Highlands & Islands

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Ross County manager Derek Adams told BBC Scotland: "I think St Mirren got the better of us. We scored an own goal to start with. We did not defend well enough at the second goal. We probably had some good play in the first half when we could've scored, but in saying that, St Mirren could have scored as well.

"We knew it was going to be difficult today. It was about putting pressure on them and we did that at the start. We could have nicked a goal but when they got ahead, they deserved to win the game.

"We need to be better in the final third, but we also have to be better defensively at times. It wasn't like St Mirren opened us up, they had some good opportunities - but you're going to have that as the home team. I thought we played, at times, well. But we have to do a lot better at the simple things."

BBC Scotland's Amy Canavan at SMiSA Stadium.

Derek Adams said pre-match he is always learning about this group. He'll be left with a fair share of questions after this showing. There was no intent from a spooked side.

Failing to score in the first half for the 14th time in 16 league games put the pressure on the lacklustre visitors heading into the second half.

Ross Laidlaw, who kept his side in it until the break with a number of fine stops, could not do anything with Ryan Leak's unfortunate own goal and his lethargic outfielders offered little, if anything, to get County back on level terms before Jonah Ayunga's settler.

Ross County boss Derek Adams makes just one enforced change from Tuesday's home victory over Motherwell.

Will Nightingale's late red card in Dingwall prompts a switch in defence, with 17-year-old Dylan Smith slotting into the County back three alongside Jack Baldwin and Ryan Leak.

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St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Small, Boyd-Munce, O'Hara, Tanser, Kiltie, Nahmani, Ayunga

Substitutes: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Baccus, McMenamin, Olusanya, Jamieson, Greive, Mandron

Ross County: Laidlaw, Smith, Baldwin, Leak, Brown, Randall, Allardice, Purrington, Dhanda, White, Murray

Substitutes: Munro, Turner, Sims, Sheaf, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, Samuel, Brophy

Image source, BBC Sport

Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw says manager Derek Adams has the Staggies looking up the table. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

St Mirren midfielder Ryan Flynn tore his hamstring against St Johnstone in midweek. Scott Tanser reported to training with no symptoms after going off following a head knock in Perth while Richard Taylor is back in training after recovering from an ankle niggle. Ryan Strain is out for three months following groin surgery.

County full-back Will Nightingale is suspended following his late red card against Motherwell. Former Saints pair Eamonn Brophy and Jay Henderson are likely to just miss out while Ross Callachan and Ben Paton are long-term absentees with knee injuries.

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Derek Adams has urged his Ross County players to take their home form - and positive style of play - on the road against St Mirren.

Since his return, Adams' side have seven points from three games - and three clean sheets.

All three of those matches have been in Dingwall, including a 1-0 win over this weekend's opponents, and Adams hopes his side can now take their same positive approach on the road.

He told the club, external: "We have got to play in the same way as we have been playing - play on the front foot, create openings and, when we don't have the ball, get into that defensive shape that we have done over previous games."

There will be plenty of scrutiny on Barry Robson and Motherwell's Stuart Kettlewell, but let's highlight the good work being done in Dingwall.

Derek Adams is unbeaten at the Ross County helm since taking over from Malky Mackay, with back-to-back victories following an opening draw.

Mackay managed two wins across his final 15 league games in charge.

The last time County made it three in a row was March 2022, with the third success coming against St Mirren, who they beat 10 days ago and who they visit on Saturday.

This will be the first game on the road for Adams in his third stint with the Staggies and the hosts will be licking their wounds after three successive defeats on their travels.

St Mirren have scored just once in five games, while County have yet to concede since Adams returned, but the new, old boss will need to alter a settled defence due to Will Nightingale's suspension.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks.

Ross County manager Derek Adams is eager to further reduce the gap between themselves and fourth-placed St Mirren to three point when the sides meet in Saturday's Premiership meeting in Paisley. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

• St Mirren are unbeaten in six home games against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D2) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2015 under Gary Teale.

• After their 1-0 win in November, Ross County could pick up successive top-flight victories over St Mirren for the first time since August 2013.

• St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games, as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W6 D4 L3). The Buddies last lost four league games in a row in April 2022.

• Ross County have won two of their three league games since Derek Adams returned to the club (D1), as many as Malky Mackay’s final 15 such matches in charge (W2 D5 L8). The Staggies could win three successive Scottish Premiership games for the first time since March 2022 – when the third win was against St Mirren.

• 18 of Ross County’s last 21 league goals have been scored in the second half of games. Indeed, this season alone, 80% of their Scottish Premiership goals have come after half-time (12/15), with only Motherwell (84%) netting a higher such proportion.

Ross County face St Mirren on Saturday and will be looking to make it three wins in a row.

Would you make any changes to the side that beat Motherwell 3-0?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and tell us your starting XI here.

Sportscene presenter, Jonathan Sutherland

The Dingwall side impressed with a 3-0 win over Motherwell, so no surprise that not one, not two, but three Staggies make the Team of the Week.

Jack Baldwin marshalled a defence that suddenly looks sure of itself once more, plus an assist.

Yan Dhanda is County's outstanding player, scoring a brilliant goal from outside the box leaving Liam Kelly stunned.

Simon Murray is always a threat up front for County, got his goal and works so hard for the cause.

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After seven points from nine since his return to Ross County, Derek Adams says that simplicity has been the key to his side's impressive run.

Tuesday's 3-0 win over struggling Motherwell saw The Staggies leapfrog their opposition, and will now be looking up the table, rather than over their shoulders.

“I’m quite straightforward,” Adams said. “I don’t complicate things, I give them simple messages each day, each week and we add layers on to that as we go. The players are certainly taking that on board.

“The defensive aspect is important. Any good side with a defensive solidity gives you the opportunity to go forward and score goals.

“I thought defensively we started from the front, with our two strikers helping us defensively. Yan (Dhanda) is becoming a lot better at that as well.

“But the back line and the two in front of them, (Scott) Allardice and (Connor) Randall, helped us.

“On our regain, we passed the ball well, were positive, while Ross Laidlaw made a couple of good saves as well.”