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Ross County
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 34
May 6, 2023 at 3pm UK
Global Energy Stadium
Livingston logo

Ross County
2 - 0
Livingston

Iacovitti (40'), Samuel (60')
Loturi (27'), Randall (30')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Bahamboula (73'), Kelly (90+6')

Preview: Ross County vs. Livingston - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and Livingston, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ross County will be bidding to boost their survival hopes in the Scottish Premiership when they welcome Livingston to Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.

The home side are currently bottom of the division, four points from safety, while Livingston are seventh in the overall table but top of the second section, with the league being split into two for the final straight.


Match preview

Ross County manager Malky Mackay reacts on April 2, 2023© Reuters

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a difficult campaign for Ross County, with only 27 points from their 33 matches leaving them bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, and they will enter this match off the back of a 6-1 defeat at Hearts.

The Staggies have only won seven times in the league this season, and they are facing the serious prospect of dropping down into the Scottish Championship for the 2023-24 campaign.

As it stands, Malky Mackay's side are being relegated, with the spot just above them meaning taking part in a Premiership playoff final against a team from the second tier.

It is not quite time to hit the panic button, though, as Ross County are only four points behind Dundee United, who are currently in fourth position in the bottom section of the table.

The Staggies, who finished sixth in the Scottish Premiership last season, have lost their last two matches against Livingston, including a 2-0 defeat when the two sides last met on March 18.

Livingston manager David Martindale reacts on December 21, 2022© Reuters

Livingston, meanwhile, have also been on a poor run of form, losing three of their last four in the Scottish Premiership, including a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United last time out.

The Lions, who finished seventh in the table last season, were seventh when the table was split, so they currently sit top of the bottom section at this stage of the campaign.

David Martindale's side are in a comfortable position, sitting 11 points ahead of Kilmarnock and 15 clear of Ross County, while there are also five clear of Motherwell just below them.

As a result, there is not too much pressure on the team entering the final stages of the season, but the majority of their problems this term have come away, winning just four of their 16 matches on their travels, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

Livingston now have back-to-back away matches against Ross County and Kilmarnock before returning to home soil against Dundee United on May 20.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

Livingston Scottish Premiership form:


Team News

Ross County's Alex Iacovitti gestures towards the referee on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Ross County head coach Mackay is expected to make changes to the side that started the 6-1 hammering to Hearts in Edinburgh last time out.

Jack Baldwin, Josh Stones, Jordan Tillson and Owura Edwards could all come into the XI, with the latter netting the team's late consolation from the penalty spot against Hearts.

However, the team at the bottom of the division will again be without the services of Gwion Edwards, Eamonn Brophy, Ross Callachan and Ben Paton due to injuries.

Livingston, meanwhile, only have one absentee at this stage of the season, with Ayo Obileye out for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious knee injury.

Head coach Martindale is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Dundee United.

However, James Penrice is pushing to come into the side, while there could also be a starting role for Kurtis Guthrie, with Stephen Kelly possibly dropping to the bench.

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Randall, Baldwin, Iacovitti; Stones, Tilsson, Loturi, Cancola, Harmon; White, Edwards

Livingston possible starting lineup:
George; Devlin, Fitzwater, Boyes, Montano; Shinnie, Holt; Nouble, Guthrie, Penrice; Anderson


SM words green background

We say: Ross County 1-1 Livingston

Ross County might be bottom of the division, but Livingston's away form this season has been disappointing, losing 10 of their 16 matches on their travels. As a result, it is difficult to back the visitors with any real confidence here, so we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Ross County vs Livingston

Ross County
37.5%
Draw
25.0%
Livingston
37.5%
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Celtic's Alistair Johnston and teammates celebrate after the match on April 8, 2023
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic109102932628
2Aberdeen109102091128
3RangersRangers10613158719
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd114431513216
5Motherwell105141313016
6Dundee113351720-312
7St Mirren123361521-612
8Kilmarnock113351523-812
9Ross County122641018-812
10St Johnstone123181525-1010
11Hearts122371419-59
12Hibernian111551016-68


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