Liam DonnellySNS

Liam Donnelly scores Kilmarnock's second in their 2-0 win over Ross County

Highlights: Kilmarnock 2-0 Ross County

26/04/25

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Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

Kilmarnock earned a potentially vital three points in their bid to remain in the Scottish Premiership as Bruce Anderson's first-half header and Liam Donnelly's fine finish saw off relegation rivals Ross County.

In a tense, competitive encounter of limited chances, Derek McInnes' side broke the deadlock, when Danny Armstrong delivered a ball deep to the back post and Anderson rose to beat a tight angle and Jordan Amissah in goal.

That moment proved a platform on which Kilmarnock built, with Donnelly securing the win with a fine individual goal full of determination.

The win moved the Ayrshire side three points clear of 11th and a considerable nine above bottom-placed St Johnstone, who they face next weekend in Perth.

County failed to muster an effective response to falling behind as they fell to a fifth straight defeat. They now sit two points below Dundee in the play-off position.

Every result from now until the season end is going to be vital. And it felt that if either side won this, they could breathe a little, albeit with work to do.

Over half an hour in, not one genuine chance had been created and that perhaps spoke of the pressure on both to deliver. Plenty of endeavour but little quality.

Goals do indeed change games and did so here. Armstrong had the first decent shot moments before delivering a perfect ball for Anderson to attack and he did so to score a crucial, crucial goal.

That lifted the crowd and while Ronan Hale went close from an angle, the visitors just couldn't threaten enough to change the course of the game.

McInnes' side seemed determined to determine their own fate and, after a number of second-half chances, broke through when Donnelly showed great intent to juggle the ball and then fire home the vital second.

Kilmarnock get it right at great time

Fight and scrap are qualities McInnes demanded heading into this. That was there, but the key bit seemed missing until the crucial opening goal.

This game marked 150 appearances for Armstrong, in what hasn't been his most productive season, but he delivered a key assist at a key moment to mark that landmark, with Anderson doing very, very well to make it count.

The tension was clear around Rugby Park up to then and didn't fully evaporate, but Kilmarnock built on it rather than stepping back, were rewarded and were thus rarely under pressure.

Three points deliver a little bit of cushion to ease the pressure, with the chance to take on a now-desperate St Johnstone, who are well adrift at the bottom.

McInnes suggested two wins out of five may be enough for safety. If right, they're already halfway there. Matters are now very much in their hands.

County coasting in wrong direction

A four-game losing run coming into this five-game bottom-six scrap was clearly not ideal.

County are used to being in this situation, having been in the play-off two seasons running and survived.

But you don't want to dance with the devil too often, and this outcome leaves them in the play-off spot with a lot of work to do.

If they are to avoid third time unlucky in terms of overall survival, they'll need to find an effective way to trouble their opponents more consistently.

They couldn't pose many problems for Kilmarnock and there's little to be gained from being competitive but not making it count. That's what is happening and at a bad time.

In truth, the Dingwall side rarely looked likely to take anything after falling behind and with a bruised Hearts side next at home, they need to quickly arrest this form.

What they said

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "We weren't enthralling or exciting but it was efficient, professional, and got the job done. It was just a very efficient performance and exactly what we need at this moment.

"If you start looking to depend on other people, you don't get the job done. And I think we've got to be responsible, got to take ownership of it and just grab the situation we're in".

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We won't hide away from it. We're disappointed with the run of form that we're in. We know where we are.

"We've got four games left, it's a case of not feeling sorry for ourselves. We're at home, we've got to be ready for it, and it's still in our hands. That's the message."