Avoiding the Drop

Postponed since November- but a win is a win!

Welcome.

It was a roller coaster of a week for Ross County F.C., but one that ultimately ended on a high note with the Staggies defeating Queen of the South in the ALBA Challenge Cup Final. The Challenge Cup is open to all thirty teams in the SFL First, Second, and Third Divisions. This was the fourth time since the 2004-2005 season that Ross County appeared in the finals of this tournament and the second time that they walked away victorious. The victory was sorely need as the week leading up to yesterday’s final at McDiarmid Park in Perth was not a good one for the Dingwall Eleven. Join me on the other side for all of the gory details.

Last Match

Last Saturday County faced Cowdenbeath- the team directly below them in the league table- in what most football fans would call a “six point match.” Instead of seizing the opportunity and all but ensuring their survival in the First Division for another season, the team came out flat and Cowdenbeath took immediate advantage of the situation when Mark Ramsay scored in the 6^th minute. Scott Linton heaped more misery upon the club when he netted Cowdenbeath’s second goal in the 21^st minute. Richard Brittain converted a penalty for County in the 87^th minute, but it was cold comfort to those hoping for some relief from the relegation battle. If there was any good news to come out of the weekend it was that Dundee and Stirling Albion- the other two teams in this four horse made no progress in the table. Dundee lost to Raith Rovers and Stirling lost to Greenock Morton.

This weekend, while County were busy with their cup final, Dundee and Stirling Albion played each other to a 1-1 draw and Cowdenbeath drew 0-0 with Falkirk. All things considered, this weekend the other three clubs failed to take much advantage of the Staggie’s failure to take advantage of the situation last weekend. The result is a table that looks like this:

Current SFL First Division Table

7. Dundee F.C.          32 19 35

8. Ross County F.C.    31 -8 31

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9. Cowdenbeath F.C. 32 -28 31

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10. Stirling Albion F.C. 32 -48 17

The obvious things to note in this updated table are that County a) have a game in hand against Cowdenbeath and b) it isn’t likely that Cowdenbeath will make up the goal differential gap with County so only points matter for both clubs from this point forward. Dundee have continued two falter on the last two match days and while I’d put my money on their survival, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a reenergized Ross County could pip them for seventh place when all is said and done. A word or two on Stirling Albion below.

The Magic Number

As I said last week, the “magic number” is the points total a club can achieve that will allow them to survive no matter what the other three clubs do. Sadly for Stirling Albion, dropping three points last weekend and two points this weekend when combined with Dundee and Cowdenbeath both picking up points means that the Stirlingshire side will campaign in the SFL Second Division next season. This is where things stand now:

Club Current Points Maximum Points

Dundee F.C.         35 47

Ross County F.C.  31 46

Cowdenbeath F.C. 31 43

Stirling Albion F.C. 17 29

So, there were plenty of developments in the bottom four over the last two match days, and while none of it was good for Ross County, they still have their fate entirely in their own hands. Hopefully the Staggies will pick up enough points (and Cowdenbeath will drop enough) that the relegation battle will not come down to the final day of the season. However, if it does, there will be no lack of drama at Victoria Park in Dingwall as the opponent will be none other than the Blue Brazil of Cowdenbeath F.C..

Next Match

This Saturday Ross County will travel to Glasgow to take on fifth place Partick. Despite their differences in league position, these two clubs have basically shared the honors in the 2010-2011 season. They’ve drawn twice, Partick beat Ross County in the league, and Ross County beat the Jags in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Obviously three points will be the best possible outcome for the visitors, but given that Cowdenbeath will have a tough match against third place Falkirk, a draw might be enough to get County back on track towards survival.