Highlands & Islands

Image source, SNS/BBC

• Hibs are winless in two league meetings with Ross County (D1 L1), last going three without a win against the Staggies in the Scottish Premiership in December 2019.

• Ross County won this fixture last season 2-0; never before have the Staggies won back-to-back Scottish Premiership visits to Hibs.

• Hibs have drawn four of their last six matches in the Premiership, which is as many draws as they managed in their previous 20 games. Only Dundee (5) have drawn more matches than Hibs (4) this season.

• Since winning two of their first four league matches this season, Ross County have failed to win any of their next five (D3 L2).

• The top two players for both dribbles attempted and dribbles completed in the Premiership this season are Hibs players, with Élie Youan attempting 55 and completing 25 and Martin Boyle attempting 49 and completing 26 respectively.

Ross Morren, The County Corner, external

If County fans had been offered a draw down at Fir Park against Motherwell before a ball was kicked on Saturday, most would have taken it.

However, at full-time the draw felt like a defeat.

County led by two goals twice in the match and looked comfortable. As they led 3-1 in the 87th minute it felt certain that all three points were heading back up to Dingwall, but it wasn’t to be.

We only have to cast our minds back to May when County suffered late heartbreak at Fir Park, and unfortunately there was more in store on Saturday. The home side roared back and equalised in the 94th minute to snatch a point, which 10 minutes earlier seemed completely unlikely.

For long spells County were the better side. Malky Mackay changed to a 4-2-2-2 formation with a box in midfield, with Connor Randall and Scott Allardice providing plenty of defensive cover in front of the back four. That allowed Victor Loturi, Yan Dhanda and Kyle Turner, who replaced Dhanda at half-time, to pick up pockets of space further forward and dictate the tempo of the game.

It was the first time County fans got to see Eammon Brophy and Simon Murray start up front together this season. Both players grew into the match as it went on and deservedly got on the scoresheet. If County fans were asked to define a classic Brophy goal, his opener on Saturday where he rifled the ball into the far corner would be the perfect example.

As for Murray’s, it was a goal that deserved to win any match. His turn on the edge of the box and the finish is the highlight, but County’s ability to stay calm in possession and work the ball from right to left and move into a dangerous position was a delight to watch.

Loturi grabbed his first Premiership goal for County to round off a man-of-the-match performance.

The County defence looked comfortable but when they conceded the penalty to make it 2-1, the nerves started to grow and they made mistakes at key times to allow the home side back into the match.

Malky will be keen for his players to put the late heartbreak behind them and quickly refocus with another tough away trip coming up tonight, this time to Easter Road to face Hibernian.

County won their last trip to Easter Road 2-0 thanks to goals from George Harmon and Alex Iacovitti, and if they can make it back-to-back wins in Leith it would rocket them up to fifth in the table.

Here’s hoping we can bounce back and cause Hibs a scare on Halloween.

Ross County travel to Hibernian on Tuesday looking to end a run of six matches without a win.

Would you make changes if you were in the manager's shoes?

Choose your starting XI here.

Hibernian striker Christian Doidge could return after sitting out of Saturday’s draw with Celtic due to a muscle tweak.

Long-term absentees Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), Harry McKirdy (heart) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) remain out.

Fitness doubts remain over Ross County’s Will Nightingale, who has missed their last two matches.

The Staggies are still without Josh Reid (toe), Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both knee).

Malky Mackay will not stand for “hard luck stories” as his Ross County side travel to Hibernian on Tuesday looking to put their Fir Park collapse behind them.

The Highlanders twice held two-goal leads at Motherwell on Saturday but left with only a point after the hosts netted a late double.

The midweek trip to Easter Road will be County’s third away game in a week.

“I can’t have people feeling sorry themselves,” Mackay says. “It’s this league and you’ve got to make sure you get yourself ready.

“The overarching message is that I need people mentally and physically ready for Tuesday night.

“The games are thick and fast, I think my best friend is my seat on the bus at the moment. We’ve got about 1,000 miles between Dundee, Motherwell and Hibs – but we’ll recover properly and get ourselves ready.”

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked for your views following Ross County's draw with Motherwell...

Chapman: Why make changes when you're winning and creating chances?

Stevie: To change the front 2, who had both scored, as well as Allardice, who was having a very good game, straight after scoring the 2nd goal was questionable to say the least. Game was far from over and in total we ended up playing another 25mins. Should have at least waited 5mins to see how Motherwell reacted. It changed the balance of the team, was needless.

Image source, .

Were you at Fir Park on Saturday or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "The manner of the goals we lost today, all three weren't great. The last one we don't clear a header but the first two are horrendous.

"We're looking at them and we're killing ourselves because we were excellent today. I thought we were terrific and could have scored seven. Laidlaw hasn't had a save to make. But we gifted goals away.

"It's two points dropped today and it was always going to be a tough game, Motherwell are a good team riding high in the league and causing teams problems.

"But the shape we played and the bravery of the players was excellent. But at one end we've got to be more clinical, and at the other not give horrendous goals away."

Martin Dowden, BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park

This developed into an absolute thriller and Ross County will be kicking themselves. Twice they held a two-goal cushion and looked on course to surge up the table.

They would undoubtedly have felt they deserved the win having scored some great goals and created other clear chances.

However, you have to credit Motherwell. They were way off their best in the first half, albeit they did strike the post. After the break they showed promise only to concede chances and goals.

They looked absolutely beaten until the substitutes all made an impact, with young Luca Ross celebrating the late equaliser, a moment he’ll always remember.

That arrests a frustrating run of defeats and they’ll look to kick on at home to Aberdeen on Wednesday.

For Ross County, this will be a really sore one. They did so much right and will feel they should have had all three points.

Ross County make three changes from Tuesday's draw with Dundee. Eamonn Brophy comes in for Jordan White up top, and George Harmon replaces Ben Purrington on the left side of defence. Midfielder Scott Allardice starts instead of teenage defender Dylan Smith.

• Follow the action

Image source, BBC Sport

Mika Biereth and Calum Butcher could return from injury for Motherwell but are unlikely to start. Lennon Miller is suspended while Jon Obika (hamstring) and Pape Souare (ankle) miss out.

Ross County remain without Josh Reid (toe), Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both knee). There are questions about the fitness of Will Nightingale, who missed Tuesday's draw with Dundee.

Image source, SNS