Ross County can seal an immediate return to the top flight this weekend, if results go their way

Ross County are eight points clear at the top of the Championship with four matches remaining after edging out Dunfermline Athletic in Dingwall.

Tom Grivosti headed in the only goal from a Josh Mullin corner on the hour.

The visitors dominated the first half, with Matthew Todd hitting the post and drawing a good save from Scott Fox.

If Dundee United fail to beat Ayr United on Friday and County win against Partick Thistle on Saturday, a Premiership return will be secured.

Dunfermline's hopes of reaching the play-offs now look remote as they trail fourth-placed Inverness Caley Thistle by eight points.

The Fifers began strongly with Bruce Anderson shooting wide, while Fox had to tip over a Todd effort. The same player went close on 27 minutes from inside the box but his shot came off the inside of the post and just before the interval Fox needed to punch clear from a Daniel Devine header.

County turned up the pressure in the second half and in the opening minute Michael Gardyne's shot from 25 yards was pushed over by keeper Ryan Scully.

There were also chances for Jamie Lindsay and Brian Graham. But it was substitute Grivosti who made the breakthrough from Mullin's corner, netting his first goal for the Highlanders.

Soon after, Ross Stewart came close to doubling the hosts's advantage but his header was cleared off the line by Faissal El Bakhtaoui.

'A huge three points' for County

Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson: "It was very Jekyll and Hyde from us if we are being honest. We thought Dunfermline were excellent in the first-half and put us under a great deal of pressure.

"We took stock at half-time and wanted to make sure we upped it in the second-half and we did that. We can only heap praise on the players and the way they go about it and they've done it again. It's a huge three points but credit to Dunfermline - they really tested us. We've been tested constantly this season and every time there is a question asked, the group of players come up with the answer.

"We need to recover and rest up and make sure we are prepared for a Partick Thistle who will come up here on Saturday all guns blazing."

Dunfermline manager, Stevie Crawford: "I thought the first-half the boys were excellent. We created several chances. Probably the difference in the game is when Ross County had their good spell in the game in the second-half. They managed to score and capitalise on that but I can't be critical of the boys in terms of their effort and the creativeness in the first-half.

"It was difficult once Ross County scored and their tails were up and they probably showed why they are top of the league."