Highlands & Islands

Ross Morren, The County Corner, external

When a club decides to hire a new manager, it often comes with a lot of risks. Is the new manager a suitable replacement for the existing manager? Can they turn around performances and results? Are the players in the squad capable of playing in the new manager's style?

Following Derek Adams’ appointment, all the early signs are pointing to yes.

Four points from a possible six and two clean sheets in two matches has given Adams a strong base to build on. In Adams’ two matches in charge so far, both Kilmarnock and St Mirren could only manage one shot on target each during their trips to Dingwall. For a side who’ve been criticised in previous seasons for their defensive record, it’s been a mightily impressive impact that Adams has made on his defensive players in such a short space of time.

Against St Mirren, Jordan White showed exactly why he continues to be such a big player for Ross County. White came into the starting line up and put in a superb performance leading the line alongside Simon Murray. White linked the play and helped drag his team up the park, and grabbed the headlines by scoring the winning goal in the 84th minute to end County’s winless run. It was White’s 23rd league goal for The Staggies since joining the club in January 2021, and moved up to joint-second in the all-time top flight goal scorers for County.

White will be looking to continue his scoring run against the side County signed him from, Motherwell, on Tuesday night. The Steelmen visit Dingwall on an 11-match winless run and with the “new manager bounce” County have had so far under Adams, the home fans will be confident they can pick up their first victory against Motherwell since March 2022.

• Ross County are winless in six league meetings with Motherwell (D2 L4) since a 1-0 victory in March 2022.

• Motherwell have won each of their last three league visits to Ross County by an aggregate score of 8-0.

• After their 1-0 win over St Mirren, Ross County could enjoy successive home league wins for the first time since March 2022.

• Motherwell are winless in five away league games (D2 L3), drawing both of their last two. Not since November 2009 have they drawn three straight top-flight away fixtures.

• Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell took charge of 58 Scottish Premiership matches with Ross County (40 joint with Steven Ferguson, 18 in sole charge), while he is unbeaten in the competition against the Staggies since leaving the club (P3 W2 D1 L0).

Josh Sims could return from illness for Ross County but Eamonn Brophy, Ross Callachan and Ben Paton remain out.

Paul McGinn could return for Motherwell wearing a mask following a fractured cheekbone, if he gets the go-ahead from the doctor.

Harry Paton is suspended but Callum Slattery returns from a ban. Lennon Miller and Pape Souare remain out for the visitors.

Image source, SNS

Ross County welcome Motherwell to Dingwall on Tuesday night and will be looking to carry the momentum from their 1-0 win against St Mirren last time out.

A win for County would take them above the Stuart Kettlwell's side in the table.

Put yourself in Derek Adams’ shoes and pick your starting XI here.

Livingston defenders Cristian Montano and Ayo Obileye have missed recent games but could feature.

Josh Sims may return from illness for Ross County but Eamonn Brophy, Ross Callachan, Jay Henderson and Ben Paton remain out.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

After seeing off third-placed St Mirren 1-0 during the week, Ross County manager Derek Adams wants "more of the same" from the Staggies this weekend against bottom side Livingston.

"I thought we dealt well with the threats St Mirren had and it's all about going again on Saturday," Adams told Ross County's X, external.

"It was a really good win for us. To be at home in the second game I have been here, a draw on Saturday, then a win, another clean sheet, but it was the manner of the performance.

"We played on the front foot, we created chances, we hit the post and we could have been two or three nil up, and it was a really good performance.

"It was important that we closed the gap between us and St Mirren but also, we went over a couple of teams in the league table as well.

"More of the same [against Livingston]. Taking on the onus of going to attack the opposition.

"We understand that Livingston have threats in their team, so dealing with them.

Derek Adams, the recently returned Ross County manager, says the squad he has inherited is bigger than he would normally assemble. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

• Livingston have only lost one of their six Scottish Premiership home games against Ross County (W4 D1), after a 1-0 loss in October 2022.

• Ross County have only failed to score in one of their last 10 league meetings with Livingston (W2 D4 L4), a 2-0 defeat in January last season.

• Livingston have lost each of their last six league matches, their longest losing run in the top-flight since between December 2005 and April 2006 – a run of 13 consecutive defeats.

• Ross County have failed to win any of their last five away matches in the league (D3 L2), failing to score in three of those.

• Livingston have attempted 38 shots across their last five Premiership matches with just five of those being on target, failing to score a single goal during this run.