Two sides battling against relegation from the Scottish Premiership will face off on Saturday afternoon as Ross County play host to Dundee at the Global Energy Stadium.
The hosts are 10th in the table with 29 points from 26 league outings, while the visitors occupy the relegation playoff spot, in 11th, with 27 points from their 26 fixtures.
Match preview
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Since securing a brilliant sixth-placed finish in 2021-22, Ross County have experienced two rather disappointing campaigns, placing in the relegation playoff place in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The Staggies narrowly defeated Partick Thistle on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw in the relegation playoff final in 2022-23, followed by comfortably defeating Raith Rovers 6-1 on aggregate last term.
Don Cowie, in charge since February 2024, would have been aiming to steer Ross County away from a third consecutive appearance in the relegation playoff, but they are once again in the battle against the drop this term.
The Staggies sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership standings with 29 points after 26 outings, from seven wins, eight draws and 11 defeats, leaving them just two points above 11th-placed Dundee.
That leaves Saturday's match as a critical encounter in the season, with a victory moving Ross County five points clear of the drop, while a defeat would see them fall into 11th place.
Ross County will be buoyed by their home advantage and a commanding 3-0 victory over Motherwell in their last outing, while the Staggies have also enjoyed the upper hand in recent clashes against Dundee.
The visitors are also enduring a difficult period coming into this one, having lost all of their last three Scottish Premiership outings with an aggregate score of 14-1.
Dundee will be disappointed with how their season has played out thus far, particularly after they secured a superb sixth-placed finish last term, in what was their first year back in the top flight after earning promotion from the Championship in 2022-23.
Tony Docherty's side has managed just seven wins and six draws from 26 league games, alongside 13 defeats, but the manager will be hoping to channel their Scottish FA Cup form, which has carried them to the quarter-finals, into this match.
Team News
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Ross County are anticipated to be without Alex Samuel (thigh), Michee Efete (Achilles tendon), Ryan Leak (Achilles tendon) and Will Nightingale (unspecified) for this match due to injury.
Following their fantastic 3-0 win against Motherwell in their last outing, Cowie is expected to name a similar starting 11 here, with Ronan Hale keeping his place in attack after netting a brace.
As for Dundee, Billy Koumetio will remain sidelined until later this month with an injury issue, while Scott Fraser is also unavailable due to a groin issue.
Sebastian Palmer-Houlden came off the bench to score Dundee's only goal in the recent 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen, and the forward could be rewarded with a place in the starting team here.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Amissah; Tomkinson, Lopata, Campbell; Wright, Kenneh, Randall, Chilvers, Harmon; Phillips, Hale
Dundee possible starting lineup:
McCracken; Portales, Robertson, Donnelly; Mulligan, McGhee, Sylla, Larkeche; Tiffoney, Palmer-Houlden; Murray
We say: Ross County 2-1 Dundee
Ross County will be boosted by their recent triumph against Motherwell, and with Dundee losing all of their last three league matches, we believe the hosts will win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
