In their first game of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, Motherwell are set to host Ross County at Fir Park, and both will hope Saturday can be the start of a more positive season in which they can avoid being drawn into the relegation playoff group.
The home side finished ninth last term with 43 points from 38 games, while the visitors finished 11th with 35 points and only stayed in the top flight thanks to their 6-1 aggregate victory against Championship side Raith Rovers in a two-legged playoff tie.
Match preview
![Linlithgow Rose v Motherwell Friendly - Stuart Kettlewell of Motherwell during the Testimonial Friendly match for Linlithgow Rose player Gary Thom at Prestonfield, Linlithgow - 09/07/2024 [on July 26, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/stuart-kettlewell.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Linlithgow Rose v Motherwell Friendly - Stuart Kettlewell of Motherwell during the Testimonial Friendly match for Linlithgow Rose player Gary Thom at Prestonfield, Linlithgow - 09/07/2024 [on July 26, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts will be disappointed with their showing in the 2023-24 campaign considering they finished seventh in 2022-23 with 50 points.
Motherwell scored 56 goals and conceded 59 times in the top flight last season, ending with a goal difference of minus three, while they managed to achieve a goal difference of two after having scored 53 and conceded 51 in the previous campaign
The Steelmens' league record at Fir Park last term was quite concerning, as despite the fact they won their first two games at home, they were only able to win three of their subsequent 17 home matches and lost eight times in that period.
Stuart Kettlewell's side come into Saturday's clash in good form having won four of their matches since the end of 2023-24, ahead of the start of the 2024-25 Premiership campaign.
In fact, in 90 minutes Motherwell are yet to lose any of their matches since the final game of last season, although they did go down on penalties last time out against Partick Thistle on July 28 in the League Cup.
However, the result made little difference considering the Steelmen topped their League Cup group and qualified for the next round of the competition.
![Ross County's interim manager Don Cowie who has now been confirmed into the role permanently celebrates after the play off final, second leg match against Raith Rovers at the Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall - May 26, 2024 [on August 1, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/don-cowie.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Ross County's interim manager Don Cowie who has now been confirmed into the role permanently celebrates after the play off final, second leg match against Raith Rovers at the Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall - May 26, 2024 [on August 1, 2024]")
© Imago
Opponents Ross County come into the game in excellent form considering they have won all six of the games they played after the end of last season.
This includes four wins in their Scottish League Cup group, with the most recent being a 3-0 victory against Stirling Albion on July 27.
Manager Don Cowie, who was appointed permanently in late May after initially being brought in as interim boss in February following the departures of Malky Mackay in November and Derek Adams in February, will hope his side can avoid playing another relegation playoff tie.
Though Cowie did lose his first two games in charge, his side collected 16 of their total 35 points with him at the helm from just 15 Premiership matches.
The Staggies scored 38 goals and conceded 67 times in the top flight last season, and this made them the division's third-worst offensive and defensive team.
Ross County's away record was poor last season, and they won just once in the top flight on the road, and were winless in their last 17 away Premiership matches.
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Team News
![Yan Dhanda of Ross County in his side's Premiership Play Off Final match first leg against Raith Rovers - 23/05/2024 [on August 1, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/yan-dhanda.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Yan Dhanda of Ross County in his side's Premiership Play Off Final match first leg against Raith Rovers - 23/05/2024 [on August 1, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts have a number of injury concerns to contend with and will be without midfielders Callum Slattery and Harry Paton, as well as forward Sam Nicholson.
Summer-signing Ross Callachan joined the club after his Ross County contract expired, but he will be unavailable for selection due to injury.
Fellow new signing Johnny Koutroumbis is yet to make an appearance for Motherwell after picking up a calf injury.
More positively, Tom Sparrow did make the bench on Sunday against Partick Thistle and could be in line for an appearance on Saturday.
As for the visitors, Will Nightingale is back in training, while Ricki Lamie is a doubt after he was taken off against Stirling Albion last weekend because of an Achilles issue.
Cowie has also confirmed that Connor Randall will be the club's captain ahead of the new Premiership season, and he is certain to start on Saturday.
New signing Noah Chilvers could be given a start in a forward position after he completed his move to Ross County earlier this week.
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Hegyi; O'Donnell, Gordon, Casey, Blaney; Wilson, Halliday, Zdravkovski; Miller; Ebiye, Robinson
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Hamilton; Brown, Wright, Leak; Efete, Telfer, Randall, Reid; Hale, White, Chilvers
We say: Motherwell 2-0 Ross County
Although Ross County come into Saturday's clash in good form, it is difficult to ignore their league struggles in recent seasons.
Motherwell's record at Fir Park could give the visitors some cause for optimism, but Ross County's abysmal away record makes the hosts favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
