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

Ross County lost at home to Dundee last weekend, while Hibernian were beaten away by St Johnstone.

Match preview

Since taking seven points from his first three games in charge after returning to the club where his managerial career began, former Morecambe boss Derek Adams has found life a little tougher at Ross County in recent weeks.

The Staggies parted ways with Malky Mackay last month due to enduring a disastrous run of nine games without a victory. Adams steadied the ship with three clean sheets in each of his opening three games, but they have since failed to score in defeats to St Mirren and Dundee.

Ross County appeared to be heading for another goalless draw under Adams, but Joe Shaughnessy struck in the seventh minute of injury time to hand Dundee a precious winner. That defeat leaves them just one point ahead of Motherwell, who are second bottom heading into the weekend's action.

Adams, who has previously lifted the second and third tier titles with Ross County, will be desperate to keep a club so close to his heart in the top division. Since gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history under Adams in 2012, they have spent 10 of the last 11 seasons there. A win on Saturday would significantly improve their chances of maintaining that impressive run.

However, despite losing their last two away games, Hibernian are unlikely to be pushovers. Hibs remain only two points behind their local rivals Hearts in third place, which is where they will be targeting finishing at the end of the campaign.

Since replacing Lee Johnson as manager in September, former Central Coast Mariners boss Nick Montgomery has had a mixed start to life in Scotland. While five wins from 14 league games doesn't make superb reading, there is little doubt that the former Sheffield United midfielder has made Hibs tougher to beat, as they have only lost on three occasions.

Considering that two of those defeats were heavy ones away to Rangers and Celtic, last weekend's loss away to St Johnstone would have been a particularly galling one to take. In truth, though, it was a deserved one considering the visitors were strangely limp, as they failed to register a single shot on target despite having 61% possession of the ball.

With a fierce Edinburgh derby set to take place against Hearts at Easter Road on December 27, Montgomery will be determined to see his players build momentum by beating Ross County this weekend. Indeed, claiming all three points could see them leapfrog their rivals into third spot depending on results elsewhere.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

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Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

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Team News

Ross County are set to remain without Dylan Smith due to an ankle injury, while this match may come a little too soon for Ross Callachan and Ben Paton, who are both nearing returns from serious knee issues.

Eamonn Brophy could be in contention to start in attack given his side's recent woes in front of goal, but Adams is unlikely to shake things up too drastically having generally improved since his appointment last month.

Hibernian, meanwhile, may travel without former Reading striker Adam Le Fondre due to a hamstring injury. Jake Doyle-Hayes and Chris Cadden are also expected to miss out due to ankle and Achilles tendon issues.

Christian Doidge will be firmly in his manager's thoughts after Montgomery only used the 31-year-old from the bench last time out, and he could displace Dylan Vente within the visitors' offensive unit.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Nightingale, Baldwin, Leak; Brown, Randall, Allardice, Purrington; Dhanda; Brophy, Murray

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Miller, Fish, Hanlon, Obita; Youan, Levitt, Jeggo, Tavares; Doidge, Boyle

We say: Ross County 1-1 Hibernian

Neither side have been scoring freely in recent weeks, meaning there could be a lack of confidence on display at Victoria Park on Saturday.

With both teams losing their last matches, we can envisage a low scoring draw taking place. Hibs would likely take this ahead of hosting their fierce rivals Hearts after Boxing Day, while it could be enough to keep Ross County out of the bottom two.

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