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Ross County
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 31
Mar 6, 2021 at 3pm UK
Victoria Park
Kilmarnock logo

Ross County
3 - 2
Kilmarnock

Mckay (38', 49'), Hjelde (47')
Tillson (63'), Lakin (69')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lafferty (18', 77' pen.)
Millen (27'), Lafferty (33')
Millen (90+4')

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

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

Ross County welcome Kilmarnock to the Highlands on Saturday for a Scottish Premiership relegation battle that both teams will be desperate to win.

Killie ended an eight-game losing run with a draw in midweek, while the Staggies were beaten in Paisley by St Mirren.


Match preview

Ross County's Billy Mckay after sustaining an injury in September 2020© Reuters

Ross County are in 10th place in the league table currently, a place and a point ahead of Killie with a game in hand.

Consistency remains something of an issue for John Hughes's side, who have beaten Aberdeen and Celtic since the turn of the year.

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat away at St Mirren followed on from a 1-0 win at Celtic Park, a result that ended Neil Lennon's reign as manager of the Bhoys.

The defeat came as the result of an arguably dubious penalty call that prompted Hughes to call for full-time referees in the Scottish Premiership.

If the Staggies are to successfully stave off relegation they can ill afford to be on the wrong end of any more marginal decisions.

Kilmarnock are a place above bottom side Hamilton Academical in the league table on goal difference, but the Accies have a game in hand on the Ayrshire side.

Manager Tommy Wright, who took over at the club earlier in February, finally took his first point as Killie boss on Wednesday when his side drew 1-1 at home to Dundee United.

The point came courtesy of a first senior goal from Arsenal loanee Zech Medley, with the 20-year-old defender pleased to make a contribution up front, even though he was disappointed with the way that Killie had conceded from a counter-attack earlier in the game.

Wright was pleased with the resilience that his team showed against Hamilton, but will want to get his first win as manager on the board sooner rather than later.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form: LLWLWL

Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form: LLLLLD


Team News

Iain Vigurs is set to return to action for the Staggies after suspension for a recent sending-off, although he is carrying an ankle injury, according to his manager.

Connor Randall's back injury looks set to keep him out for the rest of the season. Tom Grivosti is also out for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring issue.

Callum Morris is also unavailable after undergoing a scan on a hamstring injury sustained against Celtic.

For Killie, Tommy Wright will need to check the fitness of Clevid Dikamona before naming his side this weekend, with the player expected to recover from a hamstring injury soon.

The Ayrshire side have no other injury concerns ahead of the trip to Dingwall.

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Naismith, Watson, Hjelde, Tremarco; Spittal, Kelly, Lakin, Gardyne; Andreu; White

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Doyle; Millen, Broadfoot, Medley, Haunstrup; McKenzie, Power, Dicker, Pinnock; Kiltie, Lafferty


SM words green background

We say: Ross County 1-1 Kilmarnock

It looks likely that these two sides will play out a hard-fought draw in the Highlands on Saturday.

A point will probably suit the visitors more than the home side, but it is likely to do neither of them many favours in the relegation battle.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win 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.Away Win: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 Ross County win with a probability of 36.66%. A win for Kilmarnock had a probability of 35.45% and a draw had a probability of 27.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Ross County win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.21%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (7.85%) and 2-0 (6.71%). The likeliest Kilmarnock win was 0-1 (10.98%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.13%). The actual scoreline of 3-2 was predicted with a 1.8% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Ross County would win this match.


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St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright pictured in January 2016
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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