Ross County v Raith Rovers: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Ross County hold a 2-1 advantage following victory in Kirkcaldy on Thursday and Championship side Raith Rovers will need a big performance in Dingwall if they are to realise their Premiership dreams.

County are hoping to avoid the drop to the Championship for the second year running and the Staggies can consider themselves a little unfortunate to even be in a relegation battle.

Ross County v Raith Rovers betting tips and predictions

Ross County to win - 3/4

Don Cowie’s men have lost only five of their last 14 matches, that may not be league winning form, but it’s certainly progress and it’s only one defeat in eight Dingwall games for County.

The Staggies have recorded big wins over Rangers, Hibernian and Hearts this season and all over those three victories have come under the temporary leadership of Cowie.

A 2-2 draw with Aberdeen and St Johnstone’s final day victory over Motherwell dropped Ross County into the relegation play-off place and that looks harsh to say the least.

Aberdeen won four of their final post-split Premiership matches, scoring 13 goals along the way, but County were the only side to stop the rampant Reds in their tracks and that level of form has to be taken seriously in the context of a clash with Championship side Raith.

Cowie took his side to Kirkcaldy on Thursday and the Staggies demonstrated their class and quality, controlling large periods of the first-leg tie.

Conditions were anything but ideal at Stark’s Park, with torrential rain drenching the players, but County stood firm to hold onto a 2-1 victory.

Raith certainly rallied in the second half of the Kirkcaldy contest and Sam Stanton’s late strike kept Rovers in the game, but heading to Dingwall to face an in-form Ross County side looks a tricky task.

The Staggies could have been expected to be a little shorter than the 3/4 on offer and Cowie’s men look good value to seal their safety in style.

Over 3.5 total goals - 2/1

There have been 25 goals in Ross County’s last seven matches and the Staggies have shown they can hurt the Premiership top teams when finding the net three times against Rangers in Dingwall last month. County also scored twice at Parkhead when taking on Celtic on the opening weekend of Scottish Premiership action.

Raith have seen the net bulge 14 times in their last four games and three of Rovers’ play-off matches have gone over 2.5 goals this season.

Ian Murray can call on the prolific Lewis Vaughan, who has scored 19 goals this season, and Rovers will carry an attacking threat.

However, the scoreline of the tie could force Raith to chase the contest and that’s a dangerous game to play when stepping up against Premiership opposition.

Given the set up of Sunday’s Dingwall clash it could pay to side with over 3.5 total goals in this Scottish Premiership play-off second leg.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Ross County v Raith odds

Ross County - 3/4
Draw - 27/10
Raith Rovers - 7/2

View the full market and more odds for Ross County v Raith on site.

Read Ross County v Raith how to watch, TV channel, head-to-head stats, team news and more on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.