Ross County’s Europa League hopes were ended when they went down to Motherwell in the penultimate Clydesdale Bank Premier League game of the season at Fir Park.
Chris Humphrey was the main man for the SPL runners-up, setting James McFadden up for the opener in the seventh minute before doubling the Steelmen’s lead seconds before the interval with a superb solo goal.
Amid some steady pressure from County after the break, McFadden missed a great chance to make it 3-0 but that would have been barely a true reflection on a game in which little went right for the Highlanders.
County go into the last game of the season against Inverness four points behind and with only local pride to play for as Terry Butcher’s side and St Johnstone, who host the Steelmen, battle it out for the last European spot.
Aberdeen extended their unbeaten run under new boss Derek McInnes to four matches but their goalless draw at St Mirren Park on Saturday was a largely forgettable way to mark the 30th anniversary of their greatest triumph.
Three decades ago to the day, Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen side beat Real Madrid in Gothenburg to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup but the current team are proving less effective on their travels.
Aberdeen have still not won an away game in 2013 although they came closer to three points than their hosts with Jonny Hayes seeing a goal disallowed and Marc McAusland clearing off the line from Scott Vernon.