Injury time heartbreak as Ross County pay the penalty with defeat at Motherwell
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Scottish Premiership
Motherwell 1
Ross County 0
Scorer: Van Veen (90+11)
Ross County suffered injury time heartbreak as a 101st minute penalty from Kevin van Veen gave Motherwell all three points at Fir Park.
A VAR review appeared to have spotted a handball in the box and van Veen converted to keep the Staggies in the relegation zone.
Ross County remain in the relegation play-off zone, one point behind Kilmarnock, but two points ahead of Dundee United who remain bottom.
Ross County face St Johnstone in Dingwall on Wednesday and Kilmarnock on the final day of the season as they look to keep their place in the top flight.
There are also concerns over defender Alex Iacovitti who had to walk off injured early in the second half.
Motherwell looked the most threatening in the first half hour and created a number of chances to take the lead.
Their best chance came from Dan Casey, who was unchallenged 10-yards from goal and unleashed a volley that was well saved by Ross Laidlaw.
Ross County improved towards the end of the first half, with Alex Samuel coming closest to finding the net, when he surged through the Motherwell defence in the box, only to see his shot deflected out for a corner kick.
The Staggies thought they were awarded a penalty four minutes into the second half when Connor Randall thought he was fouled in the box. by Calum Butcher.
Referee Euan Anderson originally gave the penalty, but after consulting VAR and looking at it again on the monitor, overturned the decision.
Motherwell threatened to take the lead in the closing stages of the game with Van Veen once again beating the offside trap but failing to find the net.
But Van Veen did convert from the penalty spot in the 97th minute when a Ross County player was deemed to have been guilty of handball in the box.
He sent Laidlaw the wrong way to give the Steelmen victory.
Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Spittal, Van Veen, McGinn, Mandron (Obika 70), Furlong (Blaney 64), Goss, Casey (Aitchison 70), Paton (Cornelius 45), Butcher.
Substitutes: Oborough, Lamie, Mugabi, McKinstry, Tierney.
Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Baldwin, Iacovitti (Smith 55), Dhanda (Sims 90), Loturi, (Tillson 64) Watson, Harmon, Samuel (Murray 64), White, Kenneh (Owura 76).
Substitutes: Munro, Purrington, Owura.
Referee: Euan Anderson
Attendance 5289
