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

Just one point separates the sides in mid-table, but both have performed well in the face of difficult starts.

Match preview

In the opening four matches of the campaign, Ross County have already had to face both Celtic and Rangers.

Despite receiving rough treatment from the fixture generator in August, County have still made a positive start.

Understandably, Malky Mackay's men lost against the Old Firm clubs, but they have won their other two without conceding.

St Johnstone were beaten here in Dingwall, before County got the better of Kilmarnock away from home.

It is a surprising upturn after such a close shave with relegation last season.

Coming back from 3-0 down with just 20 minutes left in the second leg of their relegation playoff against Partick Thistle before winning on penalties was a miraculous escape, but they appear to be taking their second chance with both hands.

Spreading the goals around the team has been a notable positive for Mackay so far.

There were four different scorers in their 4-3 win at Airdrie in the League Cup, while their five goals in the league have all come from separate sources.

If their opening four games looked tough though, it is not getting much kinder for Ross County.

Aberdeen await in both league and cup after this encounter, before a showdown with Hearts, two sides who qualified for Europe last season.

Similarly, Livingston have also made a positive start, with defeat to Rangers being the only downside to an otherwise unbeaten beginning to the campaign.

Holding arguably the best of the rest so far, Aberdeen and St Mirren, to draws was noteworthy, while a win away at Hibernian was extremely impressive.

A win over Ayr also sealed their spot in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, but they have rather unfortunately been drawn against Rangers.

That huge night in the cup will come just four days after facing Celtic in the league next weekend.

Therefore, avoiding defeat here on the road will be a big bonus going into that very tough spell where back-to-back defeats are likely.

Livingston will be competitive though, regardless of the opposition, considering they have not faced any relegation battles since promotion in 2018, while also having two top six finishes in that time.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

Ross County form (all competitions):

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Livingston Scottish Premiership form:

Livingston form (all competitions):

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Team News

Ross County will be without Ben Paton and Ross Callachan, who continue to recover from knee injuries that have kept them out of the side for a while.

Scott High was an unused sub against Kilmarnock last week, so the recent loan recruit from Huddersfield Town will hope to make his debut here.

Livingston's Cristian Montano will not return from a calf problem until November, while Sean Kelly is still out after suffering an injury in July.

Andrew Shinnie is doubtful after going off in the first half last weekend, with Mohammed Sangare the likely deputy should he miss out.

Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick is also in line for a debut after joining on a free transfer late in the window, but he may only start on the bench.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Nightingale, Baldwin, Leak; Brown, Turner, Randall, Dhanda, Reid; White, Murray

Livingston possible starting lineup:

George; Devlin, Obileye, De Lucas; Brandon, Sangare, Holt, Penrice; Pittman, Guthrie, Nouble

We say: Ross County 1-1 Livingston

Both sides have proved tough to beat for the rest of the league outside the top two, and could contest another tight encounter here.

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