Aberdeen will be looking to build on their strong start to the new campaign with a victory at the Global Energy Stadium where they will face Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
The hosts have picked up just three points from their opening five top-flight matches this term, while the visitors have accumulated nine points in the same period.
Match preview
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Ross County made a bright start to the new campaign as they won each of their opening four fixtures in the Scottish League Cup group stage, scoring 11 goals in the process.
However, they have since lost five of their next six competitive matches, including four of their first five in the Premiership, leaving manager Malky Mackay with plenty to ponder at this early stage in the season.
The Staggies head into Saturday's game off the back of consecutive defeats against Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic, losing 4-0 away against the former in the Premiership last weekend, before suffering a 4-1 home defeat to the latter in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday.
Ross County, who currently sit 11th in the top-flight table, will be keen to turn their form around quickly as they head into September, and they will now prepare for three of their next four fixtures in front of their own fans at the Global Energy Stadium.
The Dingwall-based outfit claimed maximum points in their last meeting with Aberdeen, securing a narrow 1-0 away win in April, and success on Saturday would see them record back-to-back victories against the Dons for the first time since October 2013.
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After enduring a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, finishing 10th in the Premiership, Aberdeen have since made significant improvements over the summer and have made an impressive start to the new season.
The Dons have won eight of their 10 competitive fixtures so far this term, keeping six clean sheets and scoring at least twice on eight occasions.
Jim Goodwin's side followed up an emphatic 5-0 home victory against Livingston last weekend – their biggest top-flight win for over five years – with a 4-1 extra-time win away against Annan Athletic in the second round of the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday.
The Dons were initially frustrated by their fourth-tier counterparts, but strikes in extra time from Vicente Besuijen, Luis Lopes and Leighton Clarkson helped them to avoid an early cup exit.
Aberdeen will be keen to continue their strong run of form, although they will be wary of the threat that Ross County could pose on Saturday as they have failed to win any of their last four meetings against the Staggies.
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Team News
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Ross County's full-back Connor Randall is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a broken leg, although forward William Akio has recovered from a knee injury and will be involved in the matchday squad this weekend.
Ross Callachan and Jack Baldwin are both expected to be recalled to the first XI after serving two-match suspensions, with the former set to replace Victor Loturi in centre-midfield and the latter coming in at centre-back for Keith Watson.
Ross Laidlaw, David Cancola, Kazeem Olaigbe and Jordy Hiwula are among a number of players who will be pushing to start after beginning on the bench in midweek.
As for Aberdeen, midfielders Connor Barron and Callum Roberts are set to remain sidelined as they continue to recover from respective knee and hamstring injuries.
Luis Lopes and Jonny Hayes, who both came off the bench at half time in midweek, are set to be recalled to the starting lineup at the expense of Matt Kennedy and Shayden Morris, while Hayden Coulson could replace Jack McKenzie at left-back.
The rest of the first XI could remain unchanged, with in-form striker Bojan Miovski – who has scored six goals in as many games across all competitions since joining the club this summer – set to lead the line in attack.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Johnson, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Purrington; Cancola, Callachan; Sims, Samuel, Olaigbe; Hiwula
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Roos; Richardson, Stewart, Scales, Coulson; Ramadani, McCrorie; Lopes, Besuijen, Hayes; Miovski
We say: Ross County 1-3 Aberdeen
Aberdeen have certainly started the better of the two sides so far this term and they will be the favourites to come out on top this weekend.
While Ross County have frustrated the Dons in recent meetings, we feel that the in-form visitors have more quality in the final third and should have few problems in securing maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
