Dundee & Ross County out to secure survival in bottom-six finale

Guaranteeing Scottish Premiership survival is the aim for Dundee and Ross County in Sunday's bottom-six finale - but who will prevail?

St Johnstone's automatic relegation was confirmed when the Perth side were consigned to bottom spot following Wednesday's defeat at Hearts.

That means Dundee and County will be out to avoid the dreaded play-off spot after both sides drew 1-1 at Dens Park in midweek. Livingston lie in wait.

The Highland club go into their home match with Motherwell with the odds stacked against them, needing to make up a two-point deficit on Tony Docherty's men, who also have a superior goal difference of six.

But a County victory on Sunday would mean they are ready to pounce if Dundee lose at relegated St Johnstone.

Dundee's dramatic draw with County on Wednesday came courtesy of a controversial penalty decision, allowing Ronan Hale to smash in a late leveller.

Dens Park boss Docherty says his squad have been galvanised by the "adversity" of the handball call by referee Nick Walsh, who pointed to the spot after defender Ryan Astley headed the ball on to team-mate Antonio Portales' raised arm.

It was the third time in three games that Docherty had felt aggrieved at decisions, but he is now focusing solely on Sunday's final match as Dundee look to avoid 11th.

"Wednesday night and Thursday, it was tough to process for myself and the players, but that's a period you need to go through," Docherty said.

"My full focus now is stuff I can control, affect and influence. We've moved on from that and we've got together and I sense through adversity there's real galvanising to the group.

"There's a real strong mentality we're looking to promote and hopefully that can help us towards Sunday's match."

County have survived via the relegation play-off in the past two seasons and it seems likely they will have to do it again as Livingston lie in wait.

But if they can end an eight-game winless run against Motherwell, they will heap serious pressure on Dundee in Perth.

County boss Cowie says his team take "confidence and momentum" into their final-day attempt to secure survival thanks to Wednesday's last-gasp equaliser, which halted a run of seven straight defeats.

"It was important we made sure there was something to play for in the last game," Cowie said. "There's real clarity, we have to win on Sunday and that's what we'll be trying to do.

"Confidence plays a big part, the manner in which we got the equaliser was really important, it gives us momentum going into Sunday.

"We've been through this process before and what has got us through is togetherness and the fans being right behind the team.

"I'm sure they will turn out in their numbers and give us the backing we need to try and get over the line."