Match preview: Ross County travel to Pittodrie to take on out-of-sorts Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership
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Ross County are used to being the underdogs, but they may sniff a chance to take all three points away at Aberdeen this afternoon.
The Dons have struggled to see off sides towards the bottom of the table in recent weeks, drawing against Hamilton and St Mirren in the league while losing to the Buddies in the Betfred Cup.
Add to that memories of the last time the Staggies travelled to Pittodrie – a 2–1 win back in February – and they may well feel they have every chance of getting a result despite County's own winless run in the Premiership.
Team News
Ross County: Stephen Kelly should come back into the mix after being ineligible to face his parent club last weekend, but while he returns there is not so good news for Stuart Kettlewell elsewhere.
Charlie Lakin's scan revealed his thigh issue picked up against Celtic was worse than first thought, meaning he will be out for six weeks, while Keith Watson was forced off against Rangers at half time last Sunday with a glute problem.
Kettlewell left two spaces on the bench empty last time out thanks to injuries, and while he may just about be able to have a full list of substitutes this afternoon there are still a handful of players out.
Aberdeen: Derek McInnes revealed this week that defender Michael Devlin had picked up an ankle issue that requires surgery, ruling him out of the match at Pittodrie and for the next couple of months.
Lewis Ferguson is also suspended after being shown two yellow cards against St Mirren last week, with Marley Watkins and Scott Wright both out until at least January.
Recent form
Ross County: lost 4–0 at home against Rangers, won 2–0 away at Celtic, lost 3–1 away at Kilmarnock, won 3–0 at home against Stirling Albion, won 4–1 away at Elgin City.
Aberdeen: drew 1–1 away at St Mirren, lost 2–1 away at St Mirren, drew 1–1 away at against Hamilton, lost 4–0 away at Rangers, won 2–0 at home against Hibernian.
Head-to-head (all competitions)
Ross County 7
Draws 2
Aberdeen 15
Last five meetings
Ross County 0–3 Aberdeen – Premiership, Sunday, September 27, 2020
Aberdeen 1–2 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, February 22, 2020
Ross County 1–3 Aberdeen – Premiership, Saturday, November 9, 2019
Aberdeen 3–0 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, August 31, 2019
Ross County 2–4 Aberdeen – Premiership, Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Ones to watch
Ross County: Stephen Kelly – the Rangers loanee had been starting to catch the eye before being forced out of the side to face his parent club last weekend.
Kelly had a quiet start to life in Dingwall, but after coming into the starting line-up against Dundee United he seems to have struck up a decent understanding with Harry Paton, and with either Iain Vigurs or Jordan Tillson likely lining up between the two he should have plenty of freedom to go and affect the game at Pittodrie.
For the likes of the 20-year-old, winning at Celtic Park at the end of last month was the highlight of his career, so he will want to build on that by helping County to another upset against Aberdeen.
Aberdeen: Sam Cosgrove – the striker has started the Dons' last six matches after missing the first match between the sides this season, but still seems to be searching for his best form.
Fitness could still be an issue, with the 24-year-old only completing 90 minutes once, but both he and everyone associated with Aberdeen will be looking for him to start finding the net on a more regular basis soon.
Jonny Hayes was the difference make in Aberdeen's win in Dingwall in September, with the opening goal coming through Marley Watkins' header after a Hayes cross.
With Watkins out of the side through injury, Cosgrove will be the man entrusted with having a similar impact on the result, and at his best he will be a big handful for Coll Donaldson and Alex Iacovitti.
Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell's pre-match thoughts
"Pittodrie will throw up it's own problems for us as well, it doesn't matter what form Aberdeen are in, it's always such a difficult place to go.
"I was at their game against Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, and looking at the strength in depth they have in their squad, myself and Richie Brittain were looking at their bench and there is a wealth of talent they have that can't even get on the pitch.
"We know that theirs is a different situation than we're facing in terms of having a number of options, but we have to go and deliver a solid gameplan.
"We just have to focus on what we think we're going to face, the personnel that we think Derek might select.
"What I see as the Ross County way is what we did against Celtic – backs to the wall at times, making sure we're absorbing pressure, and being ruthless at the other end.
"It's not a bad combination, so that might well be something we look at again for Pittodrie."
