Match Preview | RCFC v St Mirren

Ross County will host St Mirren at the Global Energy Stadium on Wednesday in County’s second post-split Scottish Premiership fixture.

Two clubs with over 230 years of history will battle it out in their nation’s own league, with the threat of relegation looming over one, and the other hoping to finish top of the bottom half.

There may be tense tackles, shots flying high and wide, but what we can promise is excitement at the Global Energy Stadium with a lot to play for between the two sides in a week where world football has not lost its exciting, unrelenting and unpredictable drama.

The Staggies will be searching for their first win over the Buddies this season, who narrowly missed out on a top 6 spot just a few weeks ago.

This fixture will be County’s first in 11 days, and they won’t play for another 10 days afterwards as the Scottish football calendar is still punctuated with Scottish Cup fixtures.

Opposition Focus

St Mirren are 8^th in the Scottish Premiership, 2 points behind Dundee United in 7^th and 2 points ahead of Motherwell in 9^th.

The Paisley side have enjoyed an excellent season this year as they reached the League Cup semi final and have recently advanced to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup. In addition, Jim Goodwin’s men missed out on a top half finish only on goal difference prior to the league split and they are still the only side in the country to defeat the league winners, Rangers, in a domestic fixture this season.

Despite this, Saints have only recorded one Scottish Premiership victory since beating the Staggies at the SMISA stadium nearly 2 months ago.

St Mirren boss, Jim Goodwin, will not be in the dugout for tie as he serves his second match of a 3-match touchline ban following critical comments of an SFA referee.

Goodwin served his first match under ban last weekend as he watched Saints defeat County’s Highland rivals, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. Wednesday’s opponents could also be without 16-year-old Dylan Reid, who has been forced to miss training this week due to high school exams.

Ross County Focus

Ross County remain in 10th spot in the Scottish Premiership, where they have been since they defeated Celtic 1-0 at the Global Energy Stadium in February.

The Staggies were last in action over a week ago where they claimed a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock at the BSSP Stadium Rugby Park. County came from behind twice to secure a point but could have clinched all 3 after a dominant second half display.

John Hughes has faced St Mirren 29 times in his managerial career and has won 10 of those encounters. A win on Wednesday would mean Yogi has never won more matches against any other club in his managerial career than St Mirren.

Ross County have failed to win on 3 occasions against Jim Goodwin’s side this year, but they may feel as though recent results have been unjust. Their previous 2 results saw the Staggies lose due to a contentious late penalty decision and being reduced to 9 men respectively.

Last Match

Ross County were defeated 1-0 by St Mirren at The SMISA Stadium the last time the side’s met after Jamie McGrath’s late penalty rescued 3 points for the hosts. McGrath’s calm strike snatched a victory for Saints after 45 minutes of relentless second-half Ross County pressure.