Match preview: Ross County keen to move off foot of Premiership table at first opportunity against Hamilton
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It feels early in the season to call any match a relegation six-pointer when several leagues have only just gotten under way, but there certainly is that vibe around Ross County's home match against Hamilton Academical this afternoon.
Just two weeks after the elation of winning at Celtic Park, the Staggies' world turned upside down when they sunk to the bottom of the table after losing at Aberdeen last time out while St Mirren won away at Motherwell, and the Accies are one place, one point and one goal ahead of them as things stand.
Lose, and County could be left helpless facing a four point gap to their closest rivals should the in-form Buddies win their game in hand, so they will be desperate to do anything but leave their fans wondering what comes next.
However, a win would be enough to overtake Hamilton and potentially move as high as 10th this afternoon, as well as being a timely boost in confidence that the Staggies can stay alive in the top flight by ending an increasingly concerning winless streak in the league before travelling to Celtic on Wednesday.
Team News
Ross County: Stuart Kettlewell was able to welcome several players back on to the substitutes' bench at Livingston, but he did lose Regan Charles-Cook with a hamstring issue.
He is the only man involved on Wednesday night that is definitely out, with the Staggies due to run the rule over the likes of Carl Tremarco, Keith Watson, Ross Draper and Oli Shaw going into the weekend.
Hamilton: Brian Rice still has a few issues of his own to take into account, with Shaun Want (thigh), Will Collar (knee), Lewis Smith (hamstring), Marios Ogkmpoe (knee) and David Templeton (groin) all out of action.
The versatile Hakeem Odoffin is available again though after serving a one-match suspension, and could make an immediate return to his role in the middle of the park.
Recent form
Ross County: lost 2–0 away at Aberdeen, 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.
Hamilton: lost 4–0 at home against Hibernian, won 1–0 at home against Kilmarnock, drew 1–1 at home against Aberdeen, lost 2–1 away at Dundee United, won 3–0 at home against Albion Rovers.
Head-to-head (all competitions)
Ross County 21
Draws 9
Hamilton 13
Last five meetings
Hamilton 0–1 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, August 8, 2020
Hamilton 2–2 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, November 2, 2019
Ross County 3–0 Hamilton – Premiership, Saturday, August 3, 2019
Hamilton 2–0 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, April 28, 2018
Ross County 2–2 Hamilton – Premiership, Saturday, March 17, 2018
Ones to watch
Ross County: Ross Stewart – the forward has almost inevitably been linked with a move with the transfer window opening in a matter of days, but he is yet to hit his peak form for the Staggies this season.
He has scored six goals, but five of them have been penalties, and he has not been able to reproduce the impact that saw him earn three separate player of the season awards in 2019/20.
Stewart has been isolated for large spells in recent weeks against some of the biggest teams in the country, but the team should be more attacking against Hamilton – and there would not be a better time for him or the club to start hitting the net more regularly.
Hamilton: Ross Callachan – the Accies man is the club's top goalscorer in the Premiership this season with four strikes to his name, and two of them have come in the last month.
He has shown that he is capable of converting from the penalty spot, and with County having given away several spot kicks already this season he might fancy his chances of bagging another.
Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell's pre-match thoughts
"If we are able to move up a league place at any point, that's a motivation. Where we sit right now, it's an added incentive.
"Some people might say we could be fatigued, we've picked up a couple more injuries, but I look at the next game as a chance to get a result on the board and move up a place in the table.
"When you're going through a tough period, you always look at the next match as being vitally important, but when it's against a team that's expected to be in and around where we are at the end of the season, it becomes our biggest game so far.
"I don't think it's a difficult one to get yourself up for, and if there is anyone who seems apprehensive or fearful of the situation that's where I come in to needle that out and make sure that we have a group of players out on the pitch that will embrace the situation.
"When you lost that bit of confidence, it can become more difficult to play well, but we have to find a formula to win a game of football, it's as simple as that."
