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

The visitors enter the fixture just three points off the top of the table, whereas Ross County are heading in the opposite direction and sit just two points off the bottom.

Match preview

After crashing out of the Europa Conference League following defeat to Irish club Sligo Rovers, Motherwell's upcoming campaign appeared to look bleak.

Instead, they have silenced the doubters and started the Scottish Premiership season in fine fashion, taking 10 points from their opening six matches.

That haul includes victories over Aberdeen, Livingston and an opening day triumph against St. Mirren, with Motherwell now targeting a fourth win of the campaign against Ross County on Saturday.

By contrast, Ross County boast just one victory for the season so far and they begin the weekend in touching distance of bottom place.

Their only three points came against a Kilmarnock side that sit below them in the Scottish Premiership table, as the worrying signs continue to mount for Ross County.

No side in the division has lost more games than Ross County, with work to do for the Highlanders, should they wish to maintain their four-year status in the topflight.

However, this fixture may be coming at the perfect time for Ross County, as they have taken three victories from the previous five meetings with Motherwell.

Granted, two of those did come away from home, but it should provide confidence to a side who have lacked a bit of luck so far.

Despite their overall wretched record against Saturday's opponents, Motherwell have enjoyed trips to Ross County in previous seasons, with the Well unbeaten in four of their last six visits to Victoria Park.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

Ross County form (all competitions):

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

Motherwell form (all competitions):

Team News

An injury has meant Nathan McGinley is yet to make an appearance for Motherwell, with the defender likely to miss out on a place in the squad once again this weekend.

Similarly, Jake Carroll, who has played this season, will be out, as a knee problem is responsible for ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

As for Ross County, they will be without defender Connor Randall, who continues his recovery from a broken leg.

Centre-back duo Jack Baldwin and Alex Iacovitti will likely retain their position in the starting-11, after partnering each other in the 1-1 draw against Aberdeen.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Johnson, Baldwin, Lacovitti, Purrington; Cancola, Tillson; White, Dhanda, Callachan; Hiwula

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly, McGinn, Johansen, Lamie, Penney; Goss, Slattery, Tierney; Efford, Van Veen, Spittal

We say: Ross County 1-1 Motherwell

If these two sides stick to the form book, then it is hard to see anything but a comfortable Motherwell victory.

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