitov.
The Saints ‘keeper, nevertheless, made a unbelievable double save a few minutes later, first from a robust Harmon drive after which Murray from the free ball, though the flag then went up for offside in opposition to the latter.
The match was stopped briefly simply earlier than the break by referee Nick Walsh for what seemed to be a VAR malfunction however either side acquired again to work within the second half, neither conceding an inch.
County all the time seemed the extra threatening however there have been few probabilities at both finish till the sixty fifth minute when Saints substitute Ben Kimpioka fired over the bar from simply contained in the field.
The ultimate phases had been a occasions uncomfortable for the Dingwall aspect however they seemed like they might see it out till, with regulation time nearly over, Sidibeh headed in Graham Carey cross to provide the house aspect a cinch Premiership
lifeline.
What the managers mentioned…
St Johnstone boss Craig Levein:
“We kept going and we’re still hopeful things can go our way.
“All credit score to the lads, though we had been open in second half, we’ve not had a number of luck this season however I believed we simply deserved with the trouble we put in.
“The hope is we go to Motherwell and win, then Aberdeen beat Ross County. We will try to put in a strong performance.
“Even when we’ve got to enter the play-offs I might fairly go into it in a vein of type fairly than disappointment so the message to the gamers on Sunday will probably be simply exit and play in addition to we will and if issues work out unbelievable and if they do not we’re prepared to enter the play-offs in good type.
“We have to got to be confident of going there and winning. Of course the reality is it’s out of our hands now.
“We needed it to be in our palms utterly however that is not the case. However I do not suppose Aberdeen will probably be a simple group to get rid of on Sunday both.
“Sunday will be about a lot of different things, character, quality and maybe a bit of luck, who knows?
“We’ve confirmed a number of power in our performances later, that has happy me and was evident tonight. So on we go to Sunday and we’ll see what occurs.”
Ross County boss Don Cowie:
“That is soccer, is not it? It occurs.
“The players are down and disappointed, but it’s my job to lift them and get the spirits high for playing Aberdeen.
“I felt it was away efficiency, they handled the stress properly and I felt comfy.
“So I’m not angry, we switched off ever so slightly and [Graham] Carey has a wonderful left foot. He put a ball in and it was a great header to be fair.
“The nice factor is Sunday’s sport comes shortly and we cannot have time to stew on it.
“We will recover and get ready to go against Aberdeen. They are in good form but apart from Motherwell at home we have been excellent at home.
“I mentioned earlier than the sport we earned the correct to have it in our personal palms and we did that tonight.
“Right until the 90th minute I thought we’d done it. St Johnstone put a lot of attackers on the pitch and we switched off.”
What’s subsequent?
St Johnstone’s remaining Scottish Premiership match of the season is away to Motherwell on Sunday, whereas Ross County host Aberdeen.
Each video games kick off at 3pm.
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