Are Livingston favourites in play-off with County?

First leg of Livingston vs. Ross County Scottish Premiership Play-off final

Location: Livingston’s Set Fare Arena Kickoff: 20:00 BST Date: May 22, 2019

In the Scottish Premiership play-off finals, the top-flight team has traditionally had the advantage, but will Ross County travel to Livingston, who is also a championship champion, in Thursday’s first leg?

Which side qualifies as favorite in this?

Cammy Bell, who lost in the Premiership play-off final to Rangers against Motherwell in 2015, says, “At this point in time, I’ve got to say Livingston.”

County, who have lost seven games and drawn two draws since finishing second in the table, four points adrift of Dundee, must be feeling the spirit sapping.

Livingston, in contrast, are advancing to the final after a convincing 4-0 overall win over Partick Thistle after only one point off of Falkirk in the title race.

Livingston are aiming to return to winning ways after being dropped for the first time last season, while the Highland side are aiming to extend their six-year reign.

County can at least feel at peace knowing that the Premiership team has history on their side.

Ten Premiership play-off finals have been held. That upwards leap has only been made by three Championship sides.

However, Livingston, one of those three promoted clubs, has experience. They won the 2018 season, taking Partick Thistle’s place in the top flight.

Oft-discussed is the size of the gap between Premiership and Championship teams.

County’s players have been working hard against a generally higher grade of player all season, and that must be a good thing.

However, Livingston can point to a number of players in their ranks who have accumulated years of rich Premiership experience, including Scott Pittman, Danny Wilson, and Stevie May, who have all done so consistently.

Livingston lost 1-0 at home to St Johnstone in their Scottish Cup quarter-final match back in March when there was recent on-field evidence of matches between the two divisions.

However, it is interesting to note that Livi won the same contest in January against County. In Dingwall, Andrew Shinnie scored the winner in the final minute of extra time, giving the game a 3-2 lead.

Cammy Kerr, a former Dundee captain, is familiar with both the Premiership and Championship.

Livingston, according to the Queen’s Park defender, poses a significant threat to the Premiership side.

According to Kerr, “Livingston have a clear identity.” They attack teams, and this championship team has been much more attacking this year.

It’s a mentality thing for me, I think. Livingston are expanding. The exact opposite exists in Rose County. It does indeed play a role.

County will have hope thanks to Ronan Hale’s 16 goals in all competitions. In their previous two games, the Northern Ireland striker has also scored.

More of a problem is with defense. The Dingwall side last kept a clean sheet on March 1st.

The theme for Livingston has been continuity, with the same eleven starting each of the previous five games.

Could County benefit from having experience with this particular fixture, though?

This will be their third successive Premiership play-off final.

They nearly rose from the dead against Thistle in 2023. With only 20 minutes left in the second-leg, Glasgow’s team was 3-0 overall.

The Staggies regrouped to score three goals before delivering the decisive blow on penalties in one of the greatest comebacks in Scottish football.

County’s 6-1 aggregate defeat of Raith Rovers last season was a much more comfortable experience.