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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 27
Feb 3, 2021 at 6pm UK
New Douglas Park
Ross County

Hamilton
1 - 2
Ross County

Kelly (16' og.)
Easton (38')
FT(HT: 1-0)
White (81'), Mckay (86')
Hylton (32'), Paton (55')

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

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash between Hamilton Academical and Ross County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Scottish Premiership's bottom two face each other on Wednesday evening as Hamilton Academical host Ross County, with both sides hoping to bounce back from defeats last week.

Hamilton are currently at the foot of the table, one point behind the Staggies who have lost more top-flight matches than any other side this campaign.


Match preview

Hamilton Academical manager Brian Rice pictured in August 2020© Reuters

Hamilton lost their 17th league match of the season as they were beaten 2-0 away at Celtic last Wednesday.

Head coach Brian Rice was "proud" of his team who he felt "defended resolutely" despite conceding twice and losing the game, and now hopes to take that positivity into the next match and build on their solid performance.

Rice will now look forward to a reunion with Staggies boss John Hughes, who he was assistant to at Falkirk, Hibernian and Inverness before he took over as Hamilton boss in January 2019.

The Accies, who have conceded 49 goals from their 24 league matches this campaign, have kept a clean sheet in both of their last two home league games – the last time they kept three in a row on home soil was back in August 2015.

Hamilton are looking to win back-to-back Scottish Premiership meetings against Ross County, who they beat 2-0 in December, for the first time since December 2014 under former boss Alex Neil.

Securing all three points would move the Accies off the bottom of the table, switching places with the Staggies and moving level on points with Motherwell, if they were to lose at home to Dundee United.

John Hughes in charge of Hibernian in 2010© Reuters

Ross County boss John Hughes was left "disappointed" after his side failed to hold on to an early first-half lead as Motherwell came from behind to win 2-1 away from home.

Oli Shaw broke the deadlock after 14 minutes, but second-half strikes from Devante Cole and Bevis Mugabi turned the game on its head, handing the Staggies their seventh loss at Victoria Park this season.

Since Hughes took over from Stuart Kettlewell before Christmas, Ross County have lost five of their eight matches and have fluctuated in and out of the bottom two. However, impressive wins against Hibernian and Aberdeen have given the Staggies belief that they can survive and move away from danger.

Ross County head into Wednesday's match having lost eight of their last nine away league outings, however they did win away at the Accies back in August, securing a slender 1-0 victory.

Claiming another three points on the road in midweek could move the Staggies out of the bottom two, if Motherwell were to lose to Dundee United.

Hamilton Academical Scottish Premiership form: LDLLDL

Ross County Scottish Premiership form: LDLWLL


Team News

Celtic's Ryan Christie in Scottish Premiership action with Hamilton Academical's Shaun Want on August 3, 2020© Reuters

Hamilton's David Templeton (groin), Lewis Smith (hamstring) and Will Collar (knee) all remain out with injuries.

Forward Andrew Winter, who has appeared off the bench in their last two matches, is pushing to start up front, although Brian Rice may decide to keep David Moyo and Marios Ogkmpoe together in attack.

Ross County's only injury concern is defender Tom Grivosti, who remains out with a hamstring problem.

Seventeen-year-old centre-back Leo Hjelde, who made his debut for the club against Rangers after signing on loan from Celtic, is set to keep his place alongside Callum Morris at the heart of defence.

Hamilton Academical possible starting lineup:
Fulton; Hamilton, A. Martin, Easton; Hodson, Odoffin, Stirling, Callachan, McMann; Moyo, Ogkmpoe

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Naismith, Morris, Hjelde, Iacovitti; Charles-Cook, Paton, Vigurs, Draper, Hylton; Shaw


SM words green background

We say: Hamilton Academical 1-1 Ross County

Both Hamilton and Ross County will view this fixture as a huge opportunity to close the gap on safety. Securing three points would provide a massive boost for either side, however with little to separate them, the two teams may have to settle for a point on Wednesday.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Hamilton Academical win with a probability of 39.78%. A win for Ross County had a probability of 32.59% and a draw had a probability of 27.6%.

The most likely scoreline for a Hamilton Academical win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.62%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.27%) and 2-0 (7.38%). The likeliest Ross County win was 0-1 (10.26%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.03%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with a 7.3% likelihood.


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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk30246075195678
2Hamilton AcademicalHamilton30187563234061
3Alloa AthleticAlloa30145114948147
4Montrose30137105145646
5Cove Rangers30127114646043
6Kelty Hearts3097143953-1434
7Stirling AlbionStirling3097143246-1434
8Queen of the SouthQotS3096153948-933
9Annan AthleticAnnan3079144357-1430
10Edinburgh CityEdinburgh3025233385-525


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