Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 March 2024, 22:34
Aiming to strengthen their standing in the fight for a top-half place in the Scottish Premiership table ahead of the split of the league next month, Hibernian will travel to the Global Energy Stadium to take on Ross County on Wednesday.

With five games to play before the split, the visitors currently sit sixth thanks to a four-match unbeaten streak, while their hosts find themselves 11th and four points adrift of automatic safety.

Match preview

Ross County return to action on Wednesday with the aim of improving their survival bid in the Scottish Premiership, having last played at the beginning of March in the reverse fixture away at Hibernian and fallen short.

After 28 games so far this term, the Staggies have managed just 23 points courtesy of five wins alongside eight draws and 15 defeats, with the most recent of their triumphs coming at home to basement side Livingston in late February, ending a 10-match winless streak by the barest of margins in interim boss Don Cowie's third game at the helm.

Josh Sims netted the decisive goal in the 92nd minute of that contest to wrap up a crucial three-point haul, and they would follow that up with a creditable share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to fourth-placed St Mirren, albeit in disappointing fashion as Toyosi Olusanya levelled for the visitors four minutes from time after the Staggies led from the 11th minute through Jordan White.

Those results meant that Cowie's men went into a trip to Hibernian at the start of March with a four-point gap up to Aberdeen in 10th spot, but they were unable to narrow that at Easter Road, leaving empty-handed as two goals in the final half-hour saw the Edinburgh outfit prevail in a 2-0 triumph.

Now remaining in the relegation playoff place as a result, four points adrift of safety with five games to play before the division's split and the relegation group looming, Ross County will be desperate to avenge the recent defeat to their visitors on Wednesday and bounce back with a home victory to move closer to 10th spot.

The away side, meanwhile, will set out to bounce back from a weekend Scottish Cup defeat and make it two league wins over Ross County this month in their bid to establish themselves in the top six in the coming weeks.

Following a disappointing start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, the Edinburgh outfit saw their hopes of a Championship group place hanging in the balance, as they sat in the bottom half of the division on just 26 points from 24 matches of the 33-game regular season.

Nick Montgomery's side appear to have turned a corner since, though, moving into sixth spot with a four-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, firstly beating Dundee 2-1 on home turf between draws with Aberdeen and third-placed rivals Hearts, before welcoming the Staggies to Easter Road in their latest league outing at the start of the month and prevailing in a 2-0 triumph thanks to second-half goals from Myziane Maolida and Dylan Levitt.

Unlike Wednesday's hosts, the Hibees were in action over the weekend, meeting Rangers on home turf in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, and they now travel to the Global Energy Stadium on the back of a 2-0 defeat and a subsequent exit from the competition, with John Lundstram and Fabio Silva netting the visitors' goals and Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh sent off in a five-minute spell in the second half.

With their full focus now on their league bid, having moved sixth but with just a one-point lead over Dundee and a two-point lead over Motherwell with five regular season games left to play, Hibernian will set out to return to winning ways on Wednesday and increase their cushion in the fight for Championship group places.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

L

W

D

L

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

D

W

D

W

Hibernian form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

W

L

Team News

Ross County continue to contend with an extensive injury list heading into Wednesday's game, with Yan Dhanda, Ross Calachan, Scott Allardice, Will Nightingale, Connor Randall and Dylan Smith all remaining confined to the treatment room, while top scorer Simon Murray also missed their trip to Hibernian last time out.

If he does not return in time to feature on Wednesday, Eamonn Brophy and Jordan White will hope to again lead the line, although Josh Sims will fight to come into the attack from the outset, while Max Sheaf, Victor Loturi and Eli King should continue in a midfield trio in Dhanda's absence.

Former Manchester United man Cameron Borthwick-Jackson will bid to earn a starting spot in defence, having been an unused substitute in their last five Premiership outings, while Michee Efete and Ryan Leak will again join captain Jack Baldwin in the centre.

Hibernian are dealing with several selection concerns heading into Wednesday's meeting, with Luke Amos, Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes sidelined by long-term injuries, while Lewis Miller is unlikely to return in time to feature and Dylan Vente is a doubt due to a knock.

Midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh will serve a suspension after his red card against Rangers last time out, although Jordan Obita is available with his suspension only applying to the Scottish Cup.

Dylan Levitt should come into the midfield in Moriah-Welsh's absence, while Emiliano Marcondes should again spearhead the attack in their 4-2-3-1 shape with Elie Youan also pushing to earn a starting berth.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Brown, Efete, Baldwin, Leak, Borthwick-Jackson; Sheaf, Loturi, King; Brophy, White

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Cadden, Fish, Bushiri, Obita; Newell, Levitt; Boyle, Youan, Maolida; Marcondes

We say: Ross County 0-2 Hibernian

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.