Ross County 3-2 Livingston: Josh Sims scores stoppage-time winner in relegation battle

Interim manager Don Cowie has urged Ross County to “build on” their dramatic late win against fellow strugglers Livingston as they left their opponents six points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

It had looked as though a second-half double from Livingston’s half-time substitute Bruce Anderson had given the visitors a precious point from a difficult position following Eamonn Brophy’s two goals for County before the break.

But there was one dramatic moment to come as good work from Max Sheaf and then Jordan White teed up Sims to win it in the second of seven minutes of added time.

“We need to try and build on what we’ve achieved today,” Cowie told BBC Scotland. “It’s about recovering and making sure we’re ready to go again.

“We’ll enjoy the feeling, it’s been a long time since we’ve got three points. Tonight is about enjoying that feeling and then tomorrow, we’re focused on St Mirren.”

The win moves County six points clear of Livingston, and they will have the chance to move out of the relegation play-off berth on Tuesday.

As for Martindale’s team, they worked so hard to battle back in the second half but their huge effort last week in beating St Mirren to close the gap at the bottom was undone.

Player of the match – Eamonn Brophy (Ross County)

County overturn momentum at the bottom – analysis

It’s hard to over-emphasise how big a result this was for County and Cowie.

They were winless in 10 league games and had their advantage over Livingston cut last week, which piled the pressure on this game.

They started brilliantly, albeit with some help from Livingston when Mohammed Sangare’s poor control allowed Brophy in behind to calmly open the scoring.

There was nothing fortunate about the second goal though – a thumping strike from Brophy which nearly took the net off after a good pass from Simon Murray.

Yes, they squandered the lead for the fourth time this season to Livingston, but crucially this time they got themselves out of jail with Sims’ excellent goal.

On the flip side, this is a savage blow for Martindale and his players. Buoyed by a first win in 17 league games last week, the manager spoke of positive momentum.

That will have somewhat evaporated with this result, although six points is far from insurmountable.

Anderson’s introduction at half-time almost got them a point as he netted two classic striker’s goals. The first, just two minutes after the restart, was a low first-time finish past Wickens.

It was Anderson’s first in the league since October, but he did not have to wait long for another as he controlled Tete Yengi’s pass and drove the ball into the net just four minutes from the end.

But unlike Livingston sides in previous seasons, they have a habit of making games open and frantic. This time, they were punished. Although there was a split second when everyone in the ground thought they’d grabbed a last-ditch equaliser.

But Sean Kelly’s powerful volley had smashed the side netting.

What they said

Interim Ross County manager Don Cowie: “Eamonn [Brophy] is someone I believe a lot in. He’s a goalscorer, he’s a threat. It’s about him keeping that going. I’m hopeful that as the season goes on he’ll get even better.”

Livingston manager David Martindale: “First half, we weren’t at it. Toothless. We try to get the reaction and we manage to get back in the game. I thought the boys were magnificent.

“I was going to change it back to the four, take the point and go back down the road. I thought we had the momentum. Maybe I should have changed the shape back. Hindsight’s a great thing in football, isn’t it?”

What’s next?

County host St Mirren on Tuesday night (20:00 GMT), while Livingston are at home to Motherwell on Wednesday (20:00).