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

The Staggies will be seeking revenge against the Buddies after losing 1-0 in Paisley on the opening day of the season.

Match preview

Since Ross County secured a slender 1-0 win away at Livingston at the beginning of October, just their second league victory of the season, the Staggies have picked up only one point from a possible nine available, losing their last two matches against Kilmarnock and Hearts.

Malky Mackay's side took an 11th-minute lead against Hearts last weekend courtesy of Jordan White's first home goal of the season, but the game was turned on its head just nine minutes later as Lawrence Shankland and Andy Halliday both found the net to condemn the hosts to their eighth defeat of the campaign.

Ross County have the same number of points and the same goal difference as Dundee United in 11th place, but the Staggies have scored fewer goals than the Tangerines and subsequently sit at the foot of the table, three points adrift of safety.

Mackay's men have failed to win any of their last six matches at the Global Energy Stadium, but they managed to claim all three points at home against St Mirren last season, with a Joseph Hungbo penalty securing a 1-0 win in March.

Indeed, St Mirren head into Saturday's contest after losing five of their last six away matches across all competitions, including last weekend's 3-0 Premiership defeat at Hibernian.

The Buddies were fortunate to have lost by only a three-goal margin in Edinburgh, and Stephen Robinson has been left with plenty to ponder as his side are struggling to find consistency so far this season.

St Mirren, who have not won successive league games since winning three in a row in August, currently sit fifth in the table, just one point behind Hibs in third and 10 points clear of Ross County at the bottom.

Across the last nine meetings between the two sides, St Mirren have won six times and drawn twice against Ross County, with last season's aforementioned 1-0 loss their only defeat during this run.

Robinson will be keen to see his side claim maximum points from their next two favourable-looking fixtures against Ross County and St Johnstone before hosting Rangers in their final game before the World Cup break.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

W

D

L

L

St Mirren Scottish Premiership form:

W

W

L

D

W

L

Team News

Ross County will be without Ben Purrington, Connor Randall (both ankle), Alex Samuel (ACL) and Ben Paton (knee) due to injury, while Ross Callachan is doubtful with a hamstring problem and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Mackay is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Jordy Hiwula, Yan Dhanda and Owura Edwards all set to provide support in attack for central striker White.

As for St Mirren, left-back Scott Tanser remains unavailable for selection after he was involved in a car crash with his wife at the end of last month.

Winger Toyosi Olusanya has been sidelined since the beginning of August with a broken toe and will not be involved this weekend.

The likes of Alex Greive, Eamonn Brophy, Ryan Flynn and Joe Shaughnessy will all be hoping to force their way back into the first XI after beginning on the substitutes' bench last weekend.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Johnson, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Harmon; Cancola, Tillson; Hiwula, Dhanda, Edwards; White

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Carson; Fraser, Gogic, Dunne; Strain, Baccus, Erhahon, O'Hara, Tait; Brophy, Greive

We say: Ross County 0-1 St Mirren

A closely-fought contest could be on the cards in Dingwall, with both sides looking to bounce back from defeats last weekend.

With the hosts struggling to find their goalscoring touch so far this season, we can see the visitors securing a slender victory on Saturday.

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