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Match preview: Time for Ross County to deliver points along with performance away at St Johnstone


By Andrew Henderson

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Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell will feel like his side are due a few goals after last Saturday's heavy defeat to Celtic, but more importantly this is the kind of game he would have been targeting at the start of the season as evidence of progress. Three draws in the three league games between the teams last year showed that there was not much between the clubs, but if the Staggies want to rise higher up the league table those are exactly the kind of results that need to be turned into victories. The importance of these fixtures are heightened by St Johnstone sitting one spot behind County in the table as things stand, and with just three points separating Kettlewell's side in fifth and Motherwell at the bottom, it is already the time of year where every point matters – both to build momentum and open up a gap to where no team wants to be at the end of the campaign.

Team News

Ross County: Kettlewell will be running the rule over Billy Mckay after the Northern Irishman was forced off in the first half against Celtic last week with a calf issue, with Ross Draper and Connor Randall also due to be assessed before travelling to Perth. Carl Tremarco will be available for selection again after serving his suspension last Saturday.

St Johnstone: Callum Booth remains out for the Saints with an Achilles problem, with the visit of Ross County coming just too soon for the defender as he will likely return to training next week. Other than that, Callum Davidson has a full squad of players to choose from, including new signing Craig Bryson who signed on a free transfer yesterday having left Aberdeen by mutual agreement. It may be asking too much of the 33-year-old to go straight into the starting line-up less than 24 hours after making the move, but he is eligible should Davidson call on him.

The injured Billy McKay sports a large pack of ice on his leg as he watches the rest of Ross County's 5–0 loss to Celtic last weekend. Pictures: Ken Macpherson
The injured Billy McKay sports a large pack of ice on his leg as he watches the rest of Ross County's 5–0 loss to Celtic last weekend. Pictures: Ken Macpherson

Last five Premiership results

Ross County: lost 5–0 at home to Celtic, lost 1–0 away at Livingston, drew 1–1 away at St Mirren, lost 2–1 at home to Dundee United, drew 2–2 at home with Kilmarnock.

St Johnstone: lost 1–0 away at Motherwell, win 1–0 at home to St Mirren, lost 1–0 at home to Hibernian, lost 1–0 at home to Aberdeen, won 2–1 away at Kilmarnock.

Head-to-head (all competitions)

Ross County 11

Draws 22

St Johnstone 20

Last five meetings

Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone – Premiership, Saturday, February 15, 2020

St Johnstone 1–1 Ross County – Premiership, Sunday, December 29, 2019

Ross County 2–2 St Johnstone – Premiership, Saturday, October 5, 2019

St Johnstone 1–2 Ross County – League Cup, Sunday, July 21, 2019

St Johnstone 1–1 Ross County – Premiership, Saturday, May 12, 2018

Ross Stewart has not yet scored from open play this season, but the Staggies will be relying on that changing soon.
Ross Stewart has not yet scored from open play this season, but the Staggies will be relying on that changing soon.

Ones to watch

Ross County: Ross Stewart – with question marks over Billy Mckay's fitness and the departure of Lee Erwin last week, the burden of scoring goals will fall even more heavily on last season's joint top scorer. He has been getting into positions in recent weeks without finding the net, having been denied by some fine saves in the last couple of matches, but County will need him to start racking up the goals again if they are to convert solid performances into points. Despite the Staggies scoring in every game against St Johnstone last season, Stewart could never claim one of the finishes, so he will be keen to put that right and break his duck against the Saints this afternoon.

St Johnstone: Danny McNamara – the on-loan Millwall right back has impressed in the opening stages of the season with his energetic displays, starting every match so far on his way to earning a spot in the Republic of Ireland's under-21s training camp. More than happy to bound forward, the 21-year-old will be a threat to County's defence just as much as he will be keeping an eye on the visiting forwards if given the license to do so. The 21-year-old has stepped up to Scotland's top flight after spending the last couple of years on loan in the lower depths of the English pyramid and coped very well, so could be a major threat.

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