Preview: Livingston vs. Ross County - prediction, team news, lineups

Malky Mackay's side have not won in their last five league fixtures and are coming off the back of a humiliating defeat against Motherwell on Tuesday.

Match preview

Livingston have had an up-and-down season so far, picking up four victories and four defeats, with their run of consecutive wins coming to end with their 90th-minute defeat to St Mirren last Saturday.

After consecutive eighth-place finishes, Livingston will be hoping this season will be one of improvement rather than a stagnated one, with their home form potentially being the sign of steps forward this season so far.

David Martindale's side have won three of four home games this season, which compares to the seven they won in 19 total home games in their last campaign. Continuing this home form could significantly move them up the table and potentially help them end the season in the top half.

Scoring goals has been an issue for Livingston, only netting seven times so far in eight league games, with defender Cristian Montano leading the way with three.

Last season's top scorer Bruce Anderson has only appeared three times off the bench this season but did find the back of the net in their previous fixture against St Mirren.

His gradual return from injury may add some much-needed attacking threat to the side, with the defence being on the whole solid so far this season apart from in one fixture against Aberdeen where they shipped five goals. That game does however have mitigating circumstances as all five goals were conceded when they went down to 10 men.

Their opponents Ross County have only won one out of nine games this season, picking up five points which leaves them 11th in the table and only three points ahead of last place.

Malky Mackay apologised to the fans after their latest defeat on Tuesday night, when they conceded five times to Motherwell and only had one shot on target in the whole game, which is not surprising for a team who has only scored four goals this season, the joint-worst in the division.

Travelling Ross County fans have not had much to cheer about, only witnessing one goal away from home and seeing their side concede seven times. In the game they did pick up a point against St Johnstone, they witnessed just one shot on target in a 0-0 draw.

Regan Charles-Cook, who scored 13 goals last season for Ross County, left the club in the summer to join Belgium side KAS Eupen. No-one has stepped up so far this season, with The Staggies failing to score in their last three league games.

Livingston Scottish Premiership form:

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L

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L

Livingston form (all competitions):

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L

W

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L

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

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L

D

D

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Ross County form (all competitions):

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L

D

D

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L

Team News

Livingston played in a three-at-the-back system for the first time this season against St Mirren but this did not end up yielding the result they would have wanted so they will most likely go back to a four-at-the-back formation.

Martindale will be hoping that Cristian Montano will be back for his side, after missing the last game, with him being crucial to the side both defensively and offensively.

Apart from long-term injuries to players such as Connor Randall, who has been out with a fractured leg since the start of August, Malky Mackay will have the same squad available for the trip to Livingston.

With such a heavy defeat in their last fixture, Mackay may make a change or two to the defensive unit, and with Keith Watson replacing Callum Johnson as a substitute in the game against Hibernian, this seems like the most likely position where a change could be made.

Livingston possible starting lineup:

George; Montano, Kelly, Obieye, Devlin; Pittman, Holt, Nouble, Omeonga, Bahamboula; Guthrie

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Purrington, Iacovitti, Baldwin, Watson; Tillson, Paton, Edwards, Callachan, Sims; White

We say: Livingston 2-0 Ross County

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