Ronan Hale's "massive" 96th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Ross County against Dundee, relegated St Johnstone, and ensures both these sides go into the final game still battling to secure their Scottish Premiership status.

It looked like Scott Tiffoney's strike early in the second half had secured safety for Dundee and set up a last-day showdown between St Johnstone and County to avoid finishing bottom.

However, deep into stoppage-time, Antonio Portales was penalised for a handball and Hale smashed home from the spot to secure a priceless point for the visitors.

"It's massive, it means on Sunday it's all to play for," County manager Don Cowie told BBC Scotland.

"I know Dundee will feel aggrieved in the manner [it came]. It was a pretty nothing cross, they win the first contact and it hits their second defender on the arm.

"They'll be really disappointed, but we were probably due that little bit of luck and we'll certainly take it."

Dundee knew a win would allay their own relegation fears, but County edged the first half, going close through Hale and Akil Wright. At the other end Seb Palmer-Houlden was denied by a good save from Jordan Amissah.

Tony Docherty's interval introduction of Tiffoney proved inspired as the substitute fired home after an exquisite pass from Lyall Cameron carved County open.

Dundee then bombarded the visitors' goal as Palmer-Houlden, Joe Shaugnessy and Simon Murray forced Amissah into smart saves.

Those missed chances would prove costly and means they visit relegated St Johnstone on Sunday, while County host Motherwell in the fight to avoid the relegation play-off place.

Docherty's side do have the cushion of a two-point advantage and a better goal difference, but they have been hauled back into a fight that they thought they had escaped.

Docherty had called for Dundee to be calm in the midst of such a pressurised match, but much of their play in the first half betrayed a sense of nerves.

Chances in the opening 45 minutes were few and far between, but the introduction of Tiffoney at the break was the catalyst for a much improved second period.

The intelligence of Cameron's through ball was the first real moment of quality, and Tiffoney displayed admirable composure to tuck away the chance.

That energised the home crowd and the team, and only some brilliant goalkeeping from Amissah prevented Dundee from calming the nerves with a second goal.

It looked like that would not matter as the seconds ticked away towards full-time, but that late penalty award was a sickening blow.

They need to bounce back, and fast.

County's wastefulness has been central to their struggles this season – they are the lowest scorers in the Premiership – and it was evident again at Dens.

They created several promising openings. Hale was unfortunate to see his deflected strike hit the crossbar rather than the net after brilliant run from halfway that took him past several defenders.

Wright should have buried his header from the subsequent corner after being left unmarked just six yards out.

Tiffoney's goal for Dundee seemed to knock the stuffing out of County, though they really should have levelled when Hale blazed horribly wide from eight yards after being teed up by Alex Samuel.

It's to Hale's credit that he brushed that aside to hold his nerve for the most pressurised of penalty kicks.

And while County would have loved a win, they have ended their seven-match losing run in the nick of time.

Dundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor: "We controlled the game. For large spells, we were very comfortable. I thought the lads defended really, really well and attacked really well too, creating good chances.

"So really, really disappointed we didn't get the result that we deserved and we go again on Sunday.

"I have [seen the penalty incident], but I'll leave it out for everybody else to talk about, which will be the case. So no comment from us."

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "Ronan [Hale] showed a lot of bottle going up. The pressure must have been immense stepping up and he must be delighted with the way he dealt with that pressure.

"Incredible character that he showed stepping up. There was no doubt in his head that he was taking it."