Hearts will host Ross County at Tynecastle Park on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership, still searching for their first win of the 2024-25 season.
The hosts sit bottom of the table with just one point from five fixtures, while the visitors are in eighth with six points from one win and three draws.
Match preview
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After finishing third, fourth, and third in the Scottish Premiership over the past three seasons, expectations were high for Hearts to compete for a European spot again this campaign.
However, Hearts have endured a disastrous start to the season, losing eight of their first nine matches across all competitions, with their only point coming from a draw against Rangers on the opening day.
Steven Naismith, who had been in charge since April 2023, was sacked following their most recent defeat to St Mirren, meaning Saturday's match will be their first under the new boss.
The positive for Hearts is that they have enjoyed this fixture in recent history, losing just one of the last 15 meetings and winning six in that time, though that defeat did come in their most recent clash in March.
Ross County have also faced their difficulties so far this campaign, coming into this game on a run of just one win in their last seven games across all competitions.
Despite that, Don Cowie is likely to be pleased with his side sitting eighth in the Scottish Premiership with six points from six games, especially given their only league defeats have come against Rangers and Aberdeen.
Having competed in the relegation playoff final in each of the last two seasons, narrowly beating Partick Thistle 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw in 2022-23 and comfortably defeating Raith Rovers 6-1 on aggregate last season, Cowie will be hopeful his side can avoid a third consecutive playoff this year.
Following their back-to-back defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen, Ross County have shown signs of improvement with a win and a draw in their last two, leaving them with plenty of confidence as they take on the bottom team in the league.
Team News
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Hearts will continue without Calem Nieuwenhof due to a hamstring injury that has kept him on the treatment table since July, though he is expected to return early next month.
B team head coach Liam Fox will lead the side for Saturday's game, and the starting XI could see significant changes as the interim manager aims to turn the team's fortunes around.
As for the visitors, Max Sheaf and Ricki Lamie both remain out of the sides as they continue to recover from their respective injuries, while George Harmon may also be absent after missing Ross County's last outing.
Elsewhere, Cowie could opt to name a similar side to the one that has remained unbeaten in their last two matches, including Ronan Hale starting alongside Jordan White in attack.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Kingsley, Kent, Halkett; Taylor, Devlin, Grant, Penrice; McKay, Vargas; Shankland
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Wright, Lopata, Leak; Brown, Nisbet, Randall, Chilvers, Campbell; White, Hale
We say: Hearts 1-1 Ross County
Although Hearts have had a dreadful start to the 2024-25 season, Saturday's match will be their first under new management following Naismith's sacking, and we anticipate an immediate response with a draw in this game.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
