Ross County will be looking to push themselves further up the Scottish Premiership table on Tuesday night when they welcome Motherwell to the Global Energy Stadium.
While the hosts have won just a solitary match this season, Motherwell sit one place above them in the table, having won three league games in total across the 2022-23 campaign.
Match preview
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Ross County have endured a frustrating start to their league season, where they have won once, drawn twice and suffered five losses in their eight games played.
Their solitary triumph came against Kilmarnock in week four of the Scottish Premiership calendar, while draws against Aberdeen at the Global Energy Stadium and St Johnstone away at McDiarmid Park position the Staggies in 10th-place on five points going into their latest fixture.
Malky Mackay has made an impact since taking over in the Highlands back in May 2021, but he has had to deal with losing some of his best attacking assets from their commendable top-six finish in 2021-22.
Between them, former players Regan Charles-Cook and Joseph Hungbo registered 22 goal contributions across last season, and since their subsequent departures from the club, Ross County have looked blunt in front of goal.
They are the joint-lowest scoring side in the league with four goals from eight outings, along with Dundee United and Kilmarnock. Furthermore, none of their players have registered more than one goal individually as new signings continue to settle into their surroundings.
Last weekend, Ross County suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Hibernian, as goals from Ryan Porteous and Martin Boyle ended their two-match unbeaten run.
Optimistically for the home side, Motherwell have not been in the greatest run of form either in recent weeks, giving Malky Mackay's men hope that they can get back to winning ways on Tuesday night.
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In comparison to Ross County, Motherwell have had a slightly better start to their season, though results have started to dry up under club legend Steven Hammell slowly.
The Steelmen started 2022-23 in impressive fashion with three wins in their first four league games, getting the better of St Mirren and Aberdeen on the road as well as defeating Livingston 1-0 at Fir Park.
Conversely, since the win over Livingston results have started to slide which has seen Motherwell lose ground in the table. They have picked up just a single point in the four following league games, which was a 0-0 stalemate at home to Dundee United sandwiched in between a 2-1 loss away to Kilmarnock and a 3-0 drubbing at home to Hearts.
Despite their underlying numbers being encouraging in both games, there seems to be an issue with composure in front of the target - Motherwell have scored just two goals in their last four matches, with only one of them being scored by one of their own players in Kevin Van Veen.
Frustratingly, their last match was away to champions Celtic, where the Steelmen dug deep and were perhaps unlucky not to take something from the game. Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring for the league leaders early on, before a freak own goal from Hoops defender Josip Juranovic levelled the tie.
Reo Hatate put Celtic back in front on 64 minutes with a stunning drive from outside the area, before a Callum McGregor red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity to Ross Tierney made sure the hosts recorded an important three points.
In light of the positive performance at Celtic Park, Steven Hammell will be encouraged that a similar calibre of display will be enough to take the points for his side.
Team News
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Ross County will be without long-term absentee Alex Samuel for the visit of Motherwell, with the striker still on the sidelines as he recovers from surgery.
Defender Connor Randall is still not any closer to returning to action for the Staggies since fracturing his leg in a tackle against Celtic earlier this season and will miss out again.
George Harmon is still missing owing to a thigh muscle rupture while holding midfielder David Cancola is one yellow card away from suspension as he picked up a booking against Hibernian last week.
Jake Carroll is still some way off a return to featuring for Motherwell as he recovers from knee surgery. Louis Moult could be thrust into the side from the start due to Kevin van Veen's recent dip in form.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Johnson, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Purrington; Tillson, Paton; Sims, Callachan, Edwards; White
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; McGinn, Solholm Johansen, Lamie, Penney; Maguire, Goss; Shields, Tierney, Spittal; Moult
We say: Ross County 0-1 Motherwell
Likely to be keenly contested, both sides will see this match as an opportunity to put their recent lack of goalmouth action behind them as they bid to move up the table.
In the end, Motherwell should just edge this one due to their slightly better chance creation over the course of the campaign so far. Steven Hammell's attacking philosophy will provide dividends and help the Lanarkshire side to seal all three points.
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